Caught

Chapter 2: Taking the Case

"We are not taking the case," Luke said after the parents left the house. I gave him a look. "Kimberly is missing," I explained. "And besides, they were scared out of their minds."

"They looked at me as if I am weird," Luke said. "Besides, if they say that Kimberly has all these fancy stuff, then why was she jealous of Madison." Luke does have a point. I walked up to him then wrapped my arms around his neck.

"We are going to give this a shot," I said. "We're not just going to let them grieve. The Expedition is going to take the case." "I don't like them," Luke snorted. "You don't like anyone, especially Dora the Explorer."

"That's because I still don't understand why she goes to the woods without any adult supervision," Luke muttered. I rolled my eyes.

"Cole," Luke began. "Why are we trying to find Kimberly anyway? She hates us." It was true that Kim and I don't get along that much as well as her ex-best friend.

"I know that Kimberly is a royal pain in the neck," I admitted. "But it's our job and the police's to find her and bring her home." I buried my face in his shirt then inhaled the sweet scent.

He smelled like soap and body spray. "Fine," Luke said. "Let's find Kimberly." I beamed hopefully. Just when I was about to lean forward to kiss him, but he put a finger between his lips and mine.

"I'm only doing this because I trust you," he admitted. He lowered his finger then kissed me gently. "What about Seth?" I asked. "And Seth," Luke added. He kissed me again. "And your mom."

I kissed him on the cheek again then sat back down on the couch to watch some television. I saw Luke as he grabbed his backpack then left the house without a word.

Shrugging, I switched on Fox News then watched the broadcast until Mom arrived with grocery bags in her hands. "Hey Cole," Mom beamed. "Hey Mom," I beamed back, getting up to take the bags.

"How was Yoga?" I asked. "It was good," she said. "Did anything happen while I was away?" "Luke came to visit," I shrugged. A smile crept up on her lips. "Did you guys do anything fun?" she asked.

"We played chess and ate pizza," I said. "Then we watch Pretty Little Liars." "That's nice," she said, putting the bottle of milk in the fridge. "Have you changed your mind?" "About what?" I asked. "About the prom your class is having?" Mom explained.

Mom is also in the PTA meeting, so probably she must have known about it. "Nope," I answered. "I'm not going to prom." Mom gave me a shocking look. "How come?" she asked. "Prom was the center of my world when I was your age."

"I want to go to Princeton very badly," I whined. "And besides, I have a lot of work to do." "Honey," Mom sighed. "I think going to the prom can help you make friends." "I already have friends," I persisted. "What about some girlfriends?" Mom suggested.

I changed the subject. "Mom," I groaned. "Going to the prom is like going to a prison cell full of crazy idiots." Mom sat on the couch then looked at me. "Why don't you pick Zach as your date?" she asked hopefully.

"Mom," I sighed. "Zach shot himself, remember? It was on the news." Mom bit her lip then nodded. Zach was my 'ex-boyfriend' and former dance partner who decides to win me back by blowing up buildings.

"What about Luke?" she asked. "He's not a fan of dances." I explained, rolling my eyes. "I really need you to connect with other people," she said. "You have been spending too much time solving mysteries and being around Luke."

I stared at my mother very hard. "Are you two going steady?" Mom asked. I didn't answer her. "I'm going to my room to study," I said. Just when I was about to walk upstairs, someone knocked on the door.

Mom hurried out of the couch to answer it. It was a rookie cop. He was an extremely young man, probably in his twenties, has sandy blond hair, and blue eyes.

"Hello," the cop introduced. "May I borrow your daughter for a second?" "Is there something wrong?" Mom asked. The cop shook his head then nudged his head in my direction.

Sighing, I gave my mom a patient smile then left the house. "Are you and Luke doing another case together or what?" the rookie joked. "Something like that," I said. "Why do you need me?"

"We found something related to the missing girl," the cop explained. He showed me a broken pink phone charm in a bag. "We found this in Kimberly's school gym locker." Taking the bag, I studied the ornament then give it back to him.

"That's Madison's charm," I stated. "Kimberly never carries anything pink." "Why does she have it?" he asked. I shrugged. "Come on," he pressured. "Weren't you guys friends or something?"

"Do we look like SpongeBob and Patrick to you?" I asked. The rookie gave me a confused look. "I have no idea who they are, but they aren't related to this case." I rolled my eyes at this.

"Is there anything else you can remember?" he asked. "Something important?" I shook my head. "My name is Jason, by the way." He introduced. We politely shook hands.

"Have you discussed this with Luke?" I asked. "The boy with trusting problems?" Jason guessed. "As soon as I greeted him, he looked as if I was carrying a bomb." That's my boyfriend, I thought.

"So, what's his deal?" Jason asked. "That's for him to know and you to find out," I chuckled. "Touchy," he snorted. "Well, I'll see you around." Jason went back to his car then drove off of my driveway.

As soon as Jason left, Mom tapped on my shoulder and asked what was going on. "Some police work," I explained. "Nothing major."

"Is it about your friend, Kimberly?" "She's not my friend first of all," I declared. "And second, yes. The cop showed me a Madison's phone charm was in Kimberly's locker."

"How did that get into her locker?" Mom asked. "That is what the police is trying to figure out," I said truthfully. And the question is, did Madison have something to do with her ex-friend's disappearance. If not, then why was Kimberly jealous of Madison?

Wasn't her parents wealthy or something? "Come on Cole," Mom said quietly. "Let's make some spaghetti." Nodding very slowly, I trailed behind my mother, like a lost puppy. I thought about Kimberly's disappearance the minute I closed the door behind me.