Chapter Four: Missing

I DON'T own Static Shock… yet =)

HFH writes: Here is another chap! I'm afraid next ones will take a long while, 'cause I gotta study for my next exams… Richie, I so wanna have your brain… X.x I took Barnaby and Troy for "Midsommer Murders" a cool series I watched years ago.

I gotta thank Angel Reid's GREAT HELP! By checking this chap's grammar. Thanks a lot!!!

MEG, Bea, Angel Reid, Kate Maxwell, X3 and Feline-Feral: Thank you very, very, very much for your reviews!

Onto the chap!

"RICHIE!" Static called in vain. The cadaver was lying in front of him. His chest showed a wound, near to his heart, from where life escaped. Some bloody fingerprints stained his shirt, as if someone had tried to revive him. Mr. Foley was dead, the murderer escaped, Mrs. Foley was still shocked...

And there was no signal of Richie.

Next to Mr. Foley's dead body, the bedside table and the phone were overturned. Its receiver was off the hook. Virgil tried to talk with the woman, but it was in vain. Static searched for his friend in every room, desperate.

Nothing. Whoever had killed Mr. Foley and hit his wife...kidnapped Richie.

With that terrible idea striking his mind, the teenager checked some nearby streets. Desperation invaded his body over and over again, when the streets followed one another without result. Virgil tried in the Gas Station, in some Police Stations, in the Mall, in the High School, at the bridge... in every place he could think of.

On the top of a building, Static took a rest. Tears of rage furrowed his cheeks "...why? Why I can save some people... but I always fail when I try to save someone I really care about? That bastard is doing who knows what with my friend..."

First, Virgil had tried to save his mother (A/N: "Timezone" episode). Now, history was repeating itself again. Mrs. Hawkins and Richard Foley. His mother and his best friend. They needed him, they were in danger... and they were disappointed. Both trusted in Static... and paid for it.

"RICHIE!" he cried, frustrated. The strokes of a bell resonated as reply. It was 12:00 am. Two hours before, Gear called Virgil and asked his help. Where could Richie be? Maybe... maybe Richie was...

"NO!" Virgil grabbed his head.

Nobody can escape from the truth. It didn't matter how much he tried to avoid it, the feeling resounded in his mind. "It's too late... I'm sorry, Richie... I..."

His home! Virgil's last chance was at his own house.. The masked teenager returned to his home, quickly.

"Where were you?!" Sharon exclaimed, in way of greeting her brother. "We searched you... Dad was going to call the police!!"

In another circumstance, he would have been scared of Sharon, as angry as she was. "Is Richie here?"

Mr. Hawkins calm voice answered him. "No, he isn't. Virgil, we need to talk..."

Virgil realized the seriousness of the situation. "No, please, dad. I'm  trying to find Richie and now... Please! Don't ask me about..."

Mr. Hawkins, ignoring Virgil's thoughts, continued. "Let's get this straight. You are always disappearing...Virgil, two hours? You are hiding something, son. I thought you trusted me."

"If you wanna ever go outside again, you'd better tell us what the hell were you doing, Virgil." Sharon translated.

Virgil was worried and desperate. He looked at his father. Mrs. Hawkins' death had been painful, but Virgil and Sharon had been able to continue with their lives... thanks to their father. It was decided. The teenager used his powers and turned on the TV

-I'm Static. Richie asked for my help, and I went to his home…his father was killed, and Mrs. Foley was beaten up pretty bad... but I didn't find Richie…and I searched him…" Virgil was crying. He avoided his family's pale faces by looking at the floor. "I know I should of told you, Pop... I'm sorry... It's just... it went out of control... and now... I think Richie is..." A kind hand touched his shoulder "Pop..."

"I knew I had nothing to worry about. You should rest, son... this all must have been horrible for you. The police will find Richie, don't worry."

Sharon was speechless

"But... I need to keep looking for him..."

"Please, Static," his father smiled at the name, "you need to rest."

Minutes later, Virgil went to bed "I'll find you, bro..."

He closed his eyes, and fell asleep.

Next morning

"Virgil!"- Sharon called.

The teenager got up slowly "What- did the police find Richie?"

"Look, some detectives are talking with Daddy. You don't have to mention that you were at Richie's home if you talk to them..."

"I'll keep my identity secret... "

His sister nodded "They're still searching for him. If you say you were at his home..."

"Got it."

Sharon smiled "Fine..."

She would never tell Virgil how proud she was of him. "He'd become even more arrogant."

Virgil went downstairs, waiting until he could continue searching for Richie. Just as Sharon said, two men were interrogating Mr. Hawkins. The oldest one was dressed with grey shirt and pants. His straight, blonde hair was short. His blue eyes examined Virgil on sight. "So, you must be Virgil Hawkins. I'm Detective Tom Barnaby and this," a nod at the other man," is Sergeant Troy. We are looking for your friend, Richard Foley."

"Yes, hi..." Virgil answered.

Gavin Troy wore a grey suit. His short hair was brown, and his eyes turned on Virgil as he spoke. "He's suspect of killing his own father."

"Richie?" Virgil asked, incredulous.

To be continued…