The female officer’s eyes hold Bridget’s and she smiles softly. “Are you two close?” she asks.
Bridget nods and drops her head. “She’s my best friend,” she murmurs. I squeeze her hand just that little bit tighter.
Here we sit in a quiet office and yet my insides have never been so noisy… so confused. How did this happen? I had made sure that security was doubled… how did they get her? And what are they doing to her right now? My stomach has been sick since the moment Bridget got off the phone from Joshua and started to run around frantically screaming. How do you deal with this?
Please, Natasha, be ok.
“We are doing everything that we can to find her.” The kind officer smiles sympathetically at Bridget.
Bridget nods through her tears. “I know,” she whispers as her leg starts to bounce in nerves.
“What’s your relationship with Joshua Stanton like?” the male officer asks.
“Very good,” Bridget says softly. “I live with him and my sister.”
His eyes turn to me. “I understand that you are the head of Mr Stanton’s company?”
I nod. I don’t even have it in me to play nice and act polite anymore.
“Is there anyone else from his work environment who you can think of that would have a vendetta against your boss?” he asks.
“Only the ones I have told you,” I reply flatly. “Are you chasing any of those leads or are you just wasting time interviewing the same people over and over again?” I glare at the officer, furious that they can’t find her.
He nods. “We are very interested in the link to Coby Allender although there are a number of leads to be investigated.”
Bridget sobs softly and I remember that I am here with her and need to shut my angry mouth.
I nod and drop my head.
Bridget retrieves a small black toothbrush holder from her bag and looks at it in her shaking hands.
A lump in my throat forms as I watch her and my eyes close in pain.
“Here is her toothbrush,” Bridget whispers, unwilling to hand it over.
The female officer smiles sadly. “Thank you.” She sits still, waiting for Bridget to pass it across the desk.
“We can buy her another one when she gets back, Didge,” I whisper.
Bridget nods through her tears and shakily hands it over.
“We need a DNA sample from you too, Bridget. Can you swipe this swab over the inside of your mouth please? You will have the closest DNA to Natasha,” the policewoman gently says.
Bridget takes the swab, her eyes meet mine and I nod softly.
“Go on. This will help them find her,” I whisper.
She takes the swab and hands it over to the male officer who immediately bags and labels it.
“Are you still at the Jameson Hotel?” the female officer asks.
I nod.
“How long will you be there before returning to LA?” she asks.
I drop my head. “I don’t know. Until we find Natasha and bring her home I guess,” I reply.
Bridget squeezes my hand in hers. “You will find her, won’t you?” she whispers.