Chapter 20

Nick's pov

"Your mom isn't here."

Those last words echoed through the phone as Monroe cautiously explained the current dilemma. I couldn't even bring myself to reply as I found myself instantly ending the call. Hank was staring at me curiously as I slipped the phone into my pocket, tightening my jacket in the process.

"I have to go," I said abruptly.

"Where to?" he asked quizzically.

"Something came up…."

My eyes glanced around the station, watching as the other officers tended to their work, half of them working in the hopes to get ahead while the others stared intently at their screens, wishing to unravel the mysteries of their newest case.

"Are you sure everything is alright?" Hank asked, sliding out of his chair to stand beside me.

"I can't be sure right-…"

Instantly the room fell eerily quiet as the sound of the roaring street filled the room. People's eyes widened as they look among one another, shock and worry plastered across their faces. My eyes fell on Hank who was looking back at me with just as much worry. My feet immediately found themselves bolting to the wooden doors of the entrance, the other officers pushing it open as well. Bright daylight pierced the room as we stood on the front steps. Not far down the road stood a small car, up in flames and overturned; the car that we all recognized to be the one that had been transporting Adalind Schade.

"Hank, let's go!" I yelled as we began sprinting down the street towards the wreck.

Passerby's watched with open mouths as the car continued to erupt into scorching flames. The only real question was whether or not there was anyone in there. The sound of officers calling out for ambulances on their phones filled my ears as I came to a screeching halt in front of the vehicle. The searing heat caused me to back away, instantly shielding my face.

"Can you see anyone in the car?" Hank yelled from beside me.

"No, can you?" I asked as my eyes skimmed every visible area of the vehicle.

"Move out of the way!" yelled the incoming firemen as they immediately began to douse the flames with their hoses.

Slowly, the fire began to wither away, a dark black coloring taking its place. Once every piece of the car remained free of the roaring flames, they backed away, allowing us to step forward once again.

"Man, this car doesn't look so good," Hank said as he knelt on the ground to peer inside.

"Anything in there?" I asked.

"This car is completely empty," he stated.

"But I thought the Captain and another officer went with her for transport?"

"Well, they're gone now," Hank said, allowing himself to stand once again.

My hands ran themselves through my hair as my eyes pinched closed. Three people left to transfer a new prisoner and now all of them are missing. Something about this isn't right; and just when I thought my luck would begin to turn around.

"Can you finish up here?" I asked him.

He nodded quickly, seeing that the other officers were there as well. I still had to get home to see where my mother had disappeared to. Hopefully finding her would be easier than locating Juliette. I jogged back down the street and into the parking lot, jumping back into the truck. I quickly turned it on and headed back for home, hoping to see that Monroe and Rosalee were still there. Hopefully they would be…

Monroe's pov

"Nick hung up on me," I stated as Rosalee and I walked through his living room.

We were currently at Nick's house, hoping to have discovered how the transfer went, yet those plans hadn't exactly turned out so well. His mother also now appeared to be missing as well as Juliette; because we didn't have enough people to track down already.

"Why do you think his mother would have left? Wouldn't Nick have told her to stay at home so they could talk about some of the things that have been going on?" Rosalee questioned.

"Who knows? Nick always used to tell me she was a little mysterious. I'm just hoping that she will come back. He's already under so much stress as it is."

"Well, she better turn up because this is beginning to get a little out of hand."

I nodded my head at her as I slowly crossed over into the kitchen. Nick should be getting home soon after that phone call we had. My eyes drifted down towards Rosalee, watching as she dragged her fingers along the counter and over to the table before gently taking a seat to look back at me.

"You know, after this whole mess is over I believe we are due for an amazing date. I was thinking about a picnic in the park?" I asked hopefully, remembering our conversation from not long ago.

She smiled up at me before replying, "Sounds like fun."

Just as I was about to sit down beside her the door flew open to reveal Nick as he came rushing through the house.

"Nick, what happened to you, man?" I asked as I saw his clothes were slightly black.

"Adalind. She managed to escape one last time. Somehow the car that was transporting her got overturned and caught on fire. There was another officer as well as the Captain but no one knows where they are," Nick explained.

My face immediately paled as Nick told Rosalee and I that Adalind had disappeared once again.

"So, Juliette, your mother, Adalind and other cops are all missing? This is getting too out of hand!" I complained.

"Even I agree with Monroe right now. That many disappearances doesn't add up. Something must be missing from this puzzle," Rosalee added.

"The question is what?"

Our eyes all glanced around the room, searching each others as the sound of a cell phone erupted, breaking the silence. Nick cautiously pulled it from his jacket before turning it around, facing it to us. The words glowed across the screen as we all recognized the name of the familiar caller: Adalind Schade.

Hey everyone! So this story is slowly coming to a close. I hope you have been enjoying this as much as I have. This has been my first fanfiction so it has been so much fun. There are still a few chapters left to come so please feel free to comment; tell me what you thought, any requests you'd possibly like to see happen? I would be really impressed if you guys could guess the ending because I have had this part planned since the beginning. Thanks again!