Stutley Tales

NaNoWriMo is underway and I’m going strong :) Last night I updated my tally to 14714 words. Today I thought I’d share a peice from Operation Romeo Sierra. For those who know the series, this book focuses on Andrew.

‘Samantha Sabian is missing,’ Bobby said. ‘When did you last see her, and do you know where she is now?’

Andrew felt as though he’d been punched in the stomach. Missing! What did they mean by missing? His stunned gaze locked with Bobby’s. Hundreds of thoughts buzzed through his head in a split second and for a moment he forgot about the others, until Bobby’s voice got through to him. He was asking if he needed the question to be repeated.

  Dumbly, he shook his head. ‘What do you mean, “missing”?’ he demanded.  

‘Answer the question,’ Bobby said. ‘Do you know where she is?’

‘No, I don’t!’ He suddenly felt cold – goose bumps covering his skin. She’s missing? How could that happen?

Bobby spoke again. ‘When did you last see Samantha?’ 

‘What do you mean by “missing”, repeated Andrew loudly. ‘How long has she been missing?’ There was a moment of silence. Andrew’s face registered shock, disbelief then anger as everything suddenly added up. ‘You think she’s here!’ he accused hotly. ‘You think I somehow smuggled her across two state boarders and have her hidden here!’

He shot up from the table, shoving his chair back angrily. ‘If Sam is missing,’ he fumed loudly as he pointed towards the front door, ‘you better get out there and find her!’

‘Sit down,’ Bobby ordered softly.

Scott left the bench he was leaning on and rested a hand on Andrew’s shoulder. ‘Take it easy, partner.’

Andrew rounded on him angrily. ‘Take it easy?’ he demanded. ‘You knew she was missing and didn’t tell me?’ He shrugged free, took a step away and shook his head. He felt betrayed and angry as he rammed his hands into the back pockets of his jeans, saying out loud, ‘I don’t believe this is happening.’ He silently cried out, Oh Sam, what have you done? 

Bobby stood up and opened his mouth to speak, but Scott cut him off by holding up one hand. 

‘Andrew,’ Scott said. ‘I only found out about this a few hours ago.’

‘A few hours?’ he cried. ‘Then why is everyone hanging around here instead of looking for her?’

Scott gently urged Andrew back towards the table. ‘They are looking for her. Now, sit down and answer their questions, or you will leave them with no alternative but to arrest you for obstructing their investigation. You won’t be much help to Samantha if she can’t contact you, will you?’

 Andrew saw sincerity in his partner’s eyes. Arrest? Did he say arrest? His shoulders slumped as he reluctantly returned to his seat and stared stonily at the two officers opposite him.

‘When did you last see Samantha?’ Bobby repeated the question as he too resumed his place at the table. 

Andrew hesitated before he said anything. There was a court order forbidding personal contact between himself and Sam. If he told them the truth, he could end up locked up again. But there was too much at stake for him to not tell them something, because if they found out before he told them… He didn’t want to think about that. 

I hope you enjoyed that :)

(c) DJ Stutley 2012

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