Part 3: Investigation

[Okay, wow, Part 3 took a while, but I was out of town for about a week, and then it took a few days to get back to my routine. Although I did write a few paragraphs while I was away. I'd like to thank Poppy for the title suggestion of this series. This is now called With Or Without You Thanks Poppy! Well, The last part was kinda plain, but this one should be better. R&R, please. Oh yeah, and I was asked how long this is gonna be, and I think it's 10 or 11 parts, give or take a few. You can e-mail me here]

PICKS UP WHERE PART TWO LEFT OFF......

Officer Lisa looked at Rachel, trying to decide if she knew more than she let on. Lisa had had some odd cases before, and therefore was critical to everyone, in all cases nowadays. This woman may even be an accomplice to the crime.

Look, Officer, Phoebe stepped in. Chandler or Monica would never do this. You don't know them. See- Phoebe tried to say before getting cut off.

I don't WANNA know them, Officer Lisa told the blonde woman in front of her. I already know their type. Deal with them all the time.

You do not!! Rachel stepped in. Monica has wanted kids forever. Since I've known her, and we met when we were six. And Chandler, well, he's Chandler! He'd never do anything like this to any kid, let alone his.

Well, sorry, Miss, but we're gonna have to keep them in mind. For now, anyway, Officer Lisa walked away, and Rachel and Phoebe shared a worried look.

What a bitch, Phoebe said

* * * * * * * * *

What do you think it means Fill up the room that was hers?' Monica asked Officer Zaun, looking at the note the kidnappers had left them.

I was hoping you could tell me. Like maybe it gave you a clue as to who did this.

I don't even understand it, Monica said.

Officer Zaun asked Chandler. Chandler shook his head.

No idea, he told him.

Maybe they want money in her room or something, Officer Zaun pondered. They don't make it clear what they want. I don't think they're too bright. I wouldn't be surprised if they had tried to break in a few times, but were unsuccessful.

Monica remembered what Hannah had told her about the banging on Abby's window the night before. She told Officer Zaun that story.

he said. Bill! Go upstairs to the first bedroom on the right, and check the outside of the windows for finger prints!! he told another officer.

The officer, Bill, apparently, did so, disappearing up the stairs.

It seems these criminals should've left more evidence behind.... Officer Zaun said.

I wish they had, Chandler remarked.

Officer Zaun looked across the room at Officer Lisa. He and Lisa had been partners for six years, and he knew how she was. Not the friendly face victims were looking for. They had once had a case, pulling all nighters, day long searches, and much more for two children said to be kidnapped. It had turned out the parents murdered them, and ever since then, Lisa was suspicious of everyone. He wished she'd knock it off. Not every case was like that one.

Bill returned downstairs.

No fingerprints found, he told Zaun. He sighed.

Amazingly enough, he told Monica and Chandler The dumbest criminals are the ones who never leave evidence behind.

You have any ideas who could do this Zaun asked them. Anyone at all?

No, not really, Monica said.

Have you had any house guests recently? he asked them.

Well, yeah, actually, Chandler said. A, well, a friend who was in an accident.

You seem kinda hesitant about using the word friend, Zaun pointed out.

He's my ex-boyfriend, Monica told him. Chandler's always jealous of him. It surprised me he wanted to let him stay here.

Why was he staying here?

He needed to be cared for, Chandler said He was in bad condition after an accident.

He lives with his daughter and son in-law now. And their kids, Monica added.

What's his name?

Richard Burke.

* * * * * * * *

Officer Zaun and Officer Lisa knocked on the door to Michelle and Gregory Williams' house. A young man opened the door. Lisa figured maybe it was Richard, since he had dated Monica.

Lisa said, flashing her badge, as did Zaun. Looking for Richard Burke. Is he here?

Yeah, yeah he is, Gregg said, and called Richard to the door.

Lisa said to him, flashing her badge again

Uhhh, Hi. Richard Burke, he shook their hands.

I'm Officer Lisa, and this is Officer Zaun. We need to talk to you about Hannah Elyse Bing. Name ring a bell? Lisa asked. Officer Zaun noticed how she was becoming vicious with him already, and decided to take over.

Yeah, I do. I mean, she's my friend's daughter,

Well, where is she? Lisa asked before Zaun had a chance to step in.

I'd assume, at home. With her parents, Richard said, confused.

Excuse Lisa, Zaun said. Hannah's been abducted. We know you were recently staying there, so we wondered if maybe you had any ideas of who would do this.

Abducted?? You mean, like kidnapped?



Wow. I mean she was such a good kid. I don't know who would want to do that. But on the other hand, she had a bad side, he remembered.

How so? Lisa asked.

Well, she can be quite mean. To me at least. She hated me.

Why is that?

I was never sure. I think she knew about her mom and I, and didn't like it.

What was with you and her mom? An affair?

Oh, no, nothing like that. We used to date a long time ago.

I know there's more to that, Lisa said

Okay, okay, and yeah, I proposed to her when she was dating Chandler. I actually did it at the same time he was planning on doing it, and it started a huge fight. But needless to say, he got her, not me, Richard sighed.

He looks kinda old to date her, Lisa whispered to Zaun so Richard couldn't hear. He nodded.

You still have feelings for her? Zaun asked.

Please, don't tell her, but yeah, Richard sighed again.

Well, uh, back to Hannah. No ideas? Zaun said quickly. Richard shook his head.

They talked to Richard for a few minutes, then asked to talk to Michelle and Gregg. Michelle told them she barely knew them, except for when her dad and Monica used to date, she kinda knew Monica then. Gregg said that he knew them even less, except he had gone to Abby's first birthday party with Richard and Michelle not long ago, and he had talked with Chandler for a while.

I really like Hannah and Abby, he said. Hannah especially. She hates Richard. So do I, he told the police officers when Richard and Michelle weren't around to hear. Zaun and Lisa decided that none of these people knew anything much, just had a lot of emotional issues, and left.

In the car, driving to get something to eat, Lisa and Zaun were talking about the case. Well, between you and me, Lisa told Zaun I'm holding Richard, Monica, Chandler, and those two women who came by today as suspects.

Oh, God, Lisa, you always think everyone is a suspect. What about that man crossing the street?!?! Zaun said, angrily. Once the parents did it. Once. Stop freaking out! Not everyone is guilty!

Okay, okay, chill. Still, Richard Burke. Still loves Monica, her daughter hates him. If he wants Monica, he'd have to get rid of the kid who hates him, wouldn't he?

Zaun hadn't thought of it before, but maybe Richard was a suspect.

* * * * *

Rachel had become overly paranoid. At night, she checked every door and window twice to make sure it was locked. Then she had Robert go and check to make sure she didn't miss anything. In the daytime, she kept Jamie in eye site at all times, and wasn't about to leave her door unlocked like she usually did so that when any of the others dropped by, they could get in. That was no more.

Robert was worried about her. He thought maybe she should see a therapist of something. But then again, if Monica and Chandler's daughter was abducted in the middle of the night, maybe theirs could be too, and all this was a good idea. He was very confused.

** * * * * * *

Monica figured she was either in a lot of shock, or one of those people who doesn't cry when something terrible happens. Chandler wasn't. Maybe she wasn't, either. Or maybe she didn't want to jinx anything by crying. She was upset, a lot, and she did cry sometimes, like when Rachel and Phoebe had come over the other day. But not nearly as much as she thought she should. Chandler was also upset, but she knew he was the type to deal with it in other ways.

It had been three days since Hannah disappeared. The police officers were slowly disappearing from their house. At first, there would be two or three there at anytime. Now she only saw one or two once in a while. That just mad her feel worse, like they were giving up. She hoped they weren't.

She was also worried about what this was going to do to her and Chandler's relationship,. So far, things seemed okay, but she had heard that a child being killed or kidnapped was many times, a cause of divorce. She hoped that things wouldn't get that out of control. Because if she lost him, things would be even worse than they were now.

Hey, Mon, he said, coming into the room as if he knew she was thinking about him.

she said, offering a small smile. He sighed. He didn't know what to say to her. He didn't even know what to say to himself. Nothing could ever make her feel better, he knew, but he felt he had to say something.

How you feeling?

she said.

Yeah, me too.

I hope she's okay. I mean, you know how she hates strangers....

I know. I do. But, Monica, she's gonna be back, I know it.

I hope so, she said. She looked up at him. What if she's dead? she asked what had been in the back of her mind the whole time.



Chandler, it happens! How many times have you seen on the news where a kid was kidnapped, but they don't find her, they find her body! Or the remains of it!

Okay, that's true. Very true. But the note they left. They want something, Monica. And they're gonna use Hannah to get it. If they kill her, then they aren't gonna get what they want. So that seems like a good reason to me she's still alive.

Monica thought about this. He was probably right. They did seem to want something.

You're right, she told him. He gave her a hug.

God, whatever happened to our biggest problem being afraid of being caught by one of the others? Monica said, referring to the secret days of their relationship.

I dunno. They passed. But if we were still there, we wouldn't have Abby. Or Hannah. Who, I promise you, we're gonna get back. Monica started crying into his shoulder.

I hope you're right, she said again. I love you.

I love you, too, he said.

* * * * * * * * * *

Officer Lisa and Officer Zaun looked up Richard Burke, but found no recent criminal records of him. They found a record from when he was fifteen, caught shoplifting, but nothing more.

Maybe we're going down the wrong road with him, Officer Zaun said.

Could be, Lisa agreed. But, I dunno about him. He seemed kinda....odd.

That accident he was in, Lisa said Maybe we should learn more about that.

Maybe so. That could help, Zaun agreed, glad that Lisa had calmed down, at least for now.

So, do we go to Monica and Chandler for that, or him, or what?

Maybe both. We might find different versions of the story.

Okay, well I'll talk to Chandler and Monica, and you talk to Richard, okay? Zaun asked, knowing how Lisa was suspicious of parents of kidnapped kids, and he didn't think Monica and Chandler needed that right now. Lisa agreed.

We have no evidence or leads whatsoever to go on. Let's hope this gives us a clue, Lisa said, or Hannah Elyse Bing might just be a name of the past.

[Okay, well, the next part, Part 4, is a flashback to the accident and all that fun stuff, LOL. And Part 5 brings the story a lot more foreword, so hang in there! R&R please!]

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