Illusive | Tim Bradford

thirty one •

The use of her first name made me realise that Hale meant much more to Bradford than I ever could of guessed. Friends or romantically, I wasn't sure.

I nodded in response, my own determination unwavering. "I know. None of us will rest until she's safe. We owe her that much." I reassured.

Amidst the tension and uncertainty, there had been a glimmer of hope that had emerged. Officer Nolan had discovered a potential lead. The department was buzzing with a renewed sense of urgency and determination.

We gathered around a table that had been strewn with maps, photographs and notes. We were analysing any possible information. The lead pointed to a rundown warehouse on the outskirts of town.

The location was known as a place were criminal activity was commonly conducted. Intelligence suggested that the suspect might be hiding there with a Officer Hale.

With adrenaline pumping and hearts pounding, we all wasted no time. We organised a swift and coordinated operation to approach the warehouse and hopefully rescue Hale.

Under the cover of each other, the LAPD moved stealthily. Our training and experience was our main guide. Every step was calculated, every move synchronised to maximise our chances of success.

As we approached the warehouse, we could see dim lights flickering through the cracks in the doors. The tension in the air was palpable as the team prepared to breach the building.

We moved in, swift and decisive. The warehouse erupted into action as officered stormed inside. The words of "clear" filled my ears.

Eventually we'd cleared the whole building of people. There was no Hale.

We discovered blood in the warehouse. I felt my body fill with chills. I was immediately even more worried than I had been before. I didn't think that was possible.

We collected the blood for testing and it was sent off. We still continued to inspect the warehouse. The atmosphere quickly grew heavier and the urgency of the situation felt even more intensified.

I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt. I wondered if there was something more I could have done. Or maybe there was a detail I'd missed.

Bradford also seemed visibly affected, his usual determination now also mixed with a deep sense of anger and frustration.

"The lab reports have returned." We heard Sergeant Grey inform. There was an uneasy expression on his features. "The blood is Officer Hale's." He informed.

The results left room for no doubt. Hale had been inside of the warehouse, and her situation seemed dire. The force redoubled our efforts, working tirelessly to gather any additional information that could lead to Hale.

Every lead was pursued with an unwavering determination. We all continued to coordinate our search efforts. The entire force was still mobilised, sharing the same goal of finding Hale.

I couldn't help but reflect on the frozen moment when Hale had been taken. I'd replayed this scene over and over in my mind, I hoped to find some sort of detail or nuance that could provide a better clue.

The memory haunted me, but also fuelled my determination to find Officer Hale.

When we returned to the station, I found Bradford in a secluded corner of the station. His frustration and guilt etched deeply onto his features. His hands were clenched into firsts, and his jaw was tight with a mixture of anger and self blame. His eyes that were usually sharp and observant were clouded with a storm of emotions.

"Bradford," I spoke softly. My voice was filled with empathy. I approached him cautiously, well aware of the storm of emotions raging within him.

He turned to face me, eyes bloodshot and tired. "Chen," he begin, his voice cracking with raw emotion. I'd never seen him like this. It scared me a little. "I should of done something. I should of known. I should of done better to protect her. I knew he was still out there." He rambled.

I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, my eyes reflecting the pain we both felt. "No, Bradford. This is far from your fault. We'll find Hale. But blaming yourself won't help her or us." I reassured.

His fists relaxed slightly as he looked up at me, eyes searching for solace. "I can't help it, Chen. I can't shake off the feeling that I failed her." He admitted.

I nodded, the grip I had on his shoulder become firm yet gentle. "We're all doing everything we can, Bradford. We're going to find her. We're going to bring her back. Until then, we all have to stay strong. For her and for each other." I reassured him.

He let out a shaky breath, shoulders slumping slightly as he absorbed my words. He knew I was right, and I also knew that the feelings of guilt was an extremely hard thing to shake off.

"We can't afford to let our guilt paralyse us. We need to channel our determination into our search. We can both use it as fuel to find Hale and bring her home." I explained.

Bradford looked at me, his eyes filled with anguish but also a glimmer of determination. He nodded slowly, clearly acknowledging the truth to my words.

Together, we both sat in the quiet corner of the station. We were determined to bring her back, no matter the changes.