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Oct-28-2008 02:14


...

“He’s just gone!”

“What do you mean gone?”

“I mean gone, detective, disappeared without a trace.”

“Barry Grant? Gone?”

“…”

“And what do you expect out of me?”

“What should I expect out of you?”

Nov-13-2008 08:31

Makensie chuckles, and says, "Thank you, but, I'm leaving right behind you"

Reese stands up, and says, "Don't get mixed with a fellow detective, Mak. It complicates things" Makensie looks at her, frowns, and says, "Mixed up? I'm not mixed up with anyone. Friends are all I can have in this profession"

"Whatever. Remember that guy you......", Reese said, as they talked on their way out the door, into the night.

The two who had been watching from a distance, made their way to the door, as well. Not to follow them, but, to go check on a couple more interested detectives.

Nov-13-2008 12:20


**Aylesbury Women’s Prison, Buckinghamshire, England 1304 hrs**

Clift walked into in a tiny, humid room with no windows, a single wooden table and three mismatched chairs. He was instructed to sit in the single chair facing the door, and was assured that Rebecca Franks would be escorted over to meet with him for 20 minutes very soon.

Clift sighed.

He wondered if twenty minutes with Mrs. Franks would get him any further in his investigations. Nevertheless he was very thankful to even be able to meet with her, having been refused initially. Director Jesse Hunter had to pull many strings and use all the leverage available to Obelisk and its London connections to get him those twenty minutes with Mrs. Franks.

Of course, it was more bureaucracy that stood in the way of his meeting with Mrs. Franks than anything else. Still it was admirable of Director Hunter to throw all his weight behind such a young and, by Mrs. Rudisill’s standards, reckless rookie.

Clift took out his pad and waited in silence for several minutes. He then started remembering his dinner with Makensie and how he really enjoyed her company. ‘Such a sweet gal’ he thought to himself. When exactly 15 minutes passed, he started writing down some names and questions:

Miss Violet Parr:
‘How do you know Barry Grant and how close is your relationship?’
‘What do you of his disappearance?’
‘Who else can help shed some light on where I can find him?’

Miss Reese Withers:
‘Having been Barry’s first love, where do you expect him to be now?’
‘Did he contact you before leaving?’
‘Who else can help shed some light on where I can find him?’

Clift read his questions over, and thought about the two very different personalities of Miss Parr and Miss Withers. He crumpled the paper. ‘This needs to be done openly and directly, no written questions beforehand’ he thought.

Nov-13-2008 12:51


**Aylesbury Women’s Prison, Buckinghamshire, England 1352 hrs**

A beautiful, voluptuous blonde walked in as Clift was lost in his own thoughts.

He was startled suddenly by her magnificent built and attractive face. Clift enjoyed guessing people’s ages. He judged Rebecca Franks to be in her early to mid thirties, although she looked much younger despite the prison conditions.

Mrs. Franks was surprisingly civil. “Good day. I am told your name is Mr. Garrett.”

“Mrs. Franks.” Clift got up to shake her hand, but was subtly instructed not to by one of the guards. “Good day to you. Please have a seat...”

Becky had already sat down before Clift could finish his sentence. She flicked her hair. “Is this about one of my appeals against His Majesty’s Crown Court?”

Clift quickly evaluated Becky’s ability to handle shocking news and plunged right in. “No, it is not. I am not with the British Government. I am an American citizen, a private detective investigating the disappearance of Detective Barry Grant.”

Becky’s eyes welled up with tears, and her hard exterior broke down to its very core. She started to weep, very shockingly. Clift’s heart started to beat and he could tell he misjudged her inner strength: It would take more than just 20 minutes for Becky to able to recompose herself.

Nov-13-2008 12:54


“Mrs. Franks-”

“I hurt him so much.” Becky spoke unexpectedly, still crying. “I just never could let him go, whether I needed him or not... He was dear to me, I swear it. But I caused him so much trouble and so much misery. He was always there when I needed him... For heaven’s sake, Barry... Disappearance you say? Has he been kidnapped again?”

Clift pressed on. “It’s too early in the investigation to tell Mrs. Franks, tell me what were you doing in Shanghai at the time of your arrest?”

Becky attempted drying her tears with a twisted handkerchief in her hands, but they kept coming down her rosy cheeks. “I am innocent Mr. Garrett. I was framed. All these charges are baseless and untrue, I swear it and can prove it.”

Clift spoke with his eyes on his watch. “Mrs. Franks, please, we don’t have much time. Tell me what were you doing in Shanghai at the time of your arrest?”

“I was there to meet with Barry. He had invited me over to meet with him.”

“Can you elaborate on that?”

“I had heard that his Agency has run into financial difficulties. I wanted to help. I contacted him and he said he was fine and the agency was fine...” Becky was gasping for air as she spoke. “...that he just needed to get away from it all and go where he cannot be found ever... I told him this was crazy talk but he wouldn’t listen... You don’t know Barry: when his mind is made up no one can bring him around...” Becky broke down once more into tears.

Nov-13-2008 12:57


Clift felt sorry for her.

She was in a miserable state emotionally, he could tell. She needed a hug, but he wasn’t in a position to offer her any solace. “You were saying he wanted to get away. Did he tell you from what, or who, or why?”

Becky shut her eyes tight in an effort to either remember or stop crying. “No he didn’t. He was determined on leaving though. I knew I was the only person he would listen to. I went to Shanghai to stop him from making any rash decisions...”

“And?”

“He was already gone by the time I got there. And before I knew it, I was arrested and framed with several made up criminal and civil charges. Life has not been the same since. I’ve lost both my Barry and my freedom in the same month. How was I meant to go on?” Becky was getting more nervous and agitated as she spoke. “No one seems to understand me. The whole world doesn’t understand. I need him... badly... please find him Mr. Garrett.”

The guard at the door started to move towards Becky. Clift shouted some more questions quickly. “Did anyone meet with you concerning Barry? Do you know who else I could ask about him? Where would you expect him to be right now?”

Becky obediently got up from her chair and moved towards the guard. She spoke to Clift, keeping eye contact as she stepped towards the door. “Since my arrest, no one ever mentioned Barry to me until you came. I don’t know of anyone. I can’t think of anything... I... I’d expect him to be in Shanghai. He had a very strange connection and passion for that city. He enjoyed being there: loved the race track.” A smile escaped her as she said, “He enjoyed dating there as well.”

Becky suddenly resisted the guard and turned to Clift. “Please find him Mr. Garrett. Tell him I love him and miss him dearly. Please find him, tell him only he can get me out of this mess. I know no one else will care, not even you will.”

Clift looked down, as Becky continued to struggle and weep as she was being dragged out of sight.

Nov-14-2008 07:20

Yoyo sat in his leather chair in Closers London HQ, in front of him he had a piece of paper, on it was written 'Aylesbury Women’s Prison'. It was the one place Yoyo knew where Clift was, normally he wouldn't be chasing another detective but this case hit close to home and he needed to know where it was going. With that he stood up and set out to find Clift.

Nov-14-2008 12:42


The train had left Aylesbury railway station and was now moving at full speed on its way to London, Paddington.

Miss Violet Parr waited a few more minutes before getting up from her seat and making her way towards the first class carriage. As she entered, she felt quite at home and she recalled the days when first class treatment had always felt like home. With a smile on her lips, she quickly scanned the lavish carriage before finally locating Mr. Clift Garrett. Unfortunately, the seat opposite him was occupied and so was the seat next to him.

Miss Parr resigned herself to taking the seat right behind Clift’s, giving him her back. She cleared her throat, turned her head slightly and -though she felt like an utter ninny- spoke up. “Good evening Mr. Garrett.”

Clift turned his head slightly, then pushed himself up on his chair, turned, tilted his head once more and looked down towards her. He smiled, sat back down and spoke. “Good evening, Miss Parr. And what are you up to this ‘good’ evening?”

“Well Mr. Garrett, I…” Violet stuttered a bit in reply. She did not expect Clift to be teasing her forwardness. On the contrary, she expected him to be intimidated by it. “I… actually need to speak with you, privately.”

“Miss Parr, this whispering back and forth on a loud, speeding train is as private as it gets. Especially since the elderly couples around us seem to be sleeping.”

Violet felt very awkward speaking to Mr. Garrett in a whisper over her shoulders. She felt quite absurd speaking to anyone at all without looking at them directly, but somehow she felt safe in her current situation -after all no seemed to take notice of them. She spoke clearly. “Mr. Garrett, I know what you’re up to.”

Clift amused himself. “What am I up to?”

Nov-14-2008 12:46


“I have heard so much about you and your Barry Grant investigation through various friends and contacts. Though I am willing to help upon your request, I am actually here to warn you away from investigating Barry’s past rather than aid you in uncovering more information about it.”

“Miss Parr, I appreciate your worries and sentiments, but I assure you that I know exactly what I’m doing.” Clift’s tone included the vanity of a new detective, never broken before. “I come from a strong detective background and am a member of an influential agency, working under the tutelage of a powerful detective. I cannot envision any harm coming my way.”

‘The poor dear boy,’ Violet thought to herself, ‘who would ever send him on a mad hunt after Barry… after all this time, in spite of all these dangers.’ She took a breath then spoke. “Mr. Garrett, I do not doubt your abilities, nor do I doubt the experience and influence of your colleagues and affiliates. But matters always seem to get complicated around Barry.”

“You seem passionate about this, are you speaking from personal or professional experience Miss Parr?” Clift asked somewhat crudely. There was a hint in his question that she felt was distasteful.

Violet felt a little insulted by his insinuation, but she swallowed and answered his question. “Mr. Garrett, Barry and I were always good friends and colleagues. However, our friendship never crossed any lines, and neither did our professional comradeship. If you doubt all I say, I ask you not to doubt this truth.”

“I don’t know you Miss Parr,” Clift said, somewhat apologetically, “I don’t have any reason to doubt anything you say, but your warnings seem a bit melodramatic, I know we’re detectives, but Barry couldn’t have gotten himself into this much trouble.”

Nov-14-2008 12:49

Miss Parr sighed. “Barry always found it hard to stay out of trouble... Though it would have been so much easier for him to make friends and keep them if he hadn’t.” Violet Parr cast her mind back. She then shook her head into the present. “I just do not believe you fully understand what you will be getting yourself into Mr. Garrett. A word of warning from someone who experienced more than you did in this world of detection: If Barry has disappeared out of his own accord, then -knowing him- he would not want to be found. If he disappeared out of someone else's accord, then there is no telling what would happen to someone on his trail.”

“Ticket please!”

Violet was suddenly startled by the passing conductor. “I beg your pardon?”

“Your train ticket, Madam.”

“Oh yes, I’m sorry.” She fumbled through her purse. “There you go.”

The conductor looked at the ticket and then his very suspicious gaze fell once again on Miss Parr. “This is not a first class ticket, Madam.”

Violet Parr realised she had, once again, overstayed her welcome in the first class carriage. There was only one course of action before her, as always. She attempted feigning surprise as realistically as possible: “Oh, really? But that’s absurd!”

Nov-14-2008 19:16

Li Qin Gao, Barry Grant Associates' clerk, headed home after closing up the office. It was the end of another long and uneventful day. She lost track of how much time had gone by since she last saw any detective cross the threshold of BGA. She didn't care that much. Since the disappearance of all detectives, her job became much easier. She didn't have to straighten up or clean up after them. She stopped dusting awhile ago and only had to buy food for one, herself. She didn't have to keep track of who was borrowing what from either the locker or the cash box. Life was pretty good.

It was only recently that she started feeling a little lonely and wondered if it was even worth coming back anymore. Her boss had made a provision for her that she should keep working until the money in the safe ran out. She knew she had a job for a long time to come but she started to wonder if it was worth showing up everyday. After all, no one had been by in a very, very long time.

As Li Qin was walking home trying to decide whether she should go back and just clean out the safe or not, she decided to head over to the toy emporium to see what toys she might be able to buy her nieces and nephews with all the cash she knew was in the safe.

As she neared the store she passed an alley. It was deep, dark, and the parts she could see were dirty and piled with garbage. She could just make out some other shapes that resembled legs lying on the ground but didn't feel it was necessary to stop to confirm that assumption. Just as she passed, she thought she heard a faint moan from deep within that alley.

*more*