CHAPTER 5 Team Effort

Cooper stared at his phone willing it to ring. Landry said he would call right back. Fifteen minutes had gone by. Cooper was getting ready to call him back when the phone started ringing.

"Hello. This is Cooper Freedman."

"Cooper. Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I was on the other line with my brother. He's making arrangements for us to fly out there on his corporate jet later today."

"Oh really." Cooper answered. Now Cooper started to get more concerned. Charlotte's family had never been out to visit Charlotte in the over two years he had been with her. They must be really worried if both her brother's were flying out to L.A.

"Yup! My Momma wants to come too. It's hard just sitti'n around here knowing my sister is missing."

"What were you going to tell me about Charlotte's ex and his family?" Cooper had to know.

"Charlotte's ex Matthew is a real good guy. Last I knew he was working as a top agent for the FBI crime division. But the ironic thing about it is he comes from a crime family." Landry k sort of laughed a little as he told Cooper since he found it strange.

" What do you mean crime family?"

"Well his father and uncles own a few clubs. Mostly strip clubs. They've been known to have illegal activiites going on at those clubs. A lot of drug selling and prostitution. That kind of stuff. Plus I've heard rumors that they were into other types of crime too. But Matthew's different. I guess he rebelled from his family and chose the opposite path. When he first met Charlotte he was a cop. Now he's worked himself up the ranks at the FBI." Landry went on until Cooper interrupted him.

"Do you think that has something to do with Charlotte's disappearance?" Cooper asked.

"It might. I mean Charlotte was the intended target. They didn't want that other chic k she was living with. Or it could just be a random thing. I'm not sure."

"Maybe someone should talk to her ex since he's FBI." Cooper suggested.

"I believe the cops are planning on doing that. That's the impression I got when I spoke with them. I got to get going. Got things to take care of here before I fly out."

"When you arrive in Los Angeles give me a call. I would like to meet up with you and your family." Cooper wished he had made an effort to get to know Charlotte's family earlier while they were dating. If he did maybe they would have told him about Charlotte's ex and her life before they met. Then it wouldn't be such a shock to him.

Cooper hung up the phone.

"What's going on?" Addison asked him.

"Charlotte's family is flying out to L.A. later today"

"Oh they must be really worried then. Huh?" Addison was thinking out loud.

"Yeah well they should join the club" Cooper shook his head and looked down at the ground. Addison rubbed his back.

"It'll be okay Coop. You'll get through this." Addison tried her best to comfort him.

"The worst part of it all is I was pushing her way. Right now wherever she is she thinks I hate her. That's what tears me apart the most. I just want her to know I love her. I never stopped"

"I think she knows that Coop." Addison wasn't sure what Charlotte felt. She'd wished she took the time to talk to Charlotte about the breakup. She could see how it hurt Charlotte. Addison sighed. She wished she could have turned back the clock and been a friend to Charlotte. Charlotte reminded her of herself a few years back. Cooper patted Addison on the back this time.

"We'll find her" He said. "Just think positive thoughts."