The Sins of the Father

Missing Pieces

"If any known information can be found concerning Ms. Banks, please contact the number listed below."

Six whole days.

The media had been raving and raping the story concerning the missing eighteen year old, blond haired woman. Who, according to the news, is an heiress to one of the biggest companies in Virginia.

She had been living with a roommate. One night she left and never came home. The roommate reported her missing to the police.

Immediate attention was garnered when the investigation unearthed, that the woman was and is indeed the notorious " Vanishing Sleeping Beauty", Samantha Banks.

She had first disappeared at fifteen years of age. Reappearing, here, three years later in Oasis, a small town in Virginia; only to have vanished again into thin air. A reward had been previously issued out, for a sum of one million dollars.

The amount as of today has nearly doubled.

The only photo that is exhibited is the mug shot from the county. Judging by her unkempt appearance, she was living anything but high end society. Stringy dirty blonde hair was pulled back away from a sunken in face , that exposed dark circles, which were still visible under the heavy makeup she wore. Plump, grey ashen, dry lips, had an encrusted scab on the upper left side of her mouth. The most chilling of her features were her eyes. They were grey vacant sockets of depression. Sleeping beauties, last silent scream for help, was ignored by the photographer, as he captured her fragile estate.

I was in town for a few days following the investigation. LAPD,Chief Rosin, had me transfer temporarily, to Virginia for two reasons: One I was already familiar with the location and two, the father of the victim, Mr. Terran Banks, is the Chief's long time golfing buddy.

"She's one of our finest detectives for this case" were Chief Rosin's exact words as he offered my services. All expenses paid for and so far, the only clue I had is that Miss Banks was a church hopper and a lady of the night.

Her wayfaring ways didn't stem from not finding the right place to worship from these institutes but from what financial assistance she could gain from each denomination. From all the interviews performed from various: parishioners, pastors, friends, "she was a sweet girl, just fell on the wrong side of the tracks".

She had a part time waitress job by day and was known as "honey comb" by night. Her roommate, upon further investigation, knew more than what was publicized on TV.

"Candy" was a tiny brunette, who escorted. Her look crossed between: Megan Fox's eyes, Drew Barrymore's facial shape, with Angelina Jolie's lips. Candy came in for the interrogation and revealed that she attended functions, with high class gentlemen on the weekends.

Her and Sam created a safety pact. More for Sam, as she was playing in a higher risk field than "Candy". When with a "client" they would take pictures of the license and plate number of the individual and text the information to each other.

When Sam didn't text, nor come home the following day "Candy" began to worry. She would have filed a missing person case sooner but according to Officer Jones, couldn't for at least forty eight hours.

"She always came back the next day, no matter how rough the previous night was." I hand her another tissue as the snot begin to bubble down her lip, mixing with the tears she shed.

"Do you know if she had received threats from any of her customers at anytime?"

She looks at me as if I asked her what is the answer to two and two. She gives an unladylike snort. " What kind of f*****g question is that? We're whores, sluts, bitches , and you want to ask if any customers threaten her? What do you think? Sam wasn't meant for this type of life, she was too clean, too naive just too damn soft. A goldfish entering into an ocean full of sharks and she trusted every last one of them."

"Foolish." She angrily swipes down her eyes, turning her face red from the harsh contact. " I told her to go back to her parents and reconcile, to get out of here, but the more I pressed her, the more she wanted to prove me wrong." Her statement ends in a choke off sob.

" I know this is hard for you right now." The pit of my stomach coils within itself as I survey the woman sitting with her elbows pressing in her thighs. Her oily hair dangles around hands with a wrinkled tissue clutching her face. She sits up, bags rippling under her red eyes . "Is there anything, anything unusual you can tell me that may have given you pause? Anything?"

Her jaw tenses up as an easy tear slides down her eyes. Creases around her eyes appears as she closes them to near bruising. "There was a man, nice looking white male, we met at a St. Marie Catholic church. "

"Okay could you tell me more specifics?" I edge her on as her gaze glosses over.

"He wasn't your everyday parishioner I can tell you that."

What does she mean about him not being an everyday parishioner? "Then what was he?"Lack of sleep and a million of dead ends, takes its toll on my temperament.

"He was the priest. She said he had solicited her before, for her services. She just shook it off at first, until he became more adamant in his pursuit of her."

"Okay, whats the priests name?" I ignore the paper cut sliced on my finger from reaching for the notepad and pen, ready to make first contact of the perpetrators label.

"Father Morgan."

My hands begin to shake with an uncontrollable force of nervousness. It couldn't be. I haven't heard that name in years. Practically, blocking its owner from any mental or emotional intrusions. The flood gates opens as the first glimmer of our s****l encounter begin to play.

The intruding knocks on the wooden door interrupts any further memory. I rub my temples thankful for the reprieve.

"Yes." A calmness that I'm not quite feeling, laces through my answer. The door cracks open. The peeping of golden curls along with a patch of contagious dimpled smile emerges. The blue eyed young officer Billy musters enough courage to peek his head in.

"Sorry to intrude Detective Mahogany but Chief Rosin, would like to have a word with you."