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With trembling hands, I gesture to her to come in, and Nick closes the front door behind us.
Without waiting, I ask, "Have you found her? Have you found my girl?"
Jenny clears her throat before she speaks. "Miss Campbell, please let's sit," she says as I turn around and face her.
"Please, call me, Emma," I say, taking a seat on the couch. When Nick joins me, she speaks. "Emma, me and my colleague went to Mister Green's house."
"And?" I ask. Nick takes my hand, and we squeeze each other tight.
"We found him, Emma."
"Oh, thank God. How is Charlotte? Is she okay? Can I please talk to her?” I say, while jumping up. “Why isn't she with you?"
"Emma," she says with hesitation. "We found Mister Green, but someone shot him."
A high pitch scream travels from my lungs, past my vocal cords, and leaves my lips as I bring my hand before my mouth.Nick places an arm around my waist and pulls me against him.
"What? God, please, no. And Charlotte?" I ask while focusing on Jenny.
"She wasn't there," she mentions subdued.
"What?" Nick lets out. "How is that possible? Thomas picked her up from school. She needs to be there!"
"We searched through his entire house. We didn't find her, but we found this.”
Jenny pulls something from the pocket of her jacket and when she shows it, both Nick and I let gasp as we stare at the golden necklace lying in her palm. Nick takes it with trembling fingers.
"That's the necklace I gave her yesterday," he says. He checks the back of the pendant and mumbles the confirming word on the rear. Smarty. His eyes fill with tears as he brings it to his heart. The police officer swallows as she sees our reaction.
"Thomas. Can I talk to him? He must know where she is."
"That won't be possible, because someone shot Mister Green in his chest, and when we arrived, he had passed away."
"What, Thomas is dead? But… Then who has my girl?"
"That's what we're trying to figure out. But knowing that's her necklace," she states, pointing towards Nick's hand, "we know she was there. We assume that whoever shot Thomas took Charlotte."
My heart pounds at a dysfunctional speed as the words hit. My surroundings spin as the words… Shot… Dead… and Charlotte, keep echoing through my head, and within a few seconds, the lights go out.
"Emma, sweetheart."A warm hand touches my cheek. "There you are," he says, as I open my eyes moments later. "I fainted, didn't I?"
He nods. "How are you feeling?"
I sit up, and Jenny offers me a glass of water.
"Here," she says.
"Thank you." Nick sits next to me and places an arm around me as I drink sips of water.
"Emma," the uniformed woman starts. "They are investigating Thomas's house and the neighborhood for clues as it has become a crime scene. And finding Charlotte is our priority. Since the first seventy-two hours of a missing person investigation are critical, we're going to put out an AMBER alert. If you have questions or remember something that might be important, don't shy away from calling me." She hands me a card with her number.
I take it and study it.
"Do you have a recent photo of Charlotte that we can use?"
"Yes." I stand up and grab my phone. I scroll through the photos. And I pick one where Charlotte's hair is down, and she's smiling into the camera. God, a few hours ago, I touched and kissed that sweet little face.
"Emma?" Nick's voice pulls me out of my trancelike state.
