There were too many policemen in their house.
Basically any number other than zero is too many cops. Arbel's house is not a place where the police should be. She knows they are here to help, she knows she has nothing to hide, she knows.
But the cops don't make it easy to like them.
"Why did you wait almost two days before calling?" the policewoman asked her. A police officer who is probably not getting oxygen to her brain with how tight her ponytail is.
And again, Arbel knew she didn't blame her, if so it kind of sounded that way
"Leo is always going places-" she tried to explain "-to his friends, to classes, to travel or just not to be at home"
The policewoman didn't write anything down.
Arbel felt she should write.
She must be upset that she is here and asking her stupid questions while her partner is in Leo's room. Looking for evidence or clues or some other shit.
Arbel is not a police officer, but she really does not understand why they are here and not outside, looking for her 15-year-old brother.
"So no one is tracking the child's location? A parent? Someone is responsible?"
I am responsible. Arbel wanted to say, but she didn't even believe herself.
Arbel shrugged her shoulders "There is no school. He is just a child, he has no other places to be"
The policewoman looked up at Arbel, examining her.
From Leo's room she heard the sound of something falling and a small wave of anger came over her.
"What are you doing anyway? Why aren't you looking for him? Why are you coming to the house instead and smashing my little brother's things?"
If Arbel's accusations upset her, the policewoman did not show it. Her gaze passed through her as if she is not there, as if she is not important.
Another noise came from the room, and Arbel's eyes flashed towards the corridor. What is the policeman doing there? Taking apart the walls to see if Leo is hiding between them?
"This is not the first time we have to deal with the disappearance of a child-" the policewoman tried to calm her down "- it is more common than you think"
Well it's just a nice piece of information to know. What happened to this world?
The police officer continued "We're just trying to cover all directions-" The police officer must have been satisfied with her attempt to calm her down because she immediately returned to the questions
"Has Leo been acting strange lately? Up late or leaving the house a lot"
Here Arbel got into a bit of trouble. Because yes, Leo does all that. But he's been doing it for years
"Not too much" Arbel finally answered
The policewoman nodded. Still fucking doesn't record anything.
"Did something stressful happen? It could be problems in the family or with friends-"
"Wait a minute - " Arbel interrupted her "- what's the matter? What are these questions?"
Arbel started to have a bad feeling in her stomach. She didn't know what the police were supposed to do exactly, but not this.
Before Arbel could get an answer a voice stop her. The policewoman accomplice, meaning the other damn cop, left leo room.
He called them to come, said he found something.
The policewoman rushed in but Arbel hesitated.
A part of her didn't want to know. She didn't want to know what the "something" they found was.
Maybe because it would make it real, maybe because she's afraid of the answers.
Unfortunately Arbel had no choice. She'd be damned to let those two idiots destroy Leo's room.
Besides, she has no time to hesitate.
She has a little brother to find.
Arbel entered the room