Chapter 11
The crew of the 110 had been given permission to also join the search effort. The same conditions applied, all other dispatches that came in they had to answer. To their dismay they had too many; which was so frustrating. All of which were the typical nuisance calls. Some were medical calls that were any but emergencies and a few more dwellings that were in reality more over heated ovens that created a little smoke. Certainly the fire department should always be called when there is even a possibility of fire but in the same token there was a line that should be drawn and most of the public couldn't even differentiate.
"Brice, do you believe in prayer?" After hundreds of runs and shifts together as partners, she really knew very little about him. He let her in more than anyone else in the department but it still was only a mere slice of which he really was.
"It isn't that I don't believe in a GOD to pray to, I just never really decided one way or another." He knew how much she hated when he was cryptic but he didn't know what else to say. "Why do you believe...I mean you can't prove that it does anything or that anyone is listening?"
"I guess that is the definition of faith, a trust and belief in something that you can't wrap your hands around." She always disliked trying to explain what she just knew to be the truth.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. I just deal with facts and procedures better, its easier deal with those things."
"There were times in my life where I used my convictions to keep me from.....giving up." The whole truth was that there was a time where her faith and hope were the only things that kept her from giving up in the most drastic sense of the word. That and the knowledge of what it would have done to her family.
Sensing there was far more depth to what she had revealed, Brice reached over and for only a second, grasped her hand and gave it a quick squeeze. They allowed the silence to end the conversation and continued to focus solely on the slim chance of spotting something...anything that would bring that little girl home.
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On the other end of the search area 51's shift was almost a mirrored image. They had slightly fewer responses but just as many where nonsense. Their cross to bear this day seemed to be more vehicle accidents; none that were very serious in the grand scheme of things. The people involved were clueless the fact that if they had simply slowed down and had a little patience, the accident probably wouldn't have happened in the first place.
The sun had already set and the darkness was not helping matters at all. Now the shadows that had been in the minority were now blanketing the landscape. The temperature had already dropped significantly. Soon it would be cold enough outside for her to slowly suffer from hypothermia.
"Roy, do you honestly believe that this is going to turn out well?" One of the major pluses of working side by side with your best friend was complete honesty.
"I am really trying hard to; I guess my heart won't accept anything less." In the spirit of honesty, he continued. "Can I ask you something? When Vince was telling us about chances of Abby being picked up some sick pervert, all of us reacted, which is only normal. I happened to be looking at A.J. when he was talking and I don't know how to explain it but there was this look that overcame her...like she was taking it personally...does that make any sense to you?"
Keeping his gaze towards the window he responded. "What do you mean personally? We were all appalled by the very thought of that happening...." He hated keeping anything from Roy. There were times where he wanted to talk to him about what had happened to her, to let him vent about how he felt. That night when she opened up to him, if he had been able to find the sorry SOBs he would have killed them with his bare hands. Even now, sometimes it would be nice to have someone to sound off of.
His reprieve came in the disguise of the dispatcher's voice coming across the radio in the squad. Trying to redirect the conversation, Johnny grumbled, "No rest for the weary......"
