Chapter 3

Sonny does not remember how he got off the boat and downtown so fast. He sat in his car to calm himself briefly. He did not want to jump to conclusions. He needed to control his paranoia like he promised her he would. He sat back for a minute and observed the scene.

He saw the K9 units talking to Tubbs, Castillo, and Gina.

He saw Stan working feverishly in the back of the van.

That told him all he needed to know for that brief moment. He drew in a deep breath as he walked over to his team. Whatever it was that he was about to hear, was definitely going to change him and not for the better. The closer he got to them from across the parking lot, the hotter the burning sensation in his chest got. His stomach was set on trying to expel the last thing he ate. He felt like he was walking through quicksand. He quickly scanned the scene for any white sheets or body bags. That was a good sign he thought to himself.

"Where is she Rico?"

He stood behind his team. They were so busy with organizing the scene, no one saw him approach from behind.

Gina spoke softly "Sonny"

"Don't Sonny me Gina where is she?"

Rico started to talk but Castillo spoke up first.

"Trudy is missing."

Sonny took a step backwards trying to avoid what was just said.

"What the fuck do you mean missing?"

He gritted through his teeth.

Rico started to explain remorsefully,

"You know we always have a 4am meetup"

Sonny started to pace like a caged animal. While the man he called his brother tried to explain how his wife vanished into thin air.

"The last time we touched base face to face was at 2:30. We put on a show in the intersection in front of the hotel. I came back to the car after she apologized for losing a John. I was here at 5 of 4 but she never showed. Sonny I…"

Sonny snatched Rico up by the lapel and started shaking and pushing him back into the front of his Cadillac.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU PROTECT HER?! WHY DIDN'T YOU WATCH HER MAN?!"

Stan, Castillo, and some uniformed officers. Struggled to pull him off of Tubbs. He was in a blind rage. All he could hear was his heart beating in his ears. He could not see past the rage and panic he was feeling. Gina held in in a hug to help calm him down.

"Sonny!"

She yelled as she held onto him

"This is not helping honey please stop. You and I both know we all have to stay in a calm state to figure this out."

"Rico is not to blame Crockett."

Castillo added on when Gina was finished speaking.

"Excuse me Detective Crockett."

Gina let him go just as the lead K9 officer called out to Sonny.

"I hate to ask you this but in order for us to start the grid search we need a personal item of your" he paused and changed the way he was going to reference Trudy.

"of Detective Joplin so the dogs can track her scent. Preferably an item of clothing."

Before he could respond his knees buckled from under him and Rico reached out to catch him never once did Tubbs consider holding a grudge against him. Sonny was his best friend, partner, and brother. Nothing would change that.

Sonny lashed out at him.

"Do not fucking touch me Tubbs stay away from me!"

Rico let him go and stepped away as if Sonny was on fire. Rico walked to his car and pounded on the hood with his closed fist he did not care about hurting his hand. He just wished he could make this right.

"He is upset right now he does not mean it."

Gina grabbed his hand before he broke it.

"She held it in her hand and made him look at her. I know you would never do anything to hurt her or put her in any danger. Deep down Sonny knows that too."

They both turned to see Stan walking with Sonny and the K9 team back to his car. Trudy kept a stash of swimsuits in his car as well as hers. They pretty much lived in the water. He handed the pile over to the K9 team. They divided them up and the dogs took the lead from their owners. Sonny rested back on his car next to Stan. They watched as the dogs pulled the men and women off to look for her. He was living his worst nightmare. He could not breath without her. This was not like his relationship with Catlin, or even was different. This was a longing, a yearning that pulled him to Trudy. He knew he could not survive without her.

With Catlin there was love yes but it was strained from the moment they said I Do and they both knew it. It was her team pulling her in one direction. It was his job pulling him in the other. It was the paparazzi clawing and clamoring to try and figure out his real identity. It was drama non stop. Even with all of that he never wanted her to lose her life no matter what they went through and the health and well being of her and their unborn child should have never been compromised. For that he would never forgive himself, and would always be sorry.

Caroline was different. He was obliged to marry her for her and their babies sake. They fell into a comfortable routine. It was nice, and it was normal. Until his promotion to Detective got him a spot at the infamous OCB. it was then that the problems began. The complaints about his hours, his friends, his times away from home for weeks due to undercover work. She never understood, at times she did not even try to understand.

That's what made this marriage, his 3rd marriage so special and unique. He knew in his heart that this was going to be his last marriage, Trudy was his one. They understood each other, they respected each other's positions, they were magnetically connected sexually, she was the sexiest and most desirable woman that he had ever met and been with.

He could stand there and think about how perfect they were together,or he could get his emotions in check. He always protected her and had her back. This time would be no different. If he was going to find her she needed him to have his head in the game.

Stan spoke to him and snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Sonny we will find her man and you know we will not stop until we do"

Stan clapped him on his back as he spoke.