Chapter 5: Debris: Tiffany and Stuart

Also inspired by a random prompt: first job. Mentions 9/11

It was such a devastating sight. Concrete, stone, steel, everywhere. Smoke and dust in the air. Not once in her still young law enforcement career did Tiff saw a more upsetting scene.

Since the chief declared it was all-hands-on-deck, she and her partner rushed to the scene. The once tall and mighty structure reduced to piles of rocks.

"What do we do now?" she asked her more senior partner.

He just sighed. "We just have to wait for orders."

A commotion on the sidelines caught her attention. Since they were far away, she can only see few features about the guy trying to get past in the security lines. He was in a classic blue suit, which probably cost more than her monthly apartment rent.

"Please, I need to go there! I need to see my -"

"Normally, I wouldn't feel sorry for guys like that," said her partner beside her.

She turned to him. "What happened?"

"He's a Wall Street guy, kept mentioning it like it's still worth something. But really, after what happened..." He shook his head. "He's just another guy looking for his missing brother, sister or any other relative."

She was about to approach and comfort the guy when their superior called her attention. "Wallace!"

Stuart turned his head toward an officer yelling out another officer's name. He couldn't understand since he's standing a few feet away. He only saw a bulky officer in his navy blue uniform blocking most of his colleagues. He was about to call their attention, taking a chance just in case they're more sympathetic to a guy who just wanted to see if his brother is okay.

But an officer shoved him aside and pulled him towards a makeshift waiting area for all the others who were asking for news. It had to be the longest day of his life.

They were on the way to check out a possible hideout for their suspect when Tiff saw that they were passing by near the 9/11 Memorial. She looked over to her partner and saw him looking out the passenger window.

She reached out to touch his shoulder and offered a quick smile when he turned to her. He nodded and understood.

Notes:

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