She goes far
1.MISSING: LISA LINNEY, 35
The scene couldn't have been more ordinary when
agent Martin Fitzgerald entered the FBI office. Vivian Johnson
was standing in front of a white board, talkint to Samantha Spade
and Danny Taylor. Jack Malone, their boss, was presumably in his
room.
"Good morning",
Martin said cheerfully, and got somewhat puzzled looks back.
Danny fingered his tie. It's color was exactly the same shade as
Martin's. Danny didn't like it but Martin didn't seem to notice
anything. He sat down as Vivian continued.
"To sum up, Lisa Linney, 35, went to work yesterday, didn't
return home. His husband noticed her missing this morning."
"So she might have been missing 24 hours now?", asked
Danny.
"Hope not. I'm going to interview her husband, someone needs
to go to her workplace...?"
"I'll go", Samantha volunteered.
"I'm coming with you", said Danny quickly.
"So it's you and I, Martin, to see mr. Linney", Vivian
said.
"Let's go".
The Linney's house looked smart and white, situated in a good
neighborhood. A shiny four-wheeler was parked on the lane.
"Bet they have two and a half kid, a dog and a swimming pool
in backyard", Martin joked. Vivian didn't answer as a pale,
forty-year-old man opened the door. The agents introduced
themselves and mr. Linney lead them to the living-room.
"So, did you notice anything strange with your wife's
behaviour in that morning?" Vivian asked.
"No, nothing. She was... acting the same way as she always
does."
"How long have you been married?" asked Martin, who was
looking at the photos on the bookshelf.
"Six years... No, we don't have children, she didn't... we
don't want children".
"Has she been missing before?"
"N-no... She's always let me know if she's going
somewhere".
"And when did you last see her?"
"Yesterday morning, I told you already".
"Why didn't you report us yesterday? You must have noticed
she didn't come home."
"I couldn't... I have a stressfull time at the hospital and
so I took sleeping pills in the evening to get some sleep. Oh I
hope I wouldn't have done that! What if it's too late...".
Mr. Linney buried his face in his hands and started weeping.
"Don't lose your hope", Vivian started with a
supporting voice, "Just tell us everything we need to know
and we should be able to find her. Do you know anyone who'd want
to hurt your wife or you?"
Mr. Linney shook his head.
"No, we like to keep low profile and avoid all sort of fight
and... No".
"Thank you, mr.Linney", Vivian said, "Does your
wife own a car?"
"Yes, a dark blue, four doored sedan. Yes, she went to work
with it. I have the registration number somewhere..."
By the door mr. Linney said, once more:
"You find her and bring back to me. She's my only one".
"He seemed to be very upset", Martin noticed when he
and Vivian walked back to their car.
"So upset he forget to tell all?" Vivian said. Martin
raised his eyebrown. Vivian continued:
"We'd better trace that car now."
"So this is where Lisa Linney works", Danny said as
they stepped into a modern decorated law office. It wasn't too
big, it was clearly a two or three lawyer's office, but it seemed
a quite succesful one.
"Jealous, are you?" Samantha threw back as Danny's
finger's were running on a mahongary table. A handsome, 30 year
old man came towards them.
"I'm John Miller, 'Miller & Son's' son", he said
with a big, white smile.
"How can I help you?"
"We're investigating the missing of Lisa Linney..."
Samantha started. John Miller's eyes were the size of a dessert
plates.
"Missing? And I thought she's just late or something. How
can you know she's missing?"
"Was she at work yesterday?" Danny asked.
"Yes, she's actually my father's secretary..."
"Did you notice anything in her behaviour or...?"
"No, but why should I have?" mr. Miller wondered.
"Can we see your father then?"
"He's on a holiday overseas, left couple of days ago. But
maybe some other workers know something? I really would want to
help you but unfortunately I can't"
He seemed like he rally was sorry for that. But he was also a
lawyer, Danny thought.
"And that is her desk", John Miller said showing it to
the agents. He went off and Danny started examining the desk.
Samantha caught John Miller's secretary.
"So there was nothing unusual in her appearance?"
"No, she was completely normal", said the secretary.
"I don't see why anyone would want to hurt her. She left
work at 4.30 pm. Straight home? I don't know. She quite often
went to 'Rosebud'. I think it's a coffee house. I've never been
there, it's too far away."
Samantha wrote down vital information and came to Danny.
"This desk is very neat", he said, "and there's
not much personal things in it."
"Anything unusual?"
"Well, the photo of his husband was in her upper drawer,
upside down."
"That's not too exceptional, is it?"
"Maybe not. I didn't find her calendar either. You had
better luck?"
"She might have went to the 'Rosebud' after work".
"Rosebud? What does that mean?"