THE LEGACY

The whole of Carlifornia were still in a state of shock and suprise. Detective Van Louis's daughter had gone missing with nobody having even a slight grasp of information on how she went missing. It had been over twenty four hours since Mirabel, the detective's daughter was declared missing, and yet all ongoing investigations only proved futile. Detective Louis was well recognized all over Carlifornia, he was top ranking among security officials in Carlifornia. He had never left any case assigned to him uncovered, it still remained a mystery to many that his own daughter could go missing right under his nose. Mirabel Van was a 16 year old girl, just in her first year of college. Though, rumors had it that she was last seen with a strange masked guy who looked much older than her after classes. Her college had been contacted, and the footage did show that she was with someone after classes, who it is was what remained a mystery. Victoria glanced worriedly at her watch, she was running late. Van Louis had requested to see her that morning by no later than 10am. It was just a quarter till 10am, and Victoria knew that except a miracle would happen, it was impossible to be at the Detective's place by 10. The traffic jam was unbearable and the detective's house was still about an hour away from her current destination. The cab she had boarded remained at a spot for hours, as if it had been glued there. The traffic jam was just so unbearable and she was starting to feel suffocated. Angrily, she spoke up, "Look, i can't sit here any longer. I'm done" she told the driver, half yelling as if it was a fault of his. Nonetheless, she gave him his fee and alighted from his car. She was going to walk down instead, it sounded stupid, but it was better than sitting. If she had been walking for the past hour when the jam started, she was sure she would have walked a quite reasonable distance. At long last, she reached Van's house, though she was a few minutes late. With heavy and fast breaths, she came to a halt at his doorstep. She softly clicked on the doorbell. She didn't wait for long after clicking the bell when the door flung open. "Hello sir." she greeted, bowing slightly to Detective Van Louis standing in front of her, his huge masculine figure blocking the door opening. "You're twelve minutes late." he blurted out, his voice laced with irritation. "I'm sorry sir. The traffic jam was terrible" she explained. "We're gonna be working together Miss Victoria Lindsay. Delay is something i can't tolerate, in our future meetings, i'd appreciate if you stick to plan and time" he explained, opening the door further urging her to walk in. While they were inside, Victoria made herself comfortable on one of the arm chairs. The house screamed luxury, without being told, one could easily tell that the furnishing was expensive. Everything sparkled, the tiles shone so brightly, the table; spotless, the walls; spotless. Not even a spec of dust was anywhere. Van Louis sat next to her. Clearing his throat, he started, "Victoria. You're a journalist, and i discovered through my investigations that you're an undercover private investigator." Victoria shook her head affirmatively. "You're very right Mr Van" "Good". He continued, "I want you to help me. You're a journalist and an investigator, i believe working with you would help solve this whole saga faster and get my daughter back home to me." He paused for a while, as if thinking of what next to say. He sighed softly, then spoke up again "It is a thing of shame, indeed it is so shameful that the great Detective Van Louis is in a helpless situation regarding his daughter. I've helped tons of people on similar cases, and never for once have i failed, but now, it's my own daughter in the same shoe, and here i am, totally helpless, with no clue as to what happened, hoping on the lazy police to help me find my daughter". As he spoke, Victoria could sense he was hurt, she could sense his fatherly feelings creeping into him, she knew he was in pain. He had indeed done enough, it wasn't easy for him. He lost his wife seven years ago, and now, his daughter. She could imagine all what was going on in his head, she felt sorry for him. "Maybe it's all my fault. If i had been a better father, if i had looked out for her and hadn't been so carried away by work, if only i had time for her, if i hadn't left her all by herself with the maids then this wouldn't have happened. My late wife would be so mad at me wherever she is right now, if she were alive, then this wouldn't have happened. I'm afraid, I'm afraid Victoria" he spoke further, this time with red teary eyes and a shaky voice. Victoria just sat, unsure of what to do or say at that moment. "Afraid? Why is that? None of this is your fault Mr Van, you don't have to take the blame. You really don't have to" she said in an attempt to console him. "Victoria, if i don't get to see my daughter, if i don't see my daughter anymore, then, i might as well just end my life. It would make no sense if i still lived after my daughter's dissapearance, of what use would it be then? My wife is gone, then my only child too? It would be pointless to still live by then. What would i live for? All my wealth, all my hardwork, all my affluence, of what use will they be by then? Of what use?" Victoria felt for him truly, he was in pain. She could sense it, she needed no one to tell her the very obvious fact already. "I'll do it Mr Van. We'll do it together. Mirabel would be found i promise you. You'll see your daughter soon and the culprits will be punished. I promise you Mr Van, it's a promise".