Page 47 of Detective Daddy Next Door

We walk back toward the car and get in, but I don't start the engine. "When did she leave your place yesterday?"

"Toward evening. She wanted to go when she was absolutely sure no one would be in the office."

I press my hands on the steering wheel and grind my teeth. Then I start the car.

When we get back to my house. I can’t think straight as we sit in the car, both looking confused.

"Where else does she go? Where does she like to hang out?"

"Most of the places we go to are definitely closed now."

"Is there any other friend she has that I don’t know of?"

"No one that I can think of right now. And I know she can't be at her sister's place because Aria's out of town. She mentioned it."

I sigh and look out of the car window.

"Maybe she could be with Daisy?" Ava suggests.

Daisy, her colleague I met at Micha's party. “Why would she go with her without telling you?" I question.

"I don't know. I'm so confused right now. Maybe they met at the office yesterday and she went home with her? Gosh, I'm rambling. That doesn't make sense."

"Well, we could check out Daisy's place. Do you know where she lives?"

"Yes, we went there once. I think it's on…ugh, I can’t remember the name right now, but I know the directions."

"Okay,” I say, and start the car again.

I take in the house when we arrive. It's rather small, I think as we walk up toward the front door. I press on the doorbell, but it's stiff to the touch and I assume it's not working, so I knock. It takes a few minutes, but we finally hear footsteps.

Daisy appears behind the slightly opened door, peering out at us with her hair disheveled. "Is everything okay?"

"I hope so. We were wondering if Bria is here?"

"What? Why would Bria be here? Is something wrong with her?"

I sigh.

She widens the door. "Please, come in." She lets us into a rather shabby living room. Two couches sit opposite each other in the middle of the room and there's a beat-up table between them. Stools sit on either side of each couch.

"What's wrong with Bria?" she asks with concern on her face.

"She hasn't been home since yesterday. She went to the office and hasn't come back," Ava answers.

Daisy sits on the arm of one of the couches. "That's strange. Why would she be at work yesterday?"

"You didn't see her? You weren't at work yesterday?" I interject.

Daisy shakes her head. "No, the last time I saw her was on Friday. This is crazy. I've seen this happen on TV, but never to someone I'm close with."

"Alright. Please, let us know if you hear anything, okay?"

She nods. "I will. You're such a caring boyfriend. Thank you. And please, let me know if anything comes up. Ava has my number."

I nod, say thank you, and we leave.

Hours later, after Ava has gone back to her place to wait for Bria, I'm at home dialing Bria’s number. But each time it goes straight to voicemail. It’s switched off. What could have happened to her? Where could she be? I can only hope that nothing terrible has happened. I’ve seen the worst, and I can’t even let myself think of those things happening to her. It's Sunday, so nothing can be done about it. But tomorrow I intend to do something about it, and I don't care if my identity gets exposed.

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