BLUE TOWN DISTRICT POLICE STATION.
A woman sat in front of a detective worriedly as she spoke.
''Her phone cannot be reached officer. Please, find my daughter for me''. The woman pleaded.
''Can you tell me what she did today after school?'' The detective asked.
''She went to school. She called me later on to say that she was going to a signing event that her favourite actor was holding at Muse café. I called her friends and even went to the café but I didn't find her. I tried calling but it went through once and couldn't be reached anymore''. The woman said.
''Maybe the phone's battery died. We can't report her as a missing person until after 48 hours has passed, Ma'am''.
''But, officer, I have a feeling that something happened to my daughter. She had never stayed out late before. I am really worried. What if something happened to her or someone did something to her?'
''Ma'am, I understand you. For now, I can only ask the patrol team at your area to search for her but until after 48 hours we can't launch an official search or put her as a missing person''. The detective added.
''Thank you, detective. Please, tell them to find my daughter for me''. The woman said worriedly.
''Which school does your daughter attend?'' The detective asked.
''Camel High School. She is in 11th grade. Her name is Alicia Benign''
''Camel High School, 11th grade Alicia Benign. Okay. Don't worry too much, your daughter will be found'. The detective assured the woman.
Rosa and Scarlet retired back to Rosa's room after the celebration. Scarlet walked out of the bathroom in a bathrobe and stood in front of the mirror admiring herself while Rosa sat on the bed reading a law book by a famous author.
''Roa, say, why am so pretty and still single?''
''Were you always this narcissistic or I am the one who just found out too late?'' Rosa asked as she flipped through her book.
''All beautiful people are narcissistic. Didn't you know that already? Anyways, let me ask you a question. What do you think our first case will be?''
''Assssh, I told you not to jinx it. listen, I don't even want to hear of any new case for at least a month''
''Right, sorry''. Scarlet went to the wardrobe and removed a blue set of pyjamas and went back to the bathroom to change into.
Rosa closed the book and clasped her hands together. she closed her eyes as she said a prayer 'if there is a God out there, please protect me during this time. I promise to live a more meaningful life if you let this birthday pass without anything happening to me'. Rosa finished and opened her eyes.
BLUE SCAPE MANSION.
Carlos Ryan woke up from bed drowsily and walked out to the hall. He opened the fridge and removed a jug of water and drank straight from it. He was too tired to even be bothered to get a glass. He lazily put the jug on the table and went back inside his bedroom.
The next day.
Rosa and Scarlet got down from a taxi in front of the prosecutors' building and saw a group of policemen ran out from the station next to their building. The policemen got into their vans and drove off speedily.
'Did something happen? They looked serious as if on their way to catch a criminal'. Scarlet said as she put her hands into her suit pockets. Rosa didn't say anything back and they went inside.
Once they entered the building, Rosa and Scarlet said their goodbyes before proceeding to their own offices. Since they were under different mentors now. Rosa got to the general office of the chief prosecutor and knocked on the door and went inside.
She saw three people in the office and greeted them 'good morning. My name is Rosa De Ann, I was posted to this office''
''You are the star of our office. That is your desk over there at the left. The chief prosecutor already told us about you''. A man in spectacles said to Rosa and pointed at the desk she was going to use. His tone was laced with sarcasm as he spoke but Rosa ignored that and simply nodded her head before going to her desk.
Rosa had done prior investigation on all the people she was going to be working with the night before. The man who just spoke to her was called Prosecutor Tim. He was the top scorer of the entire prosecutor office since he graduated three years ago. This year, Rosa's bar exam results surpassed him by another 100 marks making her the highest scorer. The man was quite dissatisfied with her already even though this was their first meeting.
Prosecutor Tim sized Rosa up from head to toe. She was just a woman; why did she have to be so ambitious? Such and more where the thoughts going through his head. He realised from the way the chief praised her that she was going to be his new favourite. When that happened, then what was going to become of him? He had worked with the chief for almost two years now and the chief have always praised him for how dutiful and good he was. He had never lost a case hence he had fame in the whole prosecutors' office.
He wasn't about to sit and allow a newbie to take away his fame and all the hard work he put into his work. He had made up his mind that as long as he was still in the same office with this newbie, he was going to make sure she never gets a proper case that could propel her towards an early promotion. He was going to sabotage her every step all the way.
''Aren't you going to introduce yourself to the others? Is that how you are going to start your first day here? You should greet every single one of them and get to know them''. Prosecutor Tim said as soon as he saw that Rosa was about to sit on her chair.
Rosa stood up immediately and walked to a much elder man at her left and spoke ''hi, I am Prosecutor Ann. You are investigator Hanson, right?''.
Investigator Hanson was a man in his late forties. He looked at Rosa and smiled affectionately before saying ''you are welcome Prosecutor Ann''.
''Thank you'' Rosa smiled. She had read about this man before and found out that he was a man who held to his virtues. He was very good at his work and loved people.
Turning to her right, Rosa spoke to the clerk ''hi, I am Prosecutor Ann. You are Miss Jane, right?''
Miss Jane looked at Rose and spoke softly ''hi Prosecutor Ann''
Miss Jane was a timid and shy person who hardly mingled with the other workers but she was good at her job.
Seeing that Rosa didn't take long to warm up to the others, Prosecutor Tim clutched his fist and went back to his desk.
Rosa went back to her desk and started to arrange her things on her desk. She had them delivered by a courier this morning before she got to work. As she arranged her things, she felt like her skin was on fire. She looked up and found Prosecutor Tim glaring at her. Rosa looked away quickly deciding to ignore him.
Investigator Hanson shook his head and thought to himself. The newbie was in for a ride. Since Prosecutor Tim sees her as a rival, her life wasn't going to be easy. He didn't understand why people were so greedy but it was his principle to not stand back and watch someone being bullied. He might up his mind to help the newbie since he felt she was a nice person.
.....
''What is his problem?'' Scarlet asked as they sat to eat their lunch. It was lunch time and Rosa went to find Scarlet. The atmosphere in her current office was not favourable at all. Rosa tried to help out on the cases that were brought in but Prosecutor Tim refused and told her to observe and do nothing.
''I think he doesn't like me that much''. Rosa said.
''Wait, he couldn't have been jealous of you, right? I mean, you said he was the top scorer until you smashed that record with your results. Maybe he is jealous of you?'' Scarlet said as they started eating their food.
Rosa looked outside and saw a young man getting down from his car. He looked familiar and was very handsome. Rosa smiled as she looked at him. Scarlet turned and saw the man and whispered to Rosa.
''Someone's crush has arrived. Why is Norbert Brian so handsome?''
Rosa blushed and looked away. ''Stop saying nonsense''
''When do you plan to confess to him? I heard he joined the district Judges' office which is just up above us. We will be seeing him more often now''. Scarlet said.
''Really?'. Rosa exclaimed.
''I caught you. Didn't you just say you were interested in him? How long has it being since you liked him? Roa, is being four years already'.
''He doesn't even know I exist''
''Let's go and see him after here''.
''No. Let's not bother him''. Rosa said and looked away.
She could never have guessed that the man was also outside watching her interestingly. He smiled and folded his arms while watching her. his phone buzzed and he removed it before walking away.
Not far away from the building stood the man in black hoodie. He was foaming mad as he watched how the man just now was looking at Rosa. He clutched his fist angrily saying ''she is mine. She is mine''.