Chapter 3 :

Smithtown Middle School

5 hours missing

Jack and Samantha arrived in the school and searched Madison and her band. They were in a corridor of the school, laughing and talking.

­-Madison ? Samantha asked to the blond haired girl.

­-Still you ? Without Agent Taylor this time...

­-Yes, we'd like to ask you a few more questions.

­-All right, go on, the girl said while sighing.

­-Where were you this morning between eight, eight thirty ?

­-I was there !

­-Yes, but where specifically?

­-I was in the school playground, with my band. All the other student can tell you.

­-Okay, and what were you doing?

­-I was talking with my friends, is it a crime?

­-No, okay thank you...

­-You're welcome, Madison said walking towards her friends.

Samantha looked at Jack.

­-What do you think?

­-I think she's a little pest but she didn't do anything to Celia. But let's ask to a student who was there, just for check.

Jack went towards a student who was walking there and asked him.

­-This morning, between eight, eight thirty, were you in the school playground?

­-Huh... yes why? The boy asked with a puzzled look.

­-Did you see Madison and her band there?

­-Yes, they were talking.

­-Okay thanks...

Then he turned to face Samantha.

­-So let's go back to the office, they have nothing with the disappearance of Celia.

Then he got out of the school, followed by Samantha.

FBI, missing persons unit

7 hours missing

Sam and Jack entered in the office. Martin looked at them.

­-So, what's up? Martin asked to them.

­-Madison didn't do anything to Celia. And you?

­-I checked their alibi, they were at work, so none of them kidnapped Celia.

Then they joined Danny and Vivian around the table.

­-There's no trace of Celia in hospitals and morgues, Vivian said.

­-Danny? ... Danny! Jack said half shouting.

Danny raised his head from the big filler and looked at his co-workers with a puzzled look.

­-Yeah?

­-What did you find? Jack said looking at his fellow agent with an interrogative glance.

­-Huh... I read her diary and she always wrote that she wants commit suicide. I... I felt her sadness, her fear... Through her words... It's...

­-Are you ok? Sam asked with a concern look.

­-Yes, I'm fine, Danny said trying to smile.

There was a big silence, then Danny broke it.

­-She said in her diary that the day before her disappearance a man was following her.

­-We must find who is it, Jack said. Viv, Martin, go to see the school bus driver, asked him if he saw something out of ordinary, Danny and Sam, continue to look in her diary, in her laptop, her partitions, everything. I'm going to see the Lorence once again.

Martin, Vivian and Jack stood up, took their coat and got out of the FBI building. Danny and Samantha stayed at the table. Samantha looked at Danny with an anxious glance. She bit her lips.

­-Are you sure you're okay?

­-Yes, I've already told you, I'm fine, Danny said with a loud voice. I look in her diary and you look in her laptop, I've already read some e-mail, but not all, okay?

­-Okay...

Danny took Celia's diary and read it. From the start to the end this time. Samantha looked in the laptop, and read her e-mail.

Hey Celia!

It's me, Leelee. I've got the tickets for the concert of tomorrow evening. I hope you will come with us!

Big kiss, Leelee Parker.

Hi!

It's Kelly. How are you? I just wanna know if you're not too nervous for this evening. So, see you this evening! Good Bye!

Kelly Lewis.

Samantha looked at Danny.

­-A Kelly Lewis, send her an e-mail.

­-Who is it?

­-I'm gonna see.

Samantha stood up and went towards her desk. 5 minutes later she came back.

­-Kelly Lewis, 25, she's a lawyer.

­-Where does she live?

­-Huh... in Soho.

Kelly's apartment

Danny and Sam arrived in front of the building.

­-Where is Kelly Lewis's apartment please? Danny asked to the doorman.

­-8th floor, the 8D.

­-Okay, thanks.

They went towards the elevator.

­-Don't try, the elevator is out of order.

­-Okay...

Danny glanced at Samantha. Then they started to climb.

­-It's the second floor and I'm already tired... Danny said.

­-Stop complaining and walk.

­-Okay...

But 2 minutes later...

­-Why does she lives on the 8th floor? Why doesn't she live on the first floor?

-Come on, it's good for you're health.

-Thank you doctor! Danny said smiling to her co-worker.

Samantha rolled her eyes.

-5th floor! Still 3 floor...

-I wonder if you will survive till the 8th floor...

-Why?

-Because if you don't stop soon, I will strangle you.

-It's a good start for a killer career.

-I should think of becoming a killer...

They then arrived on the 8th floor.

-Aha, I'm still alive.

-But there's still the return, Samantha said grinning at her co-worker.

They walked towards the 8D apartment, and then Samantha knocked on the door. And a few minutes later the door was opened by a small young woman, who had about twenty, with curly blond hair and green eyes.

-Yes? Who are you?

-I'm special agent Spade, and this is special agent Taylor. We're with the FBI. Can we talk to Kelly Lewis?

-She's not there. But she will be back in a few minutes.

-I hope, I didn't climb all this stairs for nothing... Danny whispered to Samantha.

-You can enter, the young woman said leading them to the living room.

The living room was very bright, with lot of color. All the objects had an Indian origin or were inspired by it.

-Wow, nice living room, Samantha said admiring the room.

-Yeah, we love India. Especially me.

-In fact what's you're name?

-My name is Mackenzie Alexander, I'm the joint tenant of Kelly.

-Okay, Mackenzie, do you know Celia Wilson?

-Of course yes! She often comes here.

-What are you're relation with Celia?

-She's like a little sister for me and Kelly.

Then the door was opened by a young woman with brown hair with two blond wicks, and brown eyes.

-Is there a party here? Kelly said laughing.

-They're with the FBI, Mackenzie said showing the two agents. This is Kelly.

-What's going on? Kelly asked with an anxious look.

-We're here for ask you a few questions about Celia Wilson.

-Celia? Did she do something? Is she okay? Kelly asked with a concern look.

-Huh... Celia is missing... Danny said.

-Oh no... How can I help you?

-When was the last time you saw her?

-It was the day before yesterday.

-How was she? Sam asked.

-She was alright, I didn't notice anything strange.

-Do you know that she wanna commit suicide?

-Of course, she often speaks about this. But we talk with her and try to cheer her up.

-But it's difficult because she believes hard as iron that it's her fault that her father died. And that she has nothing special... Mackenzie added.

-In one of your e-mail you asked her if she wasn't too nervous for something. What was it?

-Oh it's because I know somebody who make concert, and I asked him if he could let Celia sing in one of them, Kelly answered.

-And how was she?

-She was alright, and at the concert she was wonderful!

-Oh before forgetting, the day before yesterday, she forgot this, Mackenzie said tending a little book.

Danny took it and read the first page of it.

-What is it?

-It's a book she made about her parents...

A big silence settled.

-Okay, thanks for your cooperation, Samantha said, breaking the silence.

-You're welcome, we will do everything for bring her back.

Then Samantha stood up and Danny did the same. They said goodbye, Samantha gave one of her card and told them to phone her if they remember something. And started to descend the staircases. Samantha looked at Danny with a concern look.

-Are you ok?

Danny remained quiet.

-Danny?

Danny snapped out of his thoughts.

-Yeah?

-Are you ok?

-Yes, I was just thinking about something...

-Hey if you don't speak I won't be able to strangle you, Sam said trying to make smile Danny.

Danny tried a timid smile which looks like more as a grimace than a smile.

-Come on Danny! What's bothering you?

-Nothing, Danny answered with a loud voice.

Samantha rolled her eyes and decided to not give up so fast.

-Danny.

-Yeah, that's my name.

-Seriously, tell me what's bothering you? I just want to help you.

-I've already told you, NOTHING.

And a big silence settled between them. It wasn't in the practices of Danny to let his emotions be expressed like that. And Samantha knew that he won't tell her what's bothering him.

During this time

Smithtown Middle School

8 hours missing

Martin and Vivian were there for ask some questions to the school bus driver.

-Is it you who drive the school bus who bring Celia Wilson here this morning?

- Yes it was me.

-Did you notice anything strange? A man or something else?

- Now that you ask me I thought I saw a man who wore a suit, and which looked attentively at Celia. Then two minutes later he disappeared, and I thought I had hallucinated.

-You thought? Or you're certain?

-I'm practically certain.

-How did he look like?

-He was about 40, he had a beard, but he wore sun glasses and he was far from me so I didn't see him well.

-Did you notice anything else?

-Huh... no... nothing.

-Okay, thank you.

Then they said goodbye to the driver and got in Martin's car.

-I think she was definitely kidnapped... Vivian said, opening the car's door. I'm going to call Jack.

Then she picked up her phone and called Jack.

-Malone.

-Hey, it's Vivian. The driver said that he saw a man who wore a suit, and who looked attentively at Celia. He is about 40, and he has a beard. But he didn't see him well.

-Okay, thanks.

-You're welcome.

Then she ended the call.