First interview: Terri

Terri sat, content, in her living room. Sally was out with a friend, which gave her some freedom she didn't normally have. She'd put on some mindless soap opera about a rich Asian father falling for a maid, and the threat it posed to his family and image. What it was didn't matter. What mattered was, the male lead was handsome and completely ripped.

She let herself fantasize about him. Her fetish for Asian men had only recently awoken, and she wasn't ready to look at less tame materials. Even as her hand buried itself in her wanting groin. She began to pinch at her nipple, feeling the beginning of an orgasm, when the doorbell rang.

Goddammit.

"Just a moment!", she called out, without a hint of agitation. More than a decade of being a mother had taught her well how to hide if she'd been up to naughtier activities.

Taking a breath to ease her tensions, she grabbed a bit of hand sanitizer from her purse, along with an air freshener. A quick spritz of each and no one could tell what she'd been up to, as soon as she redid her jeans. She opened the door to see a policewoman, along with two men in white suits.

Terri looked at them all, entirely confused. "Hello, officer. Did something happen?"

The policewoman took out a pad and pen. She had short, spiky hair and spoke with authority, and confidence. "In a way, ma'am, it did. I'm officer Lacy. These two gentlemen are with the Novaxan Placement Program. Is it alright if we come in to ask you a few questions?"

"Of course, I'll answer anything I can." She lead them inside, to her dining room table. "Can I get you anything, water? Coffee? Tea?"

Officer Lacy shook her head as she sat down. "No, thank you."

The shorter of the two men nodded. "Coffee sounds good." His taller companion prodded him with an elbow. The short one winced and changed his answer. "Uh...nevermind. Thanks but this should be quick."

Terri still poured herself a glass of water, trying not to be nervous. Officer Lacy spoke again. "We just have a few questions about your son, James."

Terri turned off the television. Her mind races at the possibilities, the different horrible accidents her son could have gotten in. "Oh, God he's okay isn't he? Did someone break into his home? Is he missing?" She tried, and failed entirely, to hide her anxiety.

Officer Lacy shook her head again, suddenly speaking in a more calming tone. "James is fine, ma'am. We just wanted to know if you've been in touch with him in the last few days."

"Well yes, I just went to visit him yesterday with my daughter."

"Did you find anything odd while you were there?"

Terri shook her head, mentally turning on what she affectionately called her 'ditzy mother' act. "Well, not that I can think of, why?"

"There's a Novaxan runaway in his area, and the profiling questions we have lead us to think his home might be one of those affected. Did you see any groups of fungus, or maybe a way of storing water?"

Terri shook her head again, puffing her lips out in deep thought. He'd had moldy food...and a tub full of water. Oh, no... "Mmm...no, he's always been clean and he doesn't like mushrooms or anything like that. He won't buy a pool, either, he just comes over here to use mine if it's hot."

"Please, ma'am. If there's anything at all unusual you might have noticed during your visit, it could help us find the runaway. It's a hazard to the Novaxan, as well as anyone that appears to be a threat. Her foster family is worried, and they said she's been prone to violent outbursts ever since trying to adjust.", the taller man said.

Terri thought hard, biting her lower lip. "I can't think of anything. Jamie isn't very social, so he doesn't do much besides work. He doesn't like to get mixed into things, so if he does see anything I know he'll call someone."

The shorter man asked the next question. "Does he have any friends that might visit regularly?"

"Oh, he has his boss Lee, and a friend in the hospital he's been spending time with. I'm hoping they'll be more than friends soon. Can't wait forever for grandkids, you know.", she said whimsically.

"And you've seen him leave to spend time with this friend?", the taller one asked.

No, she hadn't. Terri connected the dots quickly. She wouldn't believe it until she saw it, but she owed her son a surprise visit after these eyes weren't on her. She nodded, "Yes, he let me visit with him briefly yesterday. She was just in for some burns on her chest. They went out for coffee, and it had been overheated. Like that lady who got third degree after that fast food place gave her boiling hot coffee? Her's weren't as bad, though, and she's supposed to be out today or tomorrow."

Officer Lacy threw a curve ball. "Which hospital is she at? We need to question anyone who might be able to tell us if he's acting strange."

Terri didn't miss a beat, though. "Lady of Peace, just south. I wish I could give you her name, but he kept calling her Sparkles. Some dumb nickname."

"That's alright, we'll check into recent burn cases and find out. Thank you for cooperating, ma'am.", Officer Lacy said while she stood. She left a card on the table."If he calls you about anything odd, or you find anything else out, call me and let us know please."

"Of course.", Terri answered with a smile. She held the door for them, waving carelessly at them as they left.

As soon as the door was closed, she grabbed her phone and dialed her older sister Tanya, who was one of the nurses at the hospital. She placed around, biting her nails. "C'mon, Tanya, answer..." Finally her sister's voice called out.

<"Hello?">

"Tanya? It's Terri...can you do a favor for me? Something weird is going on with Jamie, and I need to keep him out of some trouble until I can find out what."

<"Jamie doesn't do anything to be in any trouble, Ter. You're a worrywart, and we both know it. Remember when he went to Spokane? You thought he'd be attacked by a bear.">

"Tanni, the police were just asking questions about him and a friend of his who's been at the hospital for a chest burn from coffee."

<"And?">

"And he doesn't have a friend who's been in the hospital."

<"...Goddammit.">

"This feels like that summer camp thing. I called it in that and I'm just as sure about this."

<"Teeer...don't make me do this.">

"Please, Tanni? Just till I can get to the bottom of this." The phone stayed silent for nearly a full minute. "...Tanya?"

<"For fuck's sake, fine...how many days ago?">

"Tanni, you're the best. Thank you so much, he said it was just two days ago but she needs to have been discharged today."

<"God...fine, but you owe me your first grandkid for this. If I get caught making up a patient file...">

"Can't you use that senile doctor they won't fire for the record?"

<"Nope. They finally worked up the courage last month. Don't worry, I'll put it in that I volunteered to take over and I'll get Mike to sign a release form and work it up.">

"You're a savior, Tanni."

<"Damn fuckin right, I am. Just don't make me a martyr.">