September 10th, 2005

Seven days until I am married to Myra Hanson. To think time has flown by so past. Everything is in place that I know of. We've been doing rehearsals any of the days that me and Myra were both off. Any last-minute preparations were done when we could do them, whether together or on our own. All I could do now was relax the best I could and get through yet another weekend at work.

He turned himself in his chair while looking up at the ceiling. Within the next two hours, he and Joseph were supposed to go out to the outskirts of Krimson City to talk to some witnesses. Another missing person's case. It wasn't the first nor last time someone went missing in Krimson City and the suburbs outlying the downtown area. Let alone in the villages on the edges of the county. But, since working as a detective, he hadn't had two missing person's cases within the same area. While he hoped it was just a coincidence, he knew better.

People did not just keep disappearing in same part of the county for no apparent reason.

As he kept turning himself in his chair, he caught sight of someone coming towards him. The circular motion made the person appear a bit of a blur to him. While he could have immediately stopped, he knew he would regret that. He hated the light headed discombobulated feeling that resulted from doing that.

"Having fun there?" The voice sounded only half-amused. A bit annoyed too probably if he had to be honest.

Sebastian huffed and finally slowed down enough to where his head wouldn't feel like it was swimming inside of his skull. "Not really. Just bored." He smirked slightly before standing up from the chair. "So, you found anything yet?"

Joseph shrugged while opening his notebook. "Just a few details here and there." Joseph flipped through the pages to wherever he had written notes. "Apparently, Mr. Taylor reported his brother missing, that visited the Elk River Village, after not returning some days after his brother said he would. Mr. Taylor said his brother is not the type to disappear without notice." Joseph explained while faintly sighing. "Unfortunately, we've already come across a problem."

"Uh, what problem?" Sebastian quickly asked with a raised eyebrow. How had they already run into a problem?

"The same problem as last time. The villagers are either too afraid or too paranoid to readily talk." Joseph adjusted his glasses a bit. "Even though this time around Mr. Taylor had pointed out potential witnesses for us to talk to, the cops have just reported to us that we cannot find those witnesses anymore." Joseph furrowed his eyebrows with a frown on his face. "It's like last time all over again."

Sebastian nodded with a scowl on his face. "I'm starting to think the villagers are covering for someone. But who?" It wouldn't be easy for either of them to figure out. The few times anyone had been able to talk to the villagers, they might as well have been talking to stone walls. Sebastian heard the villagers answered questions curtly and purposefully without any detail. Enough to be minimally cooperative and nothing more.

The two looked at each other before Joseph looked back at his notebook. "Unfortunately, we don't have enough clues to know what is really going on. We can only speculate." Joseph remarked with his gaze not moving off the notebook. "We just have to find other avenues to travel down."

Just what avenue would that be? Sebastian sighed softly. "Right. Sounds like that's our only choice." Sebastian glanced at his computer and turned to face it. "Maybe we got to look to see if the two missing people have anything in common." He dared to sit down in front of the computer to use it. Not to just let the device collect dust or play games on it. He just was not really computer literate like Joseph.

"Sounds like a plan." Joseph moved away to sit at his own desk. "Though, I think Myra wanted to see you when you could."

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "Huh? She did? About what?" He looked over at Joseph.

"Something about wanting to make sure you were okay and all. I'm assuming she's making sure you aren't getting nervous." Sebastian swore he noticed a faint smirk on Joseph's face. It didn't help the tone sounded a bit jesting. He rolled his eyes and stood up from the desk. Of course, he didn't even get a chance to do much with the computer. Maybe he was doomed to always be somewhat computer illiterate.

He walked over to Joseph and flicked him on the back of his head. "Un-huh. Like I would be nervous." And even if he was, he wasn't going to admit it. "I'll go check up on her really quick. I'll be back in a little bit." He smirked at Joseph glaring at him and straightening out his hair. Seriously the guy needed to relax on his appearance.

As he went to walk away, he heard Joseph's chair turn. "Hey, before you go." Sebastian turned to face Joseph at hearing Joseph. "Here." Sebastian blinked at seeing a small box wrapped up in a bow. "I wasn't sure if we would have time to actually have that bachelor's party. So, open that on the night before the wedding. It's my present to send you off to married life."

Sebastian chuckled and gripped the box. "Thanks Jo-" He cut himself off and sheepishly smiled. "Oda."

Joseph huffed softly. "I guess at some point I really should let up on that huh?"

"Only when you are ready." Sebastian smiled, stopping himself from going over and ruffling his hair. "See you in a bit."

Joseph nodded and turned back towards his desk. Sebastian walked out of the office area, his eyes looking down at the box. While he felt the temptation to open the box, he slipped the box into his pocket and headed towards Myra's department. Guess he could make himself wait a little while longer to figure out what Joseph had given him. For now, he had a future wife to check in on.