The house was darkened by the night. A lovely couple was lying on the sofa, watching some drama on TV. Their baby was sleeping behind them in a cute pink baby carriage. It was a girl, between 2 and 3 months. It was a happy family, like so many in this world.

Suddenly, a dark shadow appeared next to the baby. It looked at the baby, seconds passed, and, in a gentle movement, it leant over the baby. His hands reached to the little being. While the baby girl slept, the black silhouette took her to the back of the room and then left the house like nothing at all had happened.

Aaron Greenleaves was an extremely successful investigator and chief of his department. Even if his look was be terrible especially when mad, as was most of the time, he was very competent and knew exactly what was in criminals’ minds. Because of this, everyone in his department respected him and was very proud to work with him. He moved on case after case and at that time, he was with the sad couple.

The mother’s eyes were red and it was difficult for her to speak clearly. Her name was Annie Stombold, her parents were already dead and she had a twin sister, Lizzie Clearfield. The father was dark, not dark as in frightening, more like dark because he was destroyed. His name was Andrew Stombold, and he came from a big family. Their testimony was simple, no sounds or signs. At 12 o'clock they wanted to take the baby from her bed and they saw that she was no longer.

1 am. Scientists had completed their job but nothing had eventuated. Aaron and his team waited in the house with the parents because their first thought  was that it may have been a kidnapping for ransom. They were all sitting around a big table. Aaron concentrated. He had to move fast, it was already 1 hour since the baby had been reported missing and everyone in the parents’ family were suspects- friends and acquaintances too.

« We have to ask the neighborhood. » he said.

3 am. No one and nothing has been seen, no phone calls either. Aaron was going to return to the police station when a car pulled up in front of the house. A new recruit entered the house. « Sir, a woman is saying that she's the mother's sister and she wants to enter the house. » .Annie reacted, « That might be my sister » she said. And she was right, a minute later her sister was in her arms, crying like it was the end of the world. Aaron sighed and went outside. He lit a cigarette and thought for a long time, closing his eyes. When he opened them, he saw in front of him a dark old man peeping at him from behind his window, his expression was weird. Automatically Aaron went to the old man’s door and hardly knocked on it. « I already said that I didn't hear anything! » said the lazy voice behind the door. « You didn't hear anything but that doesn't mean that you didn't see anything. » answered Aaron. After a long silence, the lock of the door turned and the old man opened it. He didn't offer for Aaron to sit or a have a drink. « What did you see? ». Silence. « You know you just have to tell me what you saw, you don't need to tell me your name, there's not going to be any retaliation ». The old man opened his beer can and began to speak. « I saw a woman leave the house in hurry » Aaron tilted. « How did you know that it was a woman? It was in the middle of the night! ». The old man looked him in the eyes. « Poor man, I know how to differentiate between a man and a woman... even in the night! » He was so straight and firm. Aaron had no choice but to trust him.

7 am. « So, we know that the kidnapper is a woman, but it's based on the testimony of an old madman!!! ». Adrian, a colleague of Aaron, didn't understand why Aaron trusted the old man. « It's the only clue that we have so be happy. » said the chief. « And where are we headed? » He asked. Adrian smiled happily « To the mother's work, you know, her sister works here too! ». « What a coincidence! » exclaimed Aaron.

It was a quite normal job, she was a secretary. The policemen spoke with her employer and her colleagues, and everything was quite normal. But …

12 am. « You said that Lizzie, the sister of Annie was strange lately? » asked Aaron. « Yes, » answered a young woman « Lately she seems to have some bad acquaintances and ... » she hesitated. « And …? » pushed Aaron. « I heard something last week. I thought that Lizzie loved her sister but...

Flashback.

I was in the bathroom and before I left the stall, I heard someone else enter. At first I didn't know who it was but she began to speak. « Raaaa ! Damn you! You think you're better because you can have a child? Do you know how I feel! ME who can't have one? She will see if having a baby is as incredible as all that! ». After that I waited her to finish and I left.

End of Flashback.

After that I heard that she began to going out with a criminal or something like that. That's all ». Aaron and Adrian looked at each other. « Okay thanks for this, it will be a big help » said Aaron.

When they left Aaron ordered Adrian « I want Lizzie Clearfield in the interrogation room right now! »

4 pm. « She hasn't spoken since she arrived » said Adrian. « But she will speak » added Aaron. He entered the room. Lizzie was quietly looking at the table. « So you don't want to speak » said Aaron while he was sitting. She didn't answer. « And do you want to talk about the fact that you cannot have a baby ». Lizzie looked at him shaking for a few seconds, and then relaxing. « Yeah, it's in my DNA, I can't have a baby but that don't mean I kidnapped my niece. » Aaron chuckled. « Do you know the word ‘jealousy’? » He didn't give her the time to answer. « Someone heard you raging in the bathroom of your workplace and apparently you've been in contact with some criminal. ». « That's just girls talking » She said. « We're going to see » He concluded. At that moment, Adrian entered the room. « I have her record of phone communication .» Aaron took a long look at the paper. Adrian seemed anxious. « Adrian, take her handbag. » The other two were shocked but rapidly the policeman executed the orders, tearing the bag from Lizzie's hands and handing it to Aaron. He took a look in and, finding a hiding place, took out a phone from it. « There's the second phone, I'm sure there's something in it » said Aaron. Lizzie panicked. « I...I... I just asked him to hide the baby » She began to cry. « But he hasn't contacted me since then and he didn't answer my calls » Aaron bit his lip, 'so that was that' he thought. He left the room with Adrian. « Search for a recurrent number » he ordered.

6 pm. Dimitri Leather was the name of the man that Lizzie was in contact with. He was listed in the police files for drug selling and theft. He lived on the edge of town in a poorer district. In his files it was mentioned that he had already stayed in prison because of recurrent bad behaviour and that he knew a lot of people in the criminal world. When they saw his actual location, a lot of police were immobilized. When they arrived, a big warehouse spread out before them. They waited next to the doors. Aaron was here, first in line with his bullet-proof vest and guns. The voice on their transmitter counted down- 3. 2. 1. They entered the building. Screams were coming from left to right. Shot after shot was fired. Bullets flew through the room.  Aaron moved forward, while the first criminals were arrested. They were right, Dimitri and a friend of his were the head of a large network of dealers, and Aaron and his team had just discovered their hideout. Aaron was searching for the baby, that was the priority. He ran through room after room but nothing. He arrived in front of the last door with Adrian. They heard a baby screaming from the outside. They waited several seconds looking at each other in the eyes and then, opened the door by force. A man, Dimitri, was standing next to a bed while screaming « You're not going to shut up, bastard! ». When he saw the two policemen, he tried to shoot at them but before he could, he received two bullets in his feet from Aaron and Adrian’s guns. While Adrian arrested Dimitri, Aaron slowly approached the baby. She was alive and seemed to be in good health.

7 pm. Annie and Andrew were crying in the police station .Their child was safe and sound. The family was reunited. It was a happy ending.

'So' Aaron thought, 'what case is next ?'…

by Séverine and Maissam, 1ère L LVA