DISAPPEARANCE

S
hewasjogginginthestillofthetwilightthroughthewoods.InOregonthiswas
commonformostpeople.Hopingtogetawayfromeverythingatthedepartmentshe
thoughtitwouldbeagoodideatodoso.HernameisDanielleJonessheworksatthe
PoliceDepartmentinasmalltowninOregon.Sheishighlypraisedofforherhardwork
andhasthehighestcaseclosurerateinallOregonsosheisfamoussotosay.She
investigatesandhuntsdownserialkillersforaliving.Sheisasecludedpersonhaslittle
friends,onlychild,parentsdeceased.
Daniellelikedtolistentorockordubstepwhileshejoggedithelpedherkeep
paceandpushherselffurther.Shehadturnedherphoneoffaheadoftimetoavoidany
distractions.Shewantedtodisappearfromsocietytillshehadtoshowupforworkatsix
oclockthatmorning.Shemighthavejustgottenherwishthatdawn
Backatthedepartmentherbosswasconcerned.WellwherethehellisJones?!
heexclaimed,Sheisneverlateitsbeenhalfanhourwhereisshe?UmmmsirIm
sureshewillbeinsoonletmetryhercellandhouseagain.Explainedthesweetpetite
secretaryatthefrontdesk.ShepitiedDanielleandwasfearfulofhowthechiefwould
explodewhenshecametowork.Ifshewasevergoingtoshowup.
Hi,thisisJonesImeitherawayfrommyhouseorjustdontwanttoanswerso
leavemeamessagebye.

BEEP
DaniellethisisAmy,Ihopeyoucomeinsoon
becausethechiefisreallysteamed,Imstartingtoworrypleasecallmebacksoon,
thanks,byesaidthesecretary.Hey,thisisJonessorryIcouldntgettomyphoneIm
probablytakingsomemetimeandhaveitoff,leaveamessageandIllgetbacktoyou
ASAP,kbye
BEEP
DanielleitsAmy,youreallyneedtopickup.Areyouok?Asa
friendImstartingtoworry,callmebackplease?Bye.Amysaidmoreconcernedthan
ever.
AmywenttothechieftoexplainthatDaniellewasnotansweringthephonesand
isneverlatetoworkandperhapssomethinghappenedtoher.Asscaryasitwasto
eventhinkthatsomethingmighthavehappenedtoDanielletheyhadtoconsiderthe
possibility.Sir,Canwepleasesendsomeoneovertoherplacejusttobesure?Amy
asked.OkfinesendoverAbramsandEdmondstoherhousetocheckandmakesure
everythingisokandifsheistheresheisgoingtobesuspendedforaweek!exclaimed
Chief.ButwhenAbramsandEdmondsarrivedatDanielleshouseshewasntthere.
Nothingwasoutoftheordinary.Therewasnoforcedentry,signsofastruggle,nor
evidencethatshewasindistressexceptthatnobodycouldgetaholdofher.When
AbramsandEdmondsgetbacktothedepartmenttheimmediatelyreporttheir
discoveriestothechief.Imcallinganemergencymeetingofallpersonnelinthe
briefingroominformeveryonenow!Shoutedthechief.Everyonerushedtoseewhat

thenextplanofactionwas.ConsideringthatJoneshasnofamily,weareheronly
family,wearegoingtorulethisoutasamissingpersonscase.Iwantafullsearchof
thearea.SmithIwantyoutolookintothestalkerthatJoneshadafewyearsbackwhen
shelivedinFloridatellmeeverythingthereisonhiminthesystem.Abramsand
EdmondsgobacktoJonesplacetakeaninvestigationteamwithyouandlookfor
anythingthatcouldtelluswheresheis.Rojastrytotriangulatehercellandfindout
wheresheisIknowitwillbehardbecauseitisoffbutIhaveconfidenceinyou.
FuentesIwantyoutoprepareapublicspeechtoreleasetothepress.Gatherasmany
newschannels,reporters,mediahogs,dowhateveryoumust.Alrightpeopletomorrow
allofthisbeginsinaffect.TomorrowifthereisstillnowordfromJonestoanyonethen
wewillstarttheinvestigation.
Thenextdayeveryonewasbothsadbutrelievedthattheycanfinallystart
helpingtheircolleague.Sir!Ihaveahit!announcedRojas.Wellwhereisshethen?!
askedchief.Shewellummisinthewoodssir.SaidRojasquestioningly.Fear
anddismaycameovereverybodyinthedepartment.Whatwouldshebedoinginthe
woods?GetthecoordinatesonalltheofficersintheareaandputitontheirGPS.
Announcedthechief.Wayaheadofyouchief.SaidRojas.Butwhentheofficers
arrivedtotheplacewhereherphonewastheyfoundthephonebutnotDanielle.Her
phonelaythereonthegroundandnosignofJones.Theofficersreportedtothechief
withthecellinanevidencebag.TheyswabbeditforprintsbutonlyJonesprintswere
onthephone.TherewerestillnoleadsastowhereDaniellewas.Siritseemsthatthe
stalkerJoneshadinFloridahasmovedhereawhilebackandlivesnearherbuthasnot
madeitknowntoheryet.ExclaimedSmith,Ihaveunitspickinghimupathisknown
addressrightaswespeak.WhenthearrestingofficersbroughtRyanHodgkininthe
departmenttherewasacertainchangeofmoodintheair.Itwaskindoffeelingthat
givesyouthechillsdownyourspin,risesyourhaironthebackofyourneck,andmakes
youshiver.Therewasdefinitelysomethingunsettlingabouthim.
Theinterrogatingofficersgotstraighttothepointandaskedhimifhehadseen
Daniellelately.Noissomethingwrong?questionedRyan.Idontknowyoutellmy
Hodgkin.Saidtheinterrogator.Willmyofficerssearchingyourapartmentfindanything
thatwillgivemereasontobelieveso?Ryanseemedagitatedasheasked,Doyou
haveawarranttodoso?!Nowchucklingtheinterrogatorsaid,Wellletsseeyouhave
harassedMs.Jonesonmanyaccountsandshehasarestrainingorderagainstyouand
manyotheraccountsofstalkingcharges,needIgoon?Thoseweresimple
misunderstandingsthathappenedfouryearsago.YoureallythinkIamstillinterestedin
thatwoman?askedRyan,Ibelieveyoudostillneedawarrant.Theofficershowed
himacopyofthewarrantsotheycouldmoveonwhensuddenlythechiefgota
horrifyingcall.SirImhereatthesuspectsapartment,Abramssaidslowly,andwell
theresomeratherdisturbingthingshere.Whatdoyoumeandisturbing?askedchief,
bringeverythingbacktothestationimmediately.Demandedthechief.Whenthe

interrogatorlookedoveratRyanhehadaslysmirkonhisfaceandchuckedahorrible
deepchuckle.
WhenAbramsgotbacktothedepartmentheshowedalltheevidencetothe
chiefandtheyautomaticallyknewthatRyanHodgkinhaddonesomethingterriblewith
DetectiveDanielleJonesandknewwhereshewas.Thechieftookoverthe
interrogatingandinsistedondoingitalone.WhenhesawhowcalmandsettledRyan
Hodgkinwasitinfuriatedhim.Hewasdeterminedtofindoutwherethispsychohad
Danielle.Hefirsttriedthecalmgoodcopapproachforthefirstdayanditdidntdo
muchgood.Thenextdayhetriedthebadcopapproach,thatdidntdoanythingeither
butbecauseRyantoshutdownandrefusetotalkanyfurther.
ThreedayssinceanyonehadseenJonesandtherewerenoleadsbuttocrack
openthemastermindbehindit,whowasrefusingtotalk.Thechiefmoredesperatethan
everaskedRyanifhewantsanythingwhenhetellsthechieftohaveaseatwithhim.I
amreadytotalk,butonlyonmyconditions.Isthatok?Canyouagreetodoso?Ryan
asked.Nothavingachoicethechiefagrees.Ryanspendstherestoftheevening
loathingontellingthechiefabouthischildhoodandtalkingofhowhismotherabused
himwhenhewasyoungerwhenhisfatherpassedaway.Heaskedthechief,Doyou
supposethatiswhyIamthewayIam,apsychosoyousay?thechiefthinksdeeply
ofhowtorespondtothequestion.Perhapscallinghimapsychooncemoremaycause
himtocloseup,orworseifItellhimthereisnothingwrongwithhimandwillthinkthe
chiefisjustifyinghisactions.Isthatwhatyoubelieveordoyouthinkthereismorethan
justahauntingpasttowhatyoudotowomen?askedchiefwithaunstabletone.Now
chucklingRyansays,Youareasmartmanchiefalwaysthinkinghardbeforespeaking.
Ilikethataboutyou.Youanalyzeyoursuspectsbeforeevenspeakingoneword,before
meetingeyesgaze.So,analyzeme,whatdoyouseewhenyoulookatme?Thechief
swallowedhardandbegan,Yourealonelyman,whotakesjoyintakingpicturesof
womenandfantasizingaboutthemandwhenthisisntenoughyoutrytomakecontact.
Yousendthemgifts,letters,pictures,butneverofyourfaceisitbecauseyouare
ashamedofwhattheywillthink?Youareanarcissisticpredator.Whenyouwere
youngeryourfatherdiedandyourmotherblamedyouforit,shewouldconstantlybeat
you.Shecausedyouphysical,emotional,andpsychologicalpainthroughoutyour
childhoodintoyourteenyears.Thatsnotallthoughwhenshediedyoufeltlittle
remorse.Youweregladshewasfinallygoneandcouldnthurtyouanymore.Afterthat
youwonderedifthisfeelingofjoyindeathifitwasforonlyyourmomorifthejoywould
increaseasyougrewmoreinvolvedwiththedeathssuchasmurder.Thechieflooked
rightintoHodgkinseyesashefinished.AsIsaidbeforeyouareasmartmanchief.
Ryanchuckled.ButwhatyoudontknowisthatIalsoamaclevermanandyouhadno
ideathatIwouldwantoreventhinkofgivingyou
this.
Hepulledoutavideotapefrom
hisjacket,itwaslabeledProofofLife.Thechiefsnatcheditoutofhishandand
demandedsomeonetobringhimaVHSplayerandTV.ThevideowasofDanielle

Jones.Shewastellingthedepartmentandtowhomitmayconcernthatshewaswell
andwasbeingwelltakencareofbyRyan.Hesmiledattheaudiencethatwasviewing
thetapeandsaidslowly,Doesthisangeranyofyou?AlltheofficerslookatRyanwith
adeepstare.NowthatthechiefknewforsurethatRyanhadJoneshewasdetermined
tofindoutwhereRyanwasholdingherhostage.HequestionedRyanfortheremaining
ofthedaybutwasnoclosertofindingJones.
EarlythenextmorningthechiefaskedoncemoreforRyantotellhimwherehe
waskeepingJones.Ryanonceagainrefusedtotalktothechief.Butsuddenlyjustas
thechiefwasgoingtoleavetheinterrogationroomRyangivesthemanaddressasto
wherethenextclueistofindingJones.Theofficersarriveatafarmandinthemiddleof
thelivingroomisaTVandVHSplayer.OnthetableisatapethatsaysPlayMe.The
tapeisofJonesagainandsheistellingthemtogoaplaceinthewoodswheretheywill
findanenvelopewithhernameonit.TheofficersreportedbacktotheChiefandhetold
themtogodoasinstructedbyRyan.HeremindedthemthatRyanheldallthecardsin
thisdecksotheyneededtodoexactlywhathedemandedofthem.
TheplaceJoneshadsaidtogotowaslocatedinthedepthofthethickestpartof
thewoods.Thelocationwasalittlerundowncabin.Ryantoldherthatwaswherehis
familywouldgocampingbeforeallwentbad,whentheywerestillfamily.Whenthe
chiefandhisofficersgottothecabintheywereallveryskepticalofhowthehouse
lookedfromtheoutside.Fromthecarstheycouldseeanenvelopeonthefrontdoor.
JustastheyabouttogoinsidethechiefgotacallonhisradiothatRyanHodgkinhad
justhunghimselfwiththebedsheetstohisbedinhisholdingcell.Thechiefwasgoing
tohaveHodgkintransferredtoamentalfacilitybecausehehadstrongbeliefthatRyan
hadseverementalandpsychologicaldamageduetohismothersabuse.Thechieftold
theofficersnottoworryaboutHodgkinthatrightnowtheyneededtohelpJones.The
chiefopenedtheenvelopeandthewritingread,Iamheresomewhereinthishouse.
Findme.Whentheywalkedintothecabinitwasevenworseinsidethanitwasonthe
outside,thecurtainswereripped,floorsdusty,furniturestillwrappedinplastic.Then
therewastheodor,itsmelledofrottingflesh.Thechiefhadtheofficerssearchevery
room,everynookandcranny.WhentheyallfinishedtherewasnosignofJonesbut
therewasstilloneroomlefttosearch,thebasement.Thechiefledthewayandwhen
theyopenedthedoortothebasementtheodorbecamepungent.Theyslowlywalked
intothebasementspaceinsearchforJonesandwhentheylookedinthemiddleofthe
roomtherewasawhitesackwithredstainsseepingoutontothefloor.Thestainswere
bloodstainsspillingoutontothepavement.Thechieforderedforoneofhisofficersto
quicklyopenthesackandmoveoutofthewaybecausehedidntwanttocontaminate
theevidence.WhentheofficeruntiedthetopofthesackJonesheadandupperbody
floppedout.Thesmellandwaysheappearedseemedasifshehadbeendeadforfive
days.Everybodyintheroombowedtheirheadsinsorrowandremorse.Thechiefcalled
forthecoronertotransferthebodybacktothedepartmentforfurthermoredeep

examination.Thecoronerwasbothsadandworriedaboutdoinganautopsyonher
friend.
Thecoronertapedtheentireautopsyandwhenfinishedhandeditoverthechief
forhimtoviewhimself.ShehadtakenanyfragmentsofanykindthatwereonJones,
viewedherstomachcontents,checkedifherorgansweredamaged,andranarapekit
onher.Thereportshowedthatshehadbeenheavilydruggedmanytimes,raped,
beaten,wellfed,anddeadforfivedays.Thechiefwastryingtothinkofhoweverything
happened.WhendidRyantakeher?Wheredidhetakeher?Howdidhegethertothe
cabin?
Whenallthelabscameinoneverythingitallmadesense.Joneswasgoingto
goforanearlymorningjogthroughthewoodstoclearhermindofeverything.Shehad
turnedherphoneoffaheadoftimetoavoidanydistractions.Whatshedidntknowis
thatRyanhadbeenwatchinghersincesheleftherhouse(Hehadpicturesofherevery
move).Whenshewasleastexpectingithestuckheintheneckwithaneedleandheld
ahandkerchiefoverhermouthtokeepherscreaming.Thatiswhenhepickedupher
bodyandputherinhiswhitevan(duetothewhitepaintsnaggedonherrunning
shorts).Hethendrove,herwhileshewaspassedout,threehourstohisparentscabin.
AstheypulleduptothecabinJonesstartedwakingupsheknewwhoherattackerwas
andtriedtoescape(duetothedefensivewoundsonherarmsandlegs).Thatiswhen
hestabbedwithaneedleinherneckagainwithmorenarcoticstoknockherout.He
thendraggedherlimpbodyinsidethecabinandintothebasement.Whenshewokeup
thenexttimehemadeadealwithherthathewouldfeedherifshemadevideostating
thatshewasokandtellthemwheretofindher.Hekepthissideofthedealbutdrugged
herinthefoodthenrapedherthatnight.Hehadfinallygottenwhathewantedforso
longandnowthathehadherhewasdonewithher.Thenextmorningwhenheseenon
thenewsthatthepoliceweresearchingforDanielleheknewtheywouldpointtohim
becauseofhishistorywithher.Ryanknewhehadtodisposeofthebodyandquickly.
Hegaveherbreakfastthathadnarcoticsandthenhestabbedherinallhermain
arteriestomakesureshewouldbleedout.Afterhefinishedthathershovedherbodyin
awhitesackusedforriceandleftherinthebasement.Thatiswhenhereturnedtothe
citytobearrestedbypoliceandplayascavengerhuntwiththem.

A
fterthinkingallofRyansplotthroughnowthatthechiefhadevidencetosee
thetruthhesaidslowlyshakinghishead,Wehaveallbeenplayed.Itsgameoverfor
allofus.

THE END