MISSING MEMORIES
Retired Chief Robert Ironside was frustrated, his detective was late, very late. Detective Brown had requested a few days off and was due to report today. However, the detective was nowhere to be found.
"Well," Ironside asked Officer Eve Whitfield about her investigation.
"So Chief, I went to Ed's apartment, he wasn't there. I checked at the station and they showed him signing out almost a week ago. The trail is cold." Eve sighed.
"Nonsense, no trail is cold. That is a lack of good police work. Have you checked the hospitals, the morgue, and Ed's usual hangouts?" Ironside rebuffed her.
"The morgue?" Aide Mark sanger groaned. "Man ain't that a little cold."
Ironside glared at Mark.
"Good police work requires covering all the bases, even if we don't want the likely outcomes. So Eve, check again and then get back to me." Ironside ordered.
Eve frowned, turned, and headed out of Ironside's apartment. Not looking forward to her task, she headed downstairs to find an empty desk and start making phone calls, hoping for the best but fearing the worst, since Ed Brown was reliable to a fault.
IIIIII
Three days later, there wasn't a sign of Brown in San Francisco or the surrounding areas. Nerves were taught and the main focus was finding Detective Ed Brown, dead or alive.
The shrill ringing of Ironside's phone broke the tension.
"Ironside," Ironside growled at the caller.
"He's where? When? Yes of course we'll take the next plane out. Thank you." Ironside put the phone down.
"Well pack your bags, Ed's in Los Angeles, alive and he has a lot of explaining to do.
IIIIIII
Detective Ed Brown looked around his hospital room. Still not sure how he got there or why he was in L.A. A thick bandage around his head and a pounding headache only emphasized his misfortune.
"Aw, your awake ." His nurse came in. "The doctor will be in to see you shortly. He's making rounds. Also, we were able to contact your friends. They should be here shortly."
The nurse took his temperature and his pulse. Once the thermometer was removed and noted in his chart Ed looked at the nurse.
"My friends?" Ed asked confused.
"Yes Chief Ironside, he was contacted and is making his way here from San Francisco. From my understanding, Ironside was very upset." The nurse smiled.
"More like pissed," Ed said under his breath. Still confused about how he ended up in L.A.
The nurse left his room as Ed stared out the window, still confused, and knew the hammer was about to fall, with Ironside.
His doctor came in.
"How are you doing?" Dr. Joe Gannon looked at Ed's chart.
"Oh, my head still hurts along with every part of my body," Ed stated.
"Well, that's to be expected, considering." The doctor smiled.
"Uh, Doc, you would happen to know where I was found would you?" Ed looked at the doctor.
"No, but the officers who found you said they were going to stop in to get a statement from you." The doctor checked Ed's pulse. "You keep doing what you're doing and I'll discharge you in a few days."
The doctor waved and then left Ed alone, still unsure and confused.
After lunch, Ed was in his bed when two cops entered his room
"So there he is." Officer Hunter looked at him.
"Yeah, the sergeant wants our paperwork pronto." The other officer said.
"You found me?" Ed smiled, finally getting some answers.
"Yeah, you scared the poor shop owner," Hunter said.
"A shop owner?" Ed tried to remember. "Hey any chance you can tell me where you found me?" Ed thought it was in some dark LA alley.
"Yeah, you were found in Beverly Hills jewelry store. Scaring customers and the owner. We couldn't get there fast enough." the other officer said.
"Beverly Hills? " Ed was now more confused.
"Well, your suit had seen better days and you were ranting. So the poor owner called as the customers cowed in the back." Hunter continued. "You were mumbling and frankly scaring everyone one."
"Yeah, we came in and tried to talk to you. The next thing we know you were passed out on the floor. Had to call an ambulance. Had to go through your pockets to see who you were. Took a few days to track your boss down."
Ed nodded gingerly knowing he would have a lot to answer for once Ironside got there.
"So what was I mumbling?" Ed asked, hopefully, to be able to piece the puzzle together.
"Oh, really wild stuff. Rome is burning. Water lilies are fake and some other stuff we couldn't make out." Hunter said.
"Well fellas, I can't add anything to your report. The last thing I remember is waking up here and being in San Francisco." Ed sighed. "Wish I knew more."
Hunter nodded. "Okay. What can you do? But if you remember anything, here is our card." Hunter handed him a card, "they got a detective working on your case now, you know professional courtesy." Hunter grinned.
"Yeah sure." Ed took the card, looking at it for answers and finding none.
"Take care," Hunter said as he and his partner left his room.