5
Fred spent his Friday nights ordering takeout and watching old movies with Daphne. They shared their love for movies since meeting at college all those years ago.
Fred's dream was to be come a director and he had hoped to make movies like the ones he watched as a kid. Charlie Chaplin movies were his favouties, and Laurel and Hardy's.
It was just him and his mother when he was growing up, he never knew his father but as his mother tells him "he just got up and left", and it happened to be a week before Fred was born.
He admired his mother for her hard work when he was growing up, she made sure he had everything, not always everything he wanted but he never asked for a lot.
When his mother worked, Fred's grandfather looked after him. Peter Jones was the only male role model in his life. If it hadn't been for him, he would never have watched a Charlie Chaplin movie in his life, nor Laurel and Hardy. And that's how Fred's love for movies became as it is today.
It was his grandfather who had encouraged him to go to college in New York. He didn't believe in star signs, miracles or anything like that, but he counted himself lucky that his grandfather paid half of his college tuition, he wouldn't have met Daphne if it hadn't been for his grandfather's generosity.
His grandfather passed away the year after he graduated college. His whole life he had been following his dream of becoming a director, but college led him to follow a different dream. One that had him utterly lovestruck and pining for her attention since day one.
And that brings him here to Washington D.C. Working as a photographer for the Washington Post alongside his best friend.
This Friday night, Fred sat alone in his apartment after eating some pasta. He sat on the couch with his laptop resting on his outstretched legs and the TV played on some random channel he selected. His main focus was on his and Daphne's assigned case for the Washington Post.
No more statements had been released by the police or any of Jenny Hopkins' family members.
He sat forward and transferred his laptop to the coffee table in front of him and he took his notepad and a pen.
He turned back a few pages to Jenny Hopkins' timeline.
April 20, approx 6pm- Jenny returns home from work
April 20 approx 6:45pm - Jenny leaves home following an argument with her parents.
April 21 approx 7am - Sarah Hopkins discovers Jenny didn't come home and assumed she'd be with her boyfriend, Rio Andrews
April 21 - Jenny scheduled for work at 9am but doesn't show
April 21 approx 6:30pm - Hopkins' contact Rio Andrews but he hasn't seen Jenny all day.
April 21 approx 6:35pm - Sarah Hopkins calls the police and reports Jenny missing.
However many times he read over the timeline, he just couldn't figure out what could have gone wrong. How does it all fit in?
In the background, he heard the familiar sound of CNN breaking news chime. Cindy Arnold and Adrian Harrison were reporting this evening; the young blond and the greying man soon due for retirement.
He stood from his spot on the couch and made for the kitchen. Only a few steps away from the couch in his small apartment, he could still hear the TV but he was busy reaching for the whisky bottle in the back of the cupboard to pay too much attention to the news.
He poured a small amount of the aged whisky into a glass and returned to the couch.
"Now our top stories this evening." Cindy Arnold spoke.
The familiar portrait of Jenny Hopkins appeared on his TV screen, it was then replaced by a clip of the vigil held outside the family home as the presenter spoke, "She is still missing, Jenny Hopkins from Fairlawn hasn't been seen since April twentieth. Her parents gave a brief statement today but there have no sightings of the missing woman and police are growing concerned for her safety. There are no new leads in this case."
Fred sipped his whisky and savoured the delicious burning sensation he felt in this throat.
"What is happening to our children?" Adrian Harrison's voice boomed, "Could there be a virus affecting our children? There has been a huge wave of absences from schools across the state over the last month, not just children but teachers too. One school has even put measures in place to keep everyone at a safe distance."
Fred finished his whisky and put the empty glass on the table. He grabbed the TV remote and flipped over the channels until he found something to watch.
–
Daphne checked her phone before she climbed out of the car. Nothing new yet. She hoped to get home so she can go back to working on this case.
But she had to get through this evening first.
She walked along the stone path which ran between two patches of recently mowed grass. The sun was going down but she could see the neat flower beds running along the front of the house.
Thalia rang the doorbell and very quickly they were greeted by Daphne's aunt Catherine, who was an almost identical image of her mother. Both had the same blond hair which had a slight curl to it, and the same blue eyes.
The two sisters hugged each other.
They live only a 10-minute drive from each other but still greet one another as if it is the first time in years.
'Come in! Come in!' Catherine exclaimed in her honeyed voice. Daphne's nose twitched when her aunt hugged her, the familiar strong scent of expensive perfume.
'How long has it been since I saw you?' Catherine asked, 'Almost a year?'
'About six months.' Daphne forced a smile. 'Ah, well you should come back more often.' Catherine smiled and she patted Daphne's cheek gently before she waltzed away.
Daphne bit her lip as she watched Catherine waltz through her living room. She had been biting her tongue for many years, but she would never say anything. Catherine was the most critical Daphne knew and she hated her for it.
Daphne was fortunate that NYU had the major she wanted so she could get away from the criticisms.
Her apartment in New York City was only small, with a kitchen and living areas combined, and a door leading to the bedroom with the en-suite. It was small but it was her safe haven.
If it wasn't her personality that was nit-picked, it was her appearance.
"You should dye your hair, it's very orange."
"Rather than studying films, why don't you do something to help your father's business?"
"If you haven't got a husband by the end of the year, we'll have to find one for you, or what good will you be to anyone?"
Daphne wasn't the only one who was at the receiving end of the criticisms. Her sister Thalia had received a few low blows from her mother, but Thalia was good at pretending everything was ok.
'Thank god you're back.' Daphne was relieved to see her cousin Tyler. His blonde hair was styled in a pompadour hair style. He had darker hair when Daphne last saw him, and blonde was not his natural hair colour but it suited him.
Around five years ago, Tyler came out as gay. Daphne thought it was obvious to anyone who knew him, but somehow it slipped under the radar of his mother and grandmother. His father had been supportive of it, so had Daphne's parents. But Catherine and Daphne's grandmother, Moriah Miller, had not been so supportive.
Catherine had expressed how much her youngest son had "disappointed the family", whilst Daphne's grandmother had refused to speak to him until the day she died. And Tyler resented them both.
'I'll tell you about it later.' Tyler informed. 'Anyway, how is Washington?'
Daphne smiled at what was probably the most humbling comment she had heard all afternoon. 'I love it. It's great. You should come visit.'
'I will do.' Tyler replied.
When Daphne was living in New York; Thalia arranged a surprise visit with her cousins and Daphne's aunt Kate. Nobody aside from her father had seen her apartment in Washington D.C.
'Hey, there she is!' Another familiar face, her oldest cousin, Charlotte.
She hadn't changed at all since Daphne last saw her. She still had the same long, chocolate brown hair and dark eyes. She wore a very similar outfit to Thalia but thankfully they had a different taste in make-up. Thalia had applied a decent amount of mascara and lipstick on whilst Charlotte was covered in concealer, foundation, eye shadow and whatever else.
Charlotte hugged her tightly, as Thalia had done earlier that day. Charlotte and Thalia were incredibly close with Charlotte being only a couple of months older than Thalia and they'd been best friends as long as Daphne can remember.
'How's the boyfriend?' Charlotte asked, winking.
'I don't have a boyfriend.' Daphne said. Charlotte laughed, 'You can stop denying it now, we all know, you don't have to keep it a secret anymore.'
Daphne laughed lightly but was confused, 'Seriously, I don't have a boyfriend.'
Charlotte smiled, 'That's not what Thalia said.'
Daphne looked to her sister who stood just a few steps away. She turned red and her eyes widened when Daphne glared at her.
'What did Thalia say?' Daphne asked. 'I said,' Thalia stuttered, 'I said Daddy bought that prosecco that you like!'
Thalia quickly grabbed Daphne's hand and dragged her away from Charlotte and Tyler and into the kitchen where the parents had gone to start their alcohol consumption as soon as possible.
Daphne dug her heels into the ground before they reached the kitchen, 'What did you say?' Daphne quietly asked her sister, trying to unleash herself from her tight grip.
Thalia turned to face her, her cheeks still red and she raised her hands, 'I said it in your defence.'
'My defence?' Daphne asked, 'What does that mean?'
'It means mom and Catherine were asking their friends if one of their sons would propose to you.' Thalia said, 'Don't get mad, I told them that you called me and told me in confidence because it's a secret. I told them that you and Fred are planning to get married next year.'
Daphne's eyes widened, 'What? Why would you say that?'
'Because they were ready to pimp you off to Carol Harris' creepy son, Max.' Thalia explained.
'Max Harris, really?' Daphne felt slightly disgusted by the thought of being in the same room as Max Harris, let alone marry him. Thalia nodded, 'Your children would like Shrek.'
She wasn't wrong about that, not to mention Max Harris is one of the most arrogant, egocentric people in the village. He had a reputation for breaking hearts and sleeping around.
Daphne had only ever had one encounter with him and she would have tore him apart if her father hadn't stepped in.
'Please don't say anything, tonight is about Jason remember?' Thalia begged.
As angry as she was and as much as she wanted to scream at her mother and Catherine, Thalia was right. She was here for Jason. She hoped he would arrive soon at least then they would all have something to talk about other than her non-existent love life.
Thalia dragged Daphne into the kitchen where she nosied over the drinks. Tyler handed Daphne a glass of whisky.
'I think you need this.' He said sympathetically as he necked his glass and Daphne wasn't far behind him.
'I'm going to need this as much as you. And lord will Jason too.' He muttered. 'What?' Daphne asked. Tyler smiled, 'Nothing, drink up.'
'Look who's here!' Charlotte cheered as she carried a small child in her arms.
She was followed by Daphne's other aunt Kate who she was more than relieved to see.
Kate always stuck up for Daphne and Thalia when they were growing up. Daphne could always rely on her, so when she was sixteen and she wanted a tattoo, Kate took her and advised her to get it in a place where it could be easily hidden. To this day, her parent's don't know about it.
Kate gracefully stepped into the kitchen, her long blonde hair bouncing around and her husband Tom following close behind. Kate is currently five months pregnant and somehow walking in heels.
'Just got back today huh?' Kate asked as she wrapped her arms around Daphne, 'Yeah, not that long ago. How are you doing?'
'I feel amazing!' Kate beamed, 'How about you? I heard about the wedding.' Kate winked, knowing it wasn't true and Daphne smiled, 'I'm perfectly fine.'
'Emily!' Tyler screamed at Daphne's side before he pulled the toddler from his sister's arms and threw her into the air, her giggling and squealed filled the room and her curly blond hair bounced around her.
'Drink, drink!' Emily squealed when she saw Charlotte with a glass of prosecco. 'Sweetie you're much too young for that.' Tyler cooed as he carried her to the fridge and took a juice box.
'Juice, juice, juice!' Emily chanted whilst she stomped around the kitchen. She had grown so much since Daphne last saw her, but it seemed that Emily hadn't forgotten about her as she waved to Daphne as she stomped by.
'Is Jason not going to be suspicious with all the cars outside?' Kate asked as she stroked her bump.
'I wanted it to be a surprise but he's going to find out sooner or later.' Catherine shrugged.
A phone pinged, it was Charlotte, 'Speak of the devil and he will come. Jason's here.'
'Oh God, Christopher where's the confetti cannon?' Catherine screeched. 'Under the stairs.' Christopher replied.
Catherine made a mad dash to the cupboard under the stairs and produced two confetti cannons.
'Here!' She threw them to Charlotte and Tyler who squealed in his attempt to catch the cannon.
'Make sure you pop it the right way.' Daphne said as she stood next to him. The families gathered near the front door.
'Sshhh.' Catherine hushed the chattering between Thalia and Charlotte, and all went silent.
The sound of a motorbike engine dying, footsteps walking along the path, and then the turning of the doorknob
'Surprise!' Everyone shouted and Tyler and Charlotte burst the confetti cannons covering Jason in blue and silver confetti.
He was laughing, 'What are you all doing here? This is brilliant!'
'Obviously, we're here to surprise you and everyone has kept this a secret for months.' Catherine sugar-coated everything she was saying and Jason was laughing all the same.
'Jay Jay!' Emily was clapping, then she picked up handfuls of confetti and threw them around.