Laverne's Seafood Restaurant, Bar and Grill

  Thursday

  Detective Mackey practically bursts through the restaurant's front doors. Dave and Detective Patterson walk a bit slower, surveying the patrons within the dining space. James hustles straight to the counter, where three servers are laughing and cajoling each other. Madison is not among them. Mackey glances around with weary eyes.

  "Excuse me! Has either of you seen Madison Kelley?" Mackey calls to the three server youths.

  The lone male server turns to face Detective Mackey with an expression akin to fear. He shakes his head vigorously.

  "Uh. No. Not since she went to the back to talk to Nick. That was maybe an hour ago, though. I think she was feeling sick. She's been sick a lot the past few weeks."

  A pretty server leans over the counter and meets Detective Mackey's gaze.

  "Is everything alright? I can go find out for you. She might still be in the back."

  The third server does not wait to be prompted. She hauls tail toward the back, leaving her female coworker with the harried law enforcement officer. Presumably, she has gone to search for Madison, or summon the general manager.

  "Leslie will be back in a second...Detective," the male server says in a strained voice. "Would you like some coffee while you wait? On the house."

  "No. No coffee," Mackey hears himself say.

  "Yes. Three coffees," Detective Patterson states, stepping beside Mackey and giving him a concerned stare. "To go."

  The two servers go about their duty of making the three large coffees. When their backs are turned, Octavia turns to Detective Mackey. She whispers so that only the frazzled detective can hear. Dave stands on the other side of James, his brow creased and concern etched on his tired face.

  "Drink some coffee, James," Patterson says. "Take a deep breath. I know this case is hard. You feel like you've failed every girl who came before. I know. I can also tell you care very much for this young woman. But you're no good to any of us if you're not thinking straight. Drink the coffee, James. You know you want to. Hmm?"

  The male server returns holding two disposable insulated cups of coffee. He hands one to Detective Mackey and Deputy Newsome. The female server smiles and offers her cup to Detective Patterson, who smiles back. Dave nods his thanks and takes a much needed sip of his black coffee. Mackey only stares at his cup. He slowly raises his eyes to the male server.

  "I know bitter black coffee is the default...But do you have any creamer? Hazelnut maybe?"

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  "Uh, sure. Let me grab that," the male server replies.

  The male server hurries to grab the pitcher of hazelnut creamer from the mini-fridge. Mackey peels back the lid on his disposable cup and sighs heavily. His eyes continue to flick between the door where the first woman server disappeared and his cup of coffee. Where is Madison?

  Mackey's answer comes a few moments later. The female server reemerges with the general manager. Nick Something or Other. The manager's face is a perpetual scowl and he seems none too happy about being summoned unceremoniously to the front of the restaurant.

  "How can I help you, officers?" Manager Nick says without much enthusiasm.

  "We're looking for Madison Kelley. Is she here?" Dave answers in an authoritative tone, warning the belligerent manager to stay in his lane.

  "No. Unfortunately, Madison fell ill again. She went home about forty minutes ago. Caught a cab. Is there something I can help you with?"

  "No. You've been enough help. Thank you," Dave finishes.

  The trio of law persons turn to leave. Nick, whose anger has been growing with every interruption to his business, loses his mental faculties for a brief moment.

  "Can I expect this to be a regular occurrence? This is easily the fifth time I've been asked to field questions about Madison. I don't like disruptions to my business. My customers like it even less. Whatever business you have with Madison Kelley...Please try to conduct it outside of my restaurant."

  Detective Mackey's head whips around as if he is a marionette. Detective Patterson reaches to lightly touch his hand.

  "No," Octavia mouths. "Let's go. We'll deal with this later. Let's go check on Madison."

  Dave grins slyly, glancing back at the general manager.

  "You two go ahead. Three's a crowd in that teeny sedan, anyway. I'm going to see if I can talk some sense into our sycophant friend here. Acts like he owns the place instead of realizing he's just a peon. Gonna teach him a little respect for the law. Call me if anything comes up."

  "Sure, Dave. Let's go, Patterson."

  "Right behind ya."

  James and Octavia exit the front doors of the restaurant and head for Mackey's car.

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  Mueller Mobile Home Park

  James takes the porch steps two at a time. Detective Patterson goes around the back of the trailer, her sidearm drawn and ready to rock someone's world.

  The trailer's screen is wide open, the front door partially cracked. James yanks open the wooden door and rushes inside. His breath hitches in his chest as he catches sight of Madison's legs sticking out of the kitchen entryway. She is sprawled facedown on the floor.

  Running to Madison's side, James drops down onto his knees. He turns Madison over, leaning her body against both legs. Expecting to find Maddie's face battered, to some degree, James is relieved to see her face is completely intact. Nothing appears to be wrong. Yet, the young woman is out cold.

  James repositions Madison, placing her gently back on the floor. He leans forward and places his ear against the left side of her chest. Madison's breathing is slow but steady. Detective Patterson enters the kitchen, finger near the trigger of her handgun, and barrel facing ceilingward.

  "She's alive. But her breathing is extremely shallow. Get on my radio and call an ambulance."

  "Sure." Detective Patterson replies, moving to comply.

  Once Detective Patterson is gone, James leans forward and plants a small kiss on Madison's pale lips. He smiles thinly as he draws apart. He already misses the warmth of Maddie's kiss, and the subtle upward motion of Madison's mouth as she attempts to keep his lips in close contact. Whatever is going on, James hopes Maddie will be okay.

  Fifteen minutes later, the first police unit arrives. It is followed by an ambulance nearly six minutes later. Madison is still unconscious when she is loaded into the back of the ambulance.