2

Fairlawn is a small, residential town. Home of the working class and middle class in southeast Washington D.C. and less than a 30-minute drive from Franklin Square where Fred and Daphne had traveled from.

Daphne had written a list of questions to ask Jenny Hopkins' parents whilst Fred drove to their home.

With Fred's phone connected to the car, they used Apple Maps to direct them, and his Spotify playlist played in the background.

The houses are homely looking, Fred noticed they looked similar to the houses along Daphne's parent's street, except these didn't look as expensive.

The houses are built behind strong sturdy oak trees which stand on the paths sheltering the road, which are free of potholes.

"A beautiful place to raise a family," thought Fred. He glanced at Daphne scribbling on her notepad he didn't think she was paying any attention until her pen stopped and she looked at him, 'What?' She asked.

Oh nothing, just fantasizing about our family

'Nothing, just looking at your notes.' He said quickly, his cheeks turning slightly pink.

'Turn left onto Woods Crescent and you will have arrived at your destination.' The satnav spoke as Fred turned the corner, 'Ok, we're almost here- oh.'

As the car turned onto Woods Crescent they saw the street filled with cars, news vans, and police cars with lights flashing as well as the flashing lights of the paparazzi cameras. They surrounded a house where the police officers were trying to hold back the paparazzi.

Fred parked a few houses down from the police cars, there wasn't much room but enough for his Toyota.

The familiar iPhone ringtone came muffled from Daphne's coat pocket. She pulled it out and saw the caller ID, GILROY.

She answered the call and put it on loudspeaker, 'Hello?'

'Blake, are you guys there yet?' He asked. 'Yeah we just arrived, it's a media circus.' Daphne replied.

'The Hopkins' are about to make a statement, make sure you get it.' He hung up after giving his demand. Daphne returned her phone to her pocket. Fred turned off the engine and they climbed out of the car.

The wind blew leaves across the sidewalk as Fred and Daphne made their way toward the media frenzy.

As they came closer to the house, three figures walked along the driveway and stopped behind the police officers blocking the paparazzi.

Daphne recognised them as Jenny Hopkin's sister and parents. They walked towards the end of the driveway, hand in hand. Mr Hopkins pulled out a folded piece of paper from his jeans pocket.

Daphne and Fred were standing close enough so they could see. Fred opened the voice recorder on his phone whilst Daphne took notes.

Mr Hopkins cleared his throat, 'We would like to make a brief statement. Thank you to everyone who has helped search for our Jenny and those who are still looking for her. At this time, we have received no contact from Jenny or from anyone who could have taken Jenny and we are not aware of any recent sightings of her. We ask for you to please continue to look for Jenny and if you have any information regarding her whereabouts or if you think you have seen her, please call the police incident number 555-1996. Thank you.'

Reporters began shouting questions but the family had already turned away and returned to their shelter.

Daphne turned to Fred, 'We leave it for now.'

Fred nodded and they returned to the car. 'Obviously, the family had nothing to do with the disappearance and I highly doubt they know something.'

Daphne nodded as she pulled her coat tighter around her as the wind picked up and the rain started.

Fred unlocked the car and they climbed in just in time as the rain became heavier.

'Come back tomorrow?' Daphne asked, 'I'll drive?'

Fred sniggered, 'Yeah right, as if I'm getting into your death trap.'

'It would get us here much safer than you driving, Vin Diesel.' Daphne laughed.

'I got us here in one piece didn't I?' Fred inserted the key and started the engine and the screen welcomed them with the Toyota logo.

Daphne looked at her watch, 4:02 PM

She opened the missing person's report regarding Jenny Hopkins. She scrolled until she found what she was looking for. 'Jenny worked for TW Foods.' She said.

'Yeah?' Fred asked.

Daphne quickly Googled the whereabouts of TW FOODS, she clicked on the webpage of TW FOODS. The logo is blue with a thin white outline, and the slogan reads "Only the Best".

Daphne clicks on the About button and quickly reads the description.

"TW FOODS was founded by Theodore Wilkins in 2002. His aim was to deliver the healthiest and sustainably sourced foods to the younger generation of his community and supplying food and healthy ingredients to the schools in his community before expanding countrywide."

She clicked on the Contact Us button and found a telephone number, email address, and fax to the company along with the address with a small map of the area.

'It's not far from the Anacostia River, along Summer Road, it's only 25 minutes from here.'

'You wanna go?' Fred asked. Daphne nodded, 'Yeah. I want to talk to her colleagues.' She fastened her seatbelt.

She dialed the telephone number she'd found on the website.

"Hello, welcome to TW Foods, only the best." Automated voice recording, Daphne rolled her eyes. "Please be patient while we put you through to our next available agent."

Daphne listened to what could only be described as the most annoying fairground tune she had heard.

"Thank you for being patient." The automated voice said again.

The tune again. Then it cut off and finally, a human voice came through, 'Hello, TW Foods, Callie speaking how can I help?' Cheerful, Daphne thought.

'Hello, I'm Daphne Blake and I'm looking into Jenny Hopkins' disappearance and I hoped someone would be able to provide some information about her.'

Silence, then 'Umm…'

Daphne glanced at Fred, he raised an eyebrow.

'I don't know who can help you with that. Give me two minutes and I'll put you on hold.'

That annoying fairground music again.

'She put me on hold.' Daphne spoke. Fred smiled, his phone pinged in his pocket and he checked it. A message from his mother "Are you coming to see me this weekend, sweetie-pie?"

Best not let Daphne see that, though she already knows how many nicknames his mother gives him; cutie pie, sweetie pie, along with many other "terms of endearment".

'Hello.' Daphne spoke. Fred returned his phone to his pocket.

'I'm sorry to keep you waiting, can you please allow someone to call you back in a few minutes? Can I take your number?'

'Sure.' Daphne said and she told the woman her number and ended the call. 'They're gonna call me back.'

'Right.' Fred said, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel, 'Who else is on the list?'

'Jenny's boyfriend and some of her friends.'

'What's her boyfriend's name?' Fred asked. Daphne looked at her notes, 'Rio Andrews.'

'I think it's strange that Rio wasn't there when the family gave their statement just now.' Fred said.

'He's probably with his family.' Daphne suggested. 'What do we know about Rio?' Fred asked.

'He wasn't a suspect but the police looked into his whereabouts on the night Jenny disappeared and the day after. He was working an extra shift and then went to his mother's house after work.' Daphne explained.

'Where does he work?' Fred asked.

'The police report says he's an apprentice painter and decorator and also works at the taxi office. That's where he was the night Jenny disappeared.' Daphne read from her notes.

'Painting and decorating and taxis?' Fred asked, 'He's a busy guy.' Daphne commented.

Daphne's ringtone was heard muffled from her jacket pocket, she pulled out her phone and saw Unknown Caller.

She answered it, 'Hello?'

'Hello, is this Daphne Blake?' A woman spoke professionally.

'Yes, who is this?'

'I'm Layla Black, I work for Mr Theodore Wilkins at TW Foods.' The woman spoke clearly.

'Oh hello, thank you for getting back to me so quickly.' Daphne spoke.

'No trouble. I'm calling to arrange a meeting with you, I can't offer much but I can provide some insight into Jenny Hopkins' work life.' Layla Black explained.

'That would be great. Is today ok for you?' Daphne asked glancing at Fred. 'That would be fine. Is four forty a suitable time?' Layla Black asked.

'Yes of course. Thank you.' Daphne said. 'See you at four forty.' Layla Black said and she ended the call.

Daphne put her phone back in her pocket. 'I'm guessing that was Jenny's workplace?' Fred asked.

'Yeah, they're gonna speak to us today at the office.' Daphne explained and she keyed in the address for TW Foods warehouse, Summer Road. Only 25 minutes away.

Fred pulled out of the cul-de-sac and onto the road and the satnav advised they would arrive at TW Foods at 4:35 PM.