A/N: So here we go, peoples. I forgot to say before, but just in case you haven't figured it out yet, Jess's visions will appear in italics.
The Warehouse Theater technically doesn't belong to me—it's based off of the Warehouse Theater in Greenville, SC.
Any scientific stuff is pure me—if it's not true then just blame me and my laziness to look things up.
I know this is short, but hold with me; the next chapter should (crosses fingers) be up soon.
Many thanks to my reviewers (all two of you) and to the people who have at least checked this story out. Reviews are great though, so please leave one on your way out.
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em. I only have claim to my OCs. So no suing, people, I've gotta buy my books for this semester and I'm broke.
On with the show!
Chapter 2: Parent's Worst Fear
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Warehouse Theater," Pollock announced as the agents exited their respective vehicles. Looking around, they could tell that the theater was aptly named; on the outside it appeared to be little more than a spruced up warehouse. Pollock glanced around the parking lot, his heart sinking as he pointed to a worn yellow Volkswagen beetle in the corner of the lot. "That's Beka's car. I'm going inside to speak with the director." With that, Antonio, Nicole, and Jess headed for the car, while Pollock went inside.
Inside, Pollock found several teenagers wandering around, while one very pissed off woman in her thirties stood in the front of the theater on her cell phone. Theater was really an overstatement; the performance area was on the floor in front of bleachers with chairs on them. Pollock approached the woman purposefully.
"Excuse me," he called to get her attention. She turned to face him, snapping her cell phone shut as she did.
"Yeah?" she asked. "What do you want?"
"I'm John Pollock; I'm looking for whoever's in charge here," he answered, flashing his badge for effect. The woman gave him a look that was a cross between stressed and intrigued.
"Well that would be me, God help us all," she answered with grim smile. She held out her hand. "Cassidy Sandburg. I'm the director." As they shook hands she gave him a quizzical look. "Pollock? You Beka's dad?"
"No," Pollock answered quickly, releasing Cassidy's hand. "I'm her uncle. Is Beka here?"
Cassidy let out a bitter laugh. "If she was, that would be at least one of my problems solved. She called about an hour ago, saying that she was running late cause of traffic and would be here in about ten minutes. She never showed, so now I'm short two cast members and a techie, not to mention all of the other crap that's going on right now."
"So you haven't seen her at all today?" Pollock asked. "Cause her car is parked out front."
Cassidy looked surprised at the news. "I wouldn't know anything about that. Practice was supposed to start at ten, and by the time Beka called me we were already getting started. All I know is, she never came inside."
"Nothing looks off," Jess commented as she peered into the passenger window. "Both of the doors are locked."
Nicole stood back from the car, arms crossed against her chest. "So what, Beka shows up at the theater, and…someone grabs her as she's going inside?" Jess shrugged as Pollock approached his team from across the parking lot.
"So apparently, Beka called and said that she was on her way to the theater, but never showed up, at least not inside."
"Well, that makes sense, assuming someone grabbed her in the parking lot," Nicole said, before turning to see Antonio crouched with his nose close to the driver's side door. "Antonio?"
"Do you smell that?" he asked. Nicole leaned over and Jess walked around the car to see what they were doing. After a moment Nicole straightened.
"Barely. What do you think it is?"
Antonio pressed one latex gloved finger against the car door before leaning in and sniffing it again. "Pepper spray. It's all over the driver's side window and the top part of the door. It's the strong stuff too; typical grade wouldn't have lasted this long in the open."
Antonio stayed crouched on the ground, looking left and right for something, before he finally ducked over to look under the car. When he straightened back up, he was holding a key chain with several keys on it, as well as a beaded decoration that spelled 'BEKA' and a can of pepper spray shaped like an ink pen.
Pollock felt his heart drop to his knees; if he'd had any doubt before, it was gone now. "I, uh…I got Beka that a few months ago. Wanted her to be safe when she went out alone." He let out a bitter laugh. The younger agents exchanged semi-nervous looks as Pollock cleared his throat.
"Alright, well, we obviously have a new case. Agent Scott, you will be in charge of the investigation, as I can't have an active part in it. Agent Cortez, if you would please stay here and learn whatever else you can; it would be much appreciated. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go make a very…unwanted visit to my sister." The Assistant Director headed for his car, and Nicole and Jess exchanged an exasperated look as they started to follow him. This was not going to easy.
"Uh…sir?" Nicole asked as they approached the vehicles. Pollock turned to face them, an unidentifiable look on his face. "You know that we're gonna need to talk to Beka's parents. The sooner the better."
There was a brief moment of silence as Pollock seemed to absorb what Nicole had said and process it in his own mind. Jess couldn't help but feel sorry for the man; their normally unflappable boss was clearly in some shock from discovering that his niece was missing. "Right," Pollock said after a moment. "Well…come with me." He turned and began walking purposefully to one of the vehicles. Jess sighed as she and Nicole again exchanged a look of discomfort. This was not going to be a typical investigation.
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