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Atlas Missing - Part 2

I looked around the lake shore, admiring the #viridity of the trees and grass. Today was my last day of freedom, for tomorrow I would be Special Agent Annie Thibodeau, FBI.

"I thought I'd find you here," a female voice said and I turned to see my friend, Jaci Garcia.

***

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Came to find my new partner," she answered.

"I'm not a police officer any more."

She grinned. "Neither am I, but I am looking forward to our next #escapade."

"You're not? What are you doing now?"

"Same thing you are," she replied.

***

I blinked. "You joined the Bureau too?"

She nodded. "Hard to say no when the assistant director asks you personally."

"Same here," I said, glancing back at the boat half submerged with one #scull floating alongside. "Come on, let's go. The memories are getting to me."

***

"I know what you mean," Jaci said. "Shall we go eat something?"

"What do you want?" I asked.

"How about Mediterranean?"

I was about to #nix it but changed my mind. I had a feeling she wanted to tell something. That's why she'd come looking for me.

"Sure, let's go."

***

"Why did you really come and find me?" I asked after we sat down in the restaurant.

She sighed. "Derek's missing. I went to pick up Charley and she was alone in the house. Even as my ex he still brings #chaos into my life. It's frustrating."

"Did you try calling him?"

***

"His phone is off or dead," Jaci said.

"Did Charley say anything?"

Jaci shook her head. "She's an #angel. She won't say anything bad against him."

"What are you going to do?"

"My mom moved in to help us. I don't know what I'd do without her. She's been a lifeline."

***

"What are you going to do?" I asked.

"I don't know. He's just so toxic, like a #demogorgon. You were right. I needed to make a clean break from him. Now I have to worry about where he is and if everything is ok with him."

"No, you don't. Let the police deal with it."

***

"The police aren't going to do anything about it, at least not yet. He probably hasn't been missing for a day yet."

"What about his associates?" I asked.

"He said he denounced the White #Patriot Brigade. You think he went back to them?"

"People like that don't change."

***

"You never liked him, did you?" Jaci asked.

I shook my head. "I think he's a #moron, and he's never done anything to disabuse me of that notion."

She shrugged. "Can't argue that. Are you finished with the hummus?"

"Here. Do you know where we'll be posted?" I asked.

***

"Have you decided what you're gonna eat yet?"

"I think I'll have the jumbo shrimp shawarma."

"You know that's an #oxymoron, right?"

"Funny, but you kinda avoided the question. You started already, didn't you?"

She nodded.

"And you know where we're going, don't you?"

***

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