Gunshots in the streets

Chapter 1

"Don its Sam."

Sam.

A knot twisted in my stomach and my mind went blank. My baby sister Samantha. I had to tell her that I was sorry, that I hadn't meant all those things I'd said to her. She had tested my patience and I let my
temper get the best of me. How could I be so stupid? Of course I wasn't going to tell dad. Regardless of how things went down she was still my little sister, pain in the ass or not, I held full responsibility for her actions. I didn't want her to be more like me; I just wanted her to stay out of trouble. To her I was her overprotective older brother, I didn't blame her for being pissed, but why wouldn't she return my calls?

Surly she must know what case I was working by now, unless there was something I was missing. No I couldn't accept that, there was just no possible way that Samantha could be involved. She had a
background, but it was petty compared to the things I dealt with every day.

"Don...Don? You still with me here?"

I blinked and tried to focus on Stella who was looking at me, a concerned expression on her face.

"Uh yeah, are you sure?"

She gave me an unconvinced glance out of the corner of her eye turning back to the crime scene. "There's blood on the door frame over here…" I completely missed what she said next as my phone vibrated in

my pocket. I held up a finger motioning for her to give me a second while glancing at the call display. My heart sank when I saw the number.

"Uh Stel, give me a minute I have to take this outside." She nodded her understanding, still watching me anxiously over her shoulder. I would have tried to assure her that I was alright, but all of a sudden I

wasn't feeling so well.

"Detective Don Flack."

I swallowed hard at the sound of the frantic voice at the end of the line.

"Don, where the hell is Samantha I can't get a hold of her, cell phone's turned off where is she, is she alright?"

I didn't have answers to any of these questions and I was wondering the same thing. The last time I spoke to Sam we had a falling out that ended with her storming out of the police department after I'd reprimanded her about her juvenile social life. I sighed composing myself to give my father a reasonable explanation.

"I don't know where Sam is; last I saw her was a couple weeks ago and we didn't leave on pleasant terms."

I waited for him to chew me out for not being more responsible where Sam was involved, after all she was still the daughter of a former badge. He surprised me by sounding understanding of my situation.

"I know what you mean, she paid me a rare visit after having it out with you, said that you were keeping tabs on her again, and frankly I don't disagree, you never know what kind of trouble that girl will get herself into next."

He was silent for a minute and I sorted through the things that I could and could not tell him, there wasn't much I could say about the situation we knew nothing about. What was a little blood
going to prove? I didn't want to think about the endless possibilities.

"Don, son you still there?"

"Yeah, I'm here."

There was a short pause before he spoke again.

"Listen I know there isn't much you can tell me at the moment, but do me a favour and find your sister before anything happens to her."

I glanced at Stella who was watching me through the door way.

"Yeah, I'll find her don't worry sir." I snapped the phone shut, pushing it back into my pocket.

"Don…"

Stella called to me softly and I walked back into the room to join her giving her my full undivided attention. She gave me a sympathetic pat on the shoulder before leading me into the other room.
Hesitantly she pulled something out from under the bed; I couldn't believe this was happening.

"We found this locket under the bed, and I have a feeling that you know who it belongs to."

Of course he knew; he had brought it for her almost three years ago for her birthday, when they had been on better terms. Stella handed him the bag containing the locket.

"It's Sam's."

Stella nodded, "Then that confirms that she was here, now all we need to know is why, and find out where she is now."

I gazed out the open window, trying to create a composite sketch of New York City in my head to give me some leeway about where to find Sam.

"That's easier said than done."