Page 32 of Love Undecided
"Probably the same thing a detective would say," Brad says with a sigh. Only he sounds tired now, and not as combative as earlier. "I'm going to go talk to the class before we get called out again." He motions to the pager on his belt.
"Thanks for the help," I say lamely.
“Yeah, thanks,” Bauer says.
Brad looks at me, then turns and walks out the door with a wave of his hand. I feel a little empty now that he's gone.
"I need sugar," I say, standing suddenly. “Want something from the vending machine?" I ask Bauer.
"Skittles."
"Skittles? You don't seem like a Skittles kind of guy."
"Hey, don't knock the rainbow of fruit flavor until you've tried it," he says.
"Oh, I've tried it. But after they swapped out lime flavor for green apple, skittles totally lost it for me,” I tell him.
"Funny, that's when they became perfect for me."
I laugh at him and head to the vending machines. I stop to read to the BOLOs board on my way; a leftover habit from my criminal defense days when I was always looking to see if a past client was at it again.
One posting in particular stands out at me.
MISSING! 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL.
Sofia Carter - last seen leaving Sail Point Middle Schoolwearing blue jeans, a white shirt with ruffled sleeves,and red tennis shoes. Answers to Sofia.Caucasian, shoulder length straightBlonde hair, blue eyes, 4'9", 92lbs, age 12.
My pinky finger starts to spasm.
Age 12.
Holy shit.
I rip the flyer from the board and race back to our office.
"Look! Look! Look!" I thrust the flyer in Bauer's face. He scans it quickly.
"Think this is the one from your ex’s girlfriend’s class? She hasn't been missing very long," he says, frowning.
"This has got to be the girl from Stacy's class. How many twelve-year-olds go missing around here? It's got to be him. The Shower Stealer."
"You think there’s a connection here?” Bauer asks.
“Fuck yeah, I think there’s a connection here. Plus, it makes sense with what Brad said. It can’t be coincidence that a twelve-year-old girl is missing at the same time that twelve-year-old girls’ bathrooms are being broken into. I’ve got a good feeling about this.”
“Is this just a feeling? Or is it afeeling?”
“What difference does it make - we’ve got nothing else. It’s a FEELING! Stop bullshitting and start policing, Bauer!”
