Chapter 14
It was seven o'clock in the morning. Anderson had done a great job at putting together a team. Caden was not in charge of the search which he was honestly grateful for and neither was Tammy. He was also grateful for that.
Tammy was wide awake as normal and Caden was just slightly less awake but not completely tired.
It was cold out today so everyone wore warm clothing.
They were all standing in the ARRO armory planning who would go where.
Caden honestly wasn't paying much attention to who was talking because he was looking at Tammy.
Why did she suddenly become so interesting you might ask?
She had a look of determination in her eyes that Caden had to stop and admire. For once she wasn't smiling and it was easily noticeable how intently she was listening.
It then occurred to Caden he should probably be listening too before he gets in trouble or doesn't know what their suppose to be doing.
"Rogers!" His name was sternly called
*Uh oh.* Caden thought.
Perhaps it was a bit too late.
"Yes?" Caden asked with an awkward tone, feeling he had been caught.
"You and Palmer will search downtown around the arcade. Check around the streets and nearby shoppes to see if anyone has heard or seen anything." The agent in command informed.
Caden sighed a sigh of relief without realizing it. He felt lucky he wasn't caught not listening.. This time that is.
The agents split up and Tammy and Caden drove to their location. They get until lunch time to search. Then they get to take a break to eat.
They began their walk down the street keeping an open eye.
Caden had his holster, and his handgun of course, hidden under his jacket but Tammy's was easily seen on her hip.
It was quiet and Tammy being the morning person she is wanted to talk.
"So Caden-" She made sure to have his attention.
He glanced over at her interested in what she wanted to say, even if it was only small talk.
"Have you been on a lot of search teams?"
"I thought you read about all of my missions?" Caden wondered why she asked.
"Not all! Just mostly all.." Tammy admitted, mumbling the last part, though Caden heard her fine.
The two laughed and it really did feel good to laugh.
"Well then you would know." Caden reminded her.
"Ok, ok, yes I really do know I'm just trying make conversation." Tammy told him.
He smiled at her.
"Then allow me." He said.
"Ok I'm listening." She told him, happy to see him talking. It was a pretty big deal for someone who wasn't a morning person.
"Since you basically know everything about me could I ask a few questions about you?" He was being polite and asking first.
"Of course!" Tammy beamed.
She seemed happy he took an interest in what she was like outside of work.
"First question, why have you read so much about me?" Caden has always wondered.
Tammy cheeks turned pink from blushing and she tried to let her long blonde hair hide her cheeks.
It has always been clear Tammy had a crush on him. Though Caden looked at her more as a little sister than anything. He would never hurt her feelings and tell her that though.
"Well I knew for awhile even before I started training I would work for ARRO someday. So naturally I would look into the place. So how could I look into ARRO and not read a least a little about their star agent?" Tammy explained
He smiled at her response and felt kinda honored he had a fan.
They stopped to ask someone if they knew anything about the boy and the person had said no. So they kept walking.
"So you said you didn't want to work here forever. Where else do you have in mind?" Caden had wanted to ask for awhile.
Tammy didn't look at him to answer this one either.
"Some day I want to be an artist. Though I know it's a hard job to get into. I needed to get a different job first. Like I said, my siblings all work for ARRO so it only seemed like it was what I was suppose to do too." Tammy answered.
It really seemed she had wanted to tell someone that but had never had anyone to say it to.
"Do you get along with your siblings?" Caden wondered.
Tammy laughed when he asked that one and for a minute he didn't understand what was so funny.
"We're siblings. We get along for the most part, and of course we love each other, but we argue a lot too." Tammy smiled the whole time she said that.
"It's an expected thing." Caden understood.
They had asked around a bit more but no one had seen anything. He could tell Tammy was starting to get discouraged about it and it saddened Caden to see that look on her.
"Tammy?" He called her.
She looked over at him as if he had snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Yes?" She wondered what he wanted.
"I've been thinking about how you said you wanted to be an artist." Caden said.
"And?" Tammy didn't get where he was going with this.
"And I'd like to be your first customer." He told her.
"Caden I couldn't charge your for-"
He interrupted her.
"Please I want you too. I want you to be able to say I was the first person you sold a painting too." He insisted.
Right then Tammy could not stop the growing smile on her face.
"Alright! Since tomorrow is our day off you can come by my place and look at some paintings!" Her excitement was not well hidden.
She had to stop herself for a second.
"That is if you want." She calmed down.
He smiled back at her.
"That's fine."
And then her excitement was back.
"Great! I'll text you the address so you know where to go." Tammy said pulling out her phone.
She typed fast like a teenager would which only made him look at her as child still. Again she wasn't that much younger than him, but maturity wise he was much older. Tammy still had the heart of an eighteen-year-old.
When she was done she sent it to him and he heard his text tone informing him he had a message.
She looked up at him with a bright smile.
"I can't wait to show you my work! My sister will be home as well so I hope you don't mind meeting her." Tammy let him know.
"I'd love to meet her Tam."
That brought an even bigger smile to her face, if that was even possible that is.
Later on in the day the two had to break for lunch. They went to a nearby restaurant on the same street as the arcade so it was within walking range.
They were able to seat themselves and it felt good to finally sit down.
The pay both ordered water and a simple turkey sandwich. The waitress was very friendly.
"You two seemed to be having a rough day." She commented to the two.
The both looked up at her not even realizing how tired they must have looked until now.
"Not very rough, just long." Caden admitted.
"Well nothing is better then a nice hot cup of coffee on a cold 'long' day like today. Care for some?" The waitress asked the two.
Caden gladly accepted but Tammy didn't like coffee so she settled for some hot chocolate.
The waitress returned soon after with their hot beverages.
"These are on me." She offered to pay as she sat them down.
Both agents smiled at her random act of kindness as they slid their hands around their hot cup.
"Can I ask you something?" Caden wondered.
"Sure I don't see why not." The waitress told him.
"Have you seen this boy around?"
Caden showed her a picture of the boy on his phone as he had been doing for everyone else today.
"Actually yeah I have. He was here yesterday with who I assume was his dad. I think it was around four-ish in the afternoon." The waitress explained.
Both agents looked at her surprised.
"Do you know where they went?" Caden asked shocked.
She just stared at them both suddenly with a frown catching onto their surprised expressions. She became suspicious as to why they were asking.
"No I don't sorry. Why are you asking?" The waitress asked confused.
"We're from a company called ARRO you've probably heard from us. We've been searching for that little boy."
Caden tried not to give to much detail about the boy or the mission. Though an alert was already sent on the news about him being missing. Perhaps she doesn't watch the news.
"He paid with his credit card not cash. So maybe you could track him down that way. I'm going to have to see a badge though." She informed them.
"Of course!" Tammy replied this time.
Caden just now looked over at her to see her readiness. Excited wasn't the word but maybe eager or determined.
They both showed their badge and with a nod of her head the waitress left then came back with a receipt.
"I hope this helps you find him." She said.
They both felt at ease knowing they found a lead and they could enjoy their lunch in peace now knowing they haven't wasted their time.
Tomorrow was their day off so neither could continue the search right off. So it felt good to be able to be of good use today.
Well I'll call that a successful day at work. What are your feelings about Tammy being an artist? Thanks for reading as always! Vote and Comment if you liked it! :)