18th December 2019

"We saw her last yesterday morning, when she left for college. She wore her usual everyday casual outfit." Ann Brooke sobbed.

Even with her daughter missing, she still dressed to impress with a long red gown adorned with stones. The Brooks' were the perfect example of a family lacking nothing; they had the looks, brain and money. It was a wonder that Emily Brooke had no security on her.

She described Emily while Linda took notes. I decided to check the girl's room.

"Mrs. Brooks, I need to check your daughter's room." I said, making sure my voice was stern. I knew that was the only way she would cooperate.

She looked at me for a while, before nodding her head. The family was obnoxious, but they practically paid me so I couldn't complain.

The room seemed lifeless, the walls were bare except for a large portrait of Emily. The bed was made, the room spotless. Nothing seemed out of place except a brown leather book which lay on the bed.

"She is a good artist." I remarked, as I flipped the pages of the book. Sketches of animals, dresses and even her dad were present.

"Yes, she loved drawing. It was her favourite thing to do." A small voice said. I looked up to see a 10 year old girl at the doorway, Janet Brooks.

"Hi, how are you?" I asked. I suddenly wished Emily would be found for the sake of her little sister.

"Not okay. Emily didn't read to me last night. I woke up this morning and Mom said she couldn't be found. I don't believe her, she never liked Emily much anyway." The girl began to cry.

"Who said she couldn't be found? She's fine, she's staying at a friend's place. However, she won't be able to call now as there is no service in that area." I wasn't supposed to be doing this, the girl deserved the truth. But seeing her cry made me weak.

"Really? When will I get to see her? It's almost Christmas. I want her to be here for Christmas." She replied cheerfully.

"She will be here for Christmas." With one week to go, I hoped that would be true.

Linda was done by the time I got back to them. I would have asked the questions, but I trusted her to ask beneficial questions.

"We'll be on our way, Ma'am. Do keep us informed if any one contacts you, or if anything arises. Also give my regards to your youngest daughter." I could see that my last statement surprised her.

Back at the station, I looked at the woman's statement. Emily was 20, studied at The Business College, and loved drawing. She also visited her friend, Susan Hendricks regularly, and was never at home.

I would have to look into this. Her mom didn't like her much, and she was rarely at home. But first, I needed to speak to Daniel Brooks.

Driving was becoming increasingly tedious, the roads were becoming impassable as the snow continued falling. It was going to be a snowy Christmas this year.

Soon, I was at the White Rock. The ever present guard ushered me into the building, it appeared the Mayor was awaiting my arrival as I was led directly to his office.

"Good afternoon, Mayor." I said as I stepped into the office.

"Good afternoon, Bella. I suppose you're here for the disappearance of my daughter." Daniel Brooks inquired.

He had been the Mayor of the town two times in a row. With his charisma and never aging look, he was quite approachable hence the familiarity.

"I need to ask you some questions, if you have the time."

"I always have time to spare for my family." He said, as he quickly signed some documents and fully gave me his attention.

"Okay. Could you describe Emily?" I decided to start with the basics, I needed to understand his daughter well enough to understand her disappearance.

"Emily is a sweet girl, she is caring and attentive. She tends to put the needs of others before herself. I remember how she took the blame for her sister's accident three years ago. I blamed her for it until I realized that it was my wife's fault." He said affectionately. I could see the love he had for his daughter.

His face darkened a bit. "Lately, she has been keeping to herself. When she's at home, she's either drawing in her room or reading to Janet my youngest daughter. Other than that, she's out with friends or in college."

"What do you think caused this sudden withdrawal?" I asked.

"She found out my wife was not her real mother." His voice had gone down and I barely heard what he said.

He continued, "She was furious about not being told. She felt we cheated her especially since my wife didn't like her much."

The town knew about it, it happened before he became mayor. He was in a political position even then. Seventeen years ago, his first wife died. Emily was 3 then. Months later, he married another wife and rumour had it that he had been cheating on his first wife.

Some people believed the new wife had killed the former one. My parents however, trusted him. They told me the story when he came into power eight years ago. I was 9 when his wife died.

I was surprised Emily didn't know about it all this while.

"How did she find out?"

"My wife. They were arguing, and she said it. My daughter has not been talking to me ever since. She feels betrayed and cheated." He looked down sadly. He was trying to control himself.

I had to be the cop here, unfeeling. "Do you feel like she was kidnapped or she disappeared on her own?"

"She was angry, yes. However, she wouldn't leave her sister for a day without saying where she was going. My daughter was kidnapped."

I assure you, Mayor that we will find her and whoever did this will be punished." I said.

*****
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