"Well, we can't help you. Maybe you should check downtown LA. Skid Row." The mean guard finally chuckled.
"Why the fuck would my friend be on Skid Row?!" Norah's voice raised because right now wasn't shit funny.
"Not like that, ma'am. Most winners don't know what to do with their earnings. Most turn to alcohol then drugs. If we see her, we will make sure to inform you." The nicer guy spoke up because he could hear the worry in Norah's voice.
Norah could tell she was completely wasting her time.
She jumped to her feet and looked between both guards. "I swear y’all some dumb mothafuckas." Norah stormed out of the room.
Norah made her way out of the facility, making sure to roll her eyes at the guards. One chuckled but the mean one kept a straight face. His eyes met with Norah and something unsettling piqued her interest. She didn't care about his fucked up attitude and demeanor, so she flicked him off to let him know exactly how she felt.
He had finally chuckled, but his laugh was sinister. Norah ignored him and went out the door for her car that was parked in red. At this point, the only thing she could do was go to the cops in hopes that they could help. Maybe if she told them this wasn't like her friend, they'd have some understanding. She climbed into her car, said a quick prayer, then made her way to the precinct.
***
"Okay, so tell me everything from the start,” the female officer asked.
Norah had been in the precinct for hours trying to get someone to help her. The male officers gave her their assesto kiss, informing her about the three-day rule. Finally, a nice female officer overheard her cry for help and decided to help her.
"Okay, so on New Year's night, my friend got into it with her boyfriend. He didn't want us to go with him to a club, so we went to the Kingly Dynasty."
"The casino?" the officer asked, and Norah noddedyes. "Oh, boy."
"So, she won money on a slot and was told to come alone to get it. She went the next day, and I haven't talked to her since." Norah sighed, ignoring the officer's strangeoh boy. "I'm not used to doing this. I'm from the hood, ma'am, so we don't go to the police, but this is my friend and I really need to find her."
"Trust me, I get it. These days girls go missing and it's swept under the rug. I also understand what you mean about being from the hood, but in this situation, you won't look like a rat." The officer totally understood. She, too, was thoroughbred from the trenches. Just so happened she was a straightAstudent that wanted to do what no one in the hood did; be a cop. Therefore, she understood Norah's concern about being a rat. "Has her boyfriend ever harmed or abused her?"
"No. Never. He doesn't disrespect her at all."
"Have you ever had any signs of obsession from him or any other men?"
"No. His cheating ass ain't obsessed with nobody but himself. I mean, he does love her, but I wouldn't call it obsessed. As far as other men, yes, they always flirt with her but not obsessed."
"OK. So what happened when you went there looking for her today?"
"The guards were acting strange."
"Did you get a name?"
"No."
"Well, I'll tell you anyone who is associated with a Kingly means no good. We have had a few reports from this place but not enough to begin an investigation. I'll check things out myself between us." The officer winked.
"Thank you so much. What's your name?"
"I'm Hannah Sharief."
"I'm Norah. Thank you, Officer Sharief."
"Just call me Hannah."
"Well, here's my number. Please, whatever you can do."
Norah took it upon herself to write down her number. She stood from her seat, and there was this warm feeling about Hannah that told Norah she would definitely help her. She was gonna hold onto her word and the gut feeling that Hannah was a girl’s girl who totally understood.
"I'm gonna do whatever I can, Norah." Hannah nodded and gave her that same warm smile.
Norah left the office feeling so much better. She felt as if she had gotten a step closer to finding her friend, and until she found her, she wouldn't stop.
