Ch. 5: Realization
If anyone has read my "James and the Giant Peach" fics, you'll be familiar with Chief Michael Beatcom. This guy cannot catch a break, can he?
Chief Michael Beatcom leaned back from his desk with a sigh. He had just finished updating several files concerning a few minor crimes throughout the city. Running a beefy hand over his buzz cut hair, the Police Chief reached for his thermos of coffee and took a sip, savoring the warm liquid. So far, there hadn't been a lot to do; the past week had been a flurry of activity, but now most of his cases were being tried and he could afford to relax.
A loud bang startled the Chief as one of his younger officers- Rick White-came barreling in.
"Chief! Chief!"
"Jesus, Rick! Calm down!"
"But Chief! My God! You're not gonna believe this!"
Try me, Beatcom thought wryly, but was again startled when Rick slammed a couple of photos on his desk. The young officer grabbed one and gave it to Beatcom, who examined it carefully. The photo was obviously one Rick had taken himself. Two young girls smiled sweetly at the camera, looking cheerful and pretty in the summer noon.
"Look at the girl on the right! She look familiar to you?" Rick asked.
"Should she?"
"Yes!" Chief Beatcom frowned and studied the girl again. A small slim thing, she was, with long dark hair, soft hazel eyes, and skin that seemed to glow. Beatcom frowned; for some reason, he felt as though he had seen the girl before, but for the life of him he couldn't remember where.
"I have seen her," he said, looking up at Rick. The young officer nodded again and picked up the other photo, which was actually a flier.
"This is where you've seen her, Chief," he said in a somber tone. Sure enough, the pictures matched perfectly. Under the flier was printed a name: Kayla Dalson.
"Kayla Dalson!"
"I know! I couldn't believe it either, but my God, Chief, it's her!"
Beatcom looked up at Rick.
"Where did you see her?"
"In Central Park. The other girl- Columbia was her name- claimed they were sisters."
"Do you know where they are now?"
"I think so. Remember the new hotel that just opened?"
"They're staying there?"
"I'm certain. There's a whole group of people staying there and it's off limits to anyone else. I called the hotel manager yesterday evening and gave him a description of Kayla. He said that sounded just like one of the younger guests and he's pretty sure that he's heard people call her Kayla."
"Get a small team together and be ready in ten minutes. I'm calling the DA for a warrant to search the place. By the way, who's renting the hotel?"
"Some one named Dr. Frank N. Futer."
Oh, boy, the police have no idea of what they're getting into, do they?