On Earth, Mark felt lost and devastated. He couldn't understand how he had lost the children. He had been too slow to react, and now they were kidnapped and on their way to the moon. He blamed Samantha, who hadn't sent help in time but had instead asked for pictures and evidence. He was determined to confront her.
Mark looked in the car mirror and saw a man he didn't recognize. His eyes were bloodshot and his face was pale. He looked like he had been through hell. At least I don't have to shave.
He couldn't believe that he was going to work. He should be at home, searching for the kids. But he didn't have time to go home and change. He was already late so he was driving directly to the police station.
As he walked to the police station, he felt like everyone was staring at him. He knew he looked terrible, but he didn't care. He just wanted to get to work and find his kids.
When he arrived at the police station, he went straight to his boss's office. His boss, Captain DeLuca, was a great person with a dubious past. He was known for being tough and demanding, but he was also fair.
Mark took a deep breath and entered Captain DeLuca's office.
"Captain DeLuca," he said. "I'm here for my report."
Captain DeLuca looked up from his desk. "Mark," he said. "You look like shit. What happened?"
Mark swallowed hard. "My kids were kidnapped," he said. I mean my friend's kid and other kids with him.
Captain DeLuca was not surprised. We know he says. Someone has already reported this earlier.
Mark: Of course sir. But sir, I need to ask you for a favor.
Captain DeLuca: What is it, Mark?
Mark: I want to be assigned to the case of kidnapping. I'll do whatever it takes to find them.
Captain DeLuca: Mark, I know you're a good cop. But you're not a detective. You don't have the experience.
Mark: I'm willing to learn. I'm a fast learner. And I'm motivated. I want to find these kids more than anything in the world.
Captain DeLuca: (sighs) Okay, Mark. I'll assign you to the case as a helper to Detective Torres. She just lost her partner in a shooting, and she could use the help.
Mark: Thank you, Captain. I won't let you down.
Captain DeLuca: I know you won't.
Captain DeLuca picks up the phone and calls for Detective Torres. A few minutes later, she enters the office. She was a small, Spanish woman with a stern expression on her face.
Captain DeLuca: Detective Torres, I'd like to introduce you to your new helper, Mark.
Detective Torres looks at Mark and shakes her head. "I don't need a helper," she says. "I'm perfectly capable of doing this job on my own."
Captain DeLuca: I know you are," he says. "But Mark is a good cop. He's skilled and he's determined. He's also very motivated. His friend's kids were the ones who were kidnapped."
Detective Torres looks at Mark again. She hesitates for a moment, then nods. "Okay," she says. "I'll give him a chance."
Mark: Thank you, Detective. I'll do my best.
Captain DeLuca: I know you will. Now, get to work.
Mark and Detective Torres leave Captain DeLuca's office and go to her desk. They sit down and begin to plan their rescue mission.
Mark was determined to find his friend's kids. He knew that it would be a dangerous mission, but he was willing to risk his life to save them. He also knew that he had a good partner in Detective Torres. She was experienced and skilled, and she was just as determined as he was to find the kids.
Together, Mark and Detective Torres were going to do everything they could to bring the kids home safely.
Detective Torres sat in her office, smoking a cigarette. She looked at Mark, who was sitting across from her.
"So," she said in her thick Spanish accent. "You wanna be a detective, eh?"
Mark nodded. "Yes, ma'am," he said.
"Well, you're in luck," she said. "I need a helper. But don't get too excited. This case is gonna be a tough one. We're up against the Space Corp, and those guys are ruthless."
"I know," Mark said. "But I'm determined to find the kids."
Detective Torres smiled. "Good," she said. "Because I need all the help I can get."
She stood up and walked over to the window. She looked out at the city skyline.
"I hate the Space Corp," she said. "They're everything that's wrong with this world. They're greedy, they're corrupt, and they don't care who they hurt."
She turned to face Mark. "That's why we're gonna find those kids," she said. "And we're gonna bring them home safely."
Mark stood up. "I'm with you," he said.
Detective Torres smiled again. "Good," she said. "Now, let's get to work."
Mark and Detective Torres spent the rest of the day planning their rescue mission. They knew that it would be dangerous, but they were determined to succeed.
Mark was glad that he had Detective Torres on his side. She was tough, she was experienced, and she hated the Space Corp just as much as he did.
Mark confided to Detective Torres that he suspected Space Corp had infiltrated the hospital to kidnap sick children addicted to VR. He told her about Toby and his mother, Anya, but kept her location a secret.
Detective Torres nodded her head as she listened to Mark's theory. "That's a good point," she said. "It's possible that Space Corp has infiltrated the hospital. They're certainly capable of it."
She took a drag on her cigarette and exhaled slowly. "But why would they kidnap sick children who are addicted to VR?" she asked.
"I don't know," Mark said. "But I have a feeling it has something to do with the experiments they're doing on the moon."
Detective Torres raised an eyebrow. "Experiments?" she asked. "What kind of experiments?"
"I don't know," Mark said. "But I'm determined to find out."
He looked at Detective Torres intently. "I need your help," he said.
Detective Torres nodded. "You've got it," she said. "But first, we need to find out more about this Anya woman. Where is she?"
Mark hesitated. He didn't want to give Detective Torres Anya's location. He didn't trust her. Not yet.
"I can't tell you where she is," he said. "But I can tell you that she's a vital witness to this case. We need to find her before Space Corp does."
Detective Torres stared at Mark for a long moment. She could see the determination in his eyes.
"Fine," she said. "I won't ask you where she is. But I need you to keep me updated on her whereabouts. And if anything happens to her, I want to know about it immediately."
Mark nodded. "I understand," he said.
Detective Torres: "Do you have a gun?"
Mark shook his head. "No," he said. "I'm not a detective yet."
Detective Torres stood up and walked over to a second desk. She pulled out a gun from the drawer and handed it to Mark.
"Take it," she said. "You're going to need it."
Mark took the gun and looked at it. He had never held a gun before.
"I don't know if I know how to use this," he said.
"I'll teach you," Detective Torres said. "But first, you need to lose the uniform."
Mark looked down at his uniform. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean, you can't go undercover wearing a police uniform," Detective Torres said. "You need to blend in."
Mark nodded. "I understand," he said. "I'm going to change for tomorrow"
"Good," she said. "Now, let's go to the shooting range."
Mark and Detective Torres drove to the shooting range. Detective Torres showed Mark how to hold the gun and how to fire it. Mark was a quick learner, and he was soon shooting the gun accurately.
"You're a natural," Detective Torres said. "You're going to be a great detective."
Mark smiled. "Thanks," he said.
"Now," Detective Torres said. "Remember, you always need to be prepared. You never know when you're going to need to use your gun."
Mark nodded. "I will," he said.
He put the gun back in his holster and looked at Detective Torres.
"Thanks for everything," he said. "I couldn't have done it without you."
Detective Torres smiled. "You're welcome," she said. "Now, let's get those kids back."
Mark and Detective Torres left the shooting range and drove back to the police station. They were determined to find the kids and bring them home safely.
Mark sat at his desk, staring at the phone. He was thinking about Detective Torres. He didn't trust her. He didn't trust anyone.
He knew that Space Corp had infiltrated the police department. They could be anywhere.
He also knew that he needed help to find the kids. He couldn't do it alone.
He picked up the phone and dialed Samantha's number.
Mark: Samantha, it's Mark.
Samantha: Mark, what's up?
Mark: I need your help.
Samantha: What's wrong?
Mark: I'm now officially a detective. I'm investigating Space Corp for the kidnapping of the kids.
Samantha was silent for a moment. "That's not a good idea, Mark," she said. "Space Corp is very dangerous."
Mark: I know," he said. "But I have to do it. I have to find the kids."
Samantha: Fine," she said. "But you need to be careful. Space Corp is not going to be happy that you're investigating them."
Mark: I will," he said. "But I need your help."
Samantha: Okay," she said. "I'll help you. But first, we need to go on a second date."
Mark hesitated. He didn't want to go on a second date with Samantha, but he knew that he needed her help.
Mark: Fine," he said. "When?"
Samantha: Tomorrow night?" she asked.
Mark: Okay," he said. "I'll pick you up at 7:00."
Mark hung up the phone and sighed. He knew that he was taking a risk by trusting Samantha, but he didn't have any other choice. He needed her help to find the kids.
Samantha smiled as she hung up the phone. She had Mark exactly where she wanted him. She had convinced him to go on a second date with her, and she knew that she could seduce him.
To be continued...how is Samatha going to seduce Mark who does not trust her?