Chapter Text
Tina crossed off October 18th on her calendar in her kitchen. It's sunday, that means she doesn't have work. That also means..
“ANH!! WAKE UP!” Tina shouted, running to her friend's room and quite literally kicking her door down.
Anh immediately shot up, hair sticking everywhere. “WHAT? DID SOMETHING HAPPEN?”
Tina walked over to Anh’s closet, ripping clothes out for her. “We have work off today. I'm thinking we should go to an amusement park and invite Gavin! He’s been so stressed lately because of Charlie, I think it would be a good break for him.”
Anh nods, getting out of bed, going to her bathroom to brush her teeth and her hair. “Yes! I feel so bad for him. I really hope Charlie gets better.”
Tina walks over to Anh with a pair of black shorts, a light blue baggy shirt with dark blue text saying “WRODE,” and a silver chain necklace. “Here, wear this. I'm gonna wear my brown cargo shorts and that light forest green shirt I have. We can grab Dunkin on the way to Gavin’s!”
Anh nodded, mumbling around her toothbrush. “Okay!”
Anh and Tina arrived at Gavin’s apartment complex, with their coffee and his food, they started walking to his apartment.
When they reached the apartment, they took a moment to realize the door was slightly open.
They both looked at each other in confusion.
Tina slowly walked to the door, opening it more cautiously.
Oh.
Gavin’s house was slightly messy. That’s how Gavin is, though. There were dirty dishes in the sink, some of the decorative pillows for the sofa were on the floor, and some cat food had been spilled. It was just Gavin’s usual mess. The only odd thing was the fact a baseball bat was in the middle of the living room.
“Huh. Maybe something happened?” Tina suggested.
Anh shrugged. “I guess. Is Charlie here?”
Tina walked in and looked around. “Here she is! She's asleep on one of the dining room chairs. Aww..”
Anh giggled, pulling her phone out and taking a picture. “That’s adorable. You know, if Gavin isn’t here, we should put his food in the fridge and leave a note.”
“Yes. I believe he has a pen and some sticky notes around here somewhere..” Tina started digging through drawers.
“Alright. You can put the food in the fridge, I want to pet charlie. ”
“Ugh, i guess. Here they are! To Gavin, From Anh and Tina.. Wait. Oh my god.”
Anh turned around from her spot in the living room, looking at Tina over the kitchen counter. “What’s wrong?”
“Gavin has work today. I completely forgot! I think it’s because our schedules were in sync.”
“Yikes. I'm sorry. At least he will have food for dinner?”
Tina nodded, placing the sticky note onto the coffee drink and into the fridge, closing it. “Yeah. Maybe next weekend.”
Anh nods. “Okay, let's get this show on the road! We have an amusement park to terrorize!”
Soon they were in the car on the way to the amusement park. This park was called “Sides Rides 4 Fun.” A really goofy name if you ask them.
The ride was joyful, the two girls were laughing, passing jokes around, recalling funny memories from when they were kids, talking about recent arrests they’ve made, needless to say it was very happy.
They eventually arrived. Both girls ran out of the car, locking it and going to the front to buy tickets.
“Two Adult tickets, please!” Anh laughed.
“Of course, that’ll be twenty-two dollars, please.”
Tina handed the money over.
The cashier handed the tickets over. “Have a good day, you two.”
“Thanks!”
Anh and Tina were having the best of fun. The first ride they went on was an underwater theme. The next one was where it went upside down. The last one they went on before grabbing lunch was one where it goes up high, and drops down. They were terrified.
Both girls grabbed hot dogs, Tina had some lemonade to drink, and Anh had coke.
“This is like, the best day of my life.” Anh giggled.
Tina laughed. “Yes! I’m so glad we didn’t have to pay tickets online . That would’ve been so annoying.”
A tall woman with tan skin, very curly brown hair, brown eyes and light blonde ends walked over. She was wearing a red Christmas shirt with a tree on it, and a pair of black leggings. Her friend followed over, she was a little shorter, with straight black hair, blue eyes and a bit more pale. She was wearing black leggings, too, but a brown shirt with a mushroom on it instead.
“Hey, ladies.” The tall one spoke.
“Hi.” Anh replied.
“All I want for Christmas is.. your snap.” She winked, and tried to do some sort of an attractive face. She failed, miserably. They all started laughing.
The black haired one spoke first. “Oh my god, Katelyn. It’s not even christmas! I’m so sorry for my friend here. I'm Kiera.”
Tina waved her hand. “It’s alright, it was definitely random. I’m Tina, this is my friend Anh.”
Katelyn smiled. “ Was my pick-up line good?”
Anh shrugged. “It would’ve worked, but it’s not christmas.”
“At least I tried. See you guys around?”
“Of course. Bye!”
In the end, Anh and Tina ended up getting Katelyn and Kiera’s number. The girls went on more rides, even won some stuffed animals, and got face painted. It was a lot of fun.
They still wished Gavin was there. It would’ve been hilarious to see him scream on roller coasters.
Halfway home, Tina received a text from Gavin. It was his location. He was at a park.
“I wonder what that means. Maybe he needs a ride?” Anh suggested.
“Most likely. Let’s go have a look.”
The ride there was short, considering they were only about 4 minutes away.
When they got there, Gavin was nowhere to be found. He wouldn’t answer his phone either, which to be honest is quite normal.
“Ugh. Gavin is so bipolar..” Tina complained, walking back to the car.
Anh sighed. “Maybe it was like.. A butt-send?”
Tina laughed. “Could be. You know, considering it’s nearly 5, do you want to go catch a movie?”
Anh clapped once, “Yes! We should see that new movie about that haunted Vacation Hotel room. I think it’s called Room 13..”
“Obviously! I saw the trailer. It’s so good.”
The girls went to see the movie. It started off with a clip from 1967, where a family stole a room key from a fancy villa so they wouldn’t have to pay any money or sleep in the rain.
After sneaking in, the family got settled and started getting ready for bed. A mirror in the room had quite literally taken them, kidnapping them and putting them inside an alternate dimension like the villa, but dark and more haunted.
It then flashed to the present day, which for them was 2018. A group of teens went there for a vacation, in remembrance for One of the main characters' cousin's death, as they had requested they do that. The main character had noticed odd things happening from a linen closet, where presumably room 13 would be.
A girl’s best friend went missing a week later. The friend group and that girl went looking for the best friend. Anh and Tina both fell asleep before anything exciting happened.
They were definitely upset about having missed the end, but came to an agreement that they would finish it when it was out on video.
It was roughly 7 o’clock when they made it back home. Tina started on dinner, cooking spaghetti, whilst Anh cleaned up the mess in her room.
Afterwards, Anh sat down on her bed and started thinking.
She wanted to do something nice for Gavin. He’s been so upset about his cat lately, she wanted him to take a break today. It sucked that Tina forgot he had work.
Something must’ve happened, maybe he was actually taking today off and instead got called in, because something bad happened? That would explain why his apartment was so messy. Gavin is one to panic and be dramatic about very small things. He must’ve over exaggerated if his apartment was that much of a mess.
She could get him a ticket to a show he’s been wanting to see forever as a very, very, VERY early christmas gift.
“Anh! Dinner is ready!” Tina called out, breaking Anh’s thoughts.
She stood up, making her way to the kitchen. “Coming!’
Both girls served themselves, and were now currently sitting down at the dining table discussing how to make gavin happy.
“Yes, I do like the idea of that show. I don’t even see why he likes it. It's just comedy.”
Anh shrugged, “Gavin is Gavin. We never thought he would get a cat, yet he did. He is strange.”
We can buy the tickets online! We have a printer, so we can print out the receipt, put it into a card, a Christmas themed one, and watch him open it at work tomorrow!”
Anh nodded. It sounded like a very good plan.
The next day, October 19th, Tina arrived at work at 9:40 in the morning. Gavin wasn’t at his desk yet, so Tina didn’t bother waiting. Instead, she ate breakfast at her’s, and filed some paperwork for a warrant.
That took roughly an hour. All she had to do now was get it signed by a judge. That shouldn't be hard, She has a judge friend. It would be very easy.
Tina sighed, and looked over to where Gavin would be sitting. He wasn't there. She doesn't know why she was so anxious about Gavin. He has missed work and never said something about it before, this was technically normal.
Chris came into view, and walked up to Tina’s desk. “Hey, Tina. You look bothered. Is everything okay?”
Tina looked up at Chris. “Yeah. I’m just very worried about Gavin.”
Chris sighed, putting one hand on her desk and leaning on it. “He's going through a lot right now. You know that cat technically saved his life. The case he's working on, too. It's quite confusing. He also had an encounter with Elijah when Connor’s memory card needed to be recovered. You know how much they don't get along.”
“Me and Anh have something we hope’ll give him a break. You know that comedy show he’s been wanting to see for a while? She and I bought tickets for all of us to see it this Saturday.”
Chris was silent for a moment, squinting his eyes as if he was thinking hard. Then he stood up straight and clicked his fingers. “Oh! That show with the not-so twins. They’re called fruit or something. Apple and Orange?”
Tina shrugged. “I don't know. Gavin likes them because of their accent, I think. I don't really remember.”
Chris laughed, patting Tina on her back “Sounds like Gavin. I wish I could chat longer, but I have to finish a report. Bye, Officer Chen.” He waved as he walked back to his desk.
“Bye, Officer Miller!”
Now Tina was alone. She stood up, and made her way out of the precinct to get that warrant signed.
It was 8:30PM when Tina arrived back at the precinct. THe warrant had been signed, however the search was poor. There wasn’t anything useful in that house. However, the nice lady did make Tina and her colleagues some hot cocoa, so that was nice.
Gavin still wasn't at work. That was extremely off. Gavin would usually message her or Captain Fowler if he wasn't going on that day. Perhaps he was sick? Tina should bring him soup.
In the end, while walking to her car, Tina made the decision to not check up on Gavin. She knows how much he hates people invading his personal business. If he really needed help, he would definitely ask.
That night, Tina felt off. Very, very off. She felt uneasy, like no matter how hard she tried she couldn't get comfortable. It was as if something was horribly wrong. In the end, after taking melatonin, she was able to fall asleep.
“I swear to god.”
Gavin wasn’t at work the next day. It was now the 20th, meaning he had missed two full days of work. He's missed an entire week a couple of times. Many times. More than anyone could count. That means that sending out a missing person report would be just a useless as it was the first time.
Captain Fowler slams his fist on his desk, angrily. “I don’t give a FUCK if Gavin is ill, he should have notified one of us.”
Hank winces, the anger reminding him of himself.
“You three,” Fowler says, pointing to Nines, Connor, and Hank. “Go to his apartment. Find out what is up with him, then come back here, and report back to me.”
“Yes, sir.” All three say in unison.
“Great! Get the fuck out of my office, dammit.”
They all walked out of Fowler's office, the precinct, and into Hank's car in silence. It was a few minutes onto driving when Hank spoke up. “Shit, we don't even know where he lives. Do-”
“1882 East Rain Brook road, Brook Apartments.. I cannot find his apartment number.” Nines immediately cuts him off.
Hank scoffs. “Fuckin’ android. He still lives at that run down complex? Jesus christ. We can ask the landlord or something.”
Brook Apartments is definitely something. It's a huge brick building, three floors, and somewhat run down. On the way, Nines mentioned the security at that place is poor. Most of the cameras haven’t been functional since 2025, and half of the tenants are loud alcoholics, many diagnosed with Schizophrenia, Depression, Dementia, the list could go on. But why would Gavin live here?
Being able to actually enter the complex was difficult. The Manager assumed the three of them were druggies, and was lacking good manners. His name was Daniel Clarkson, he is in his late 50’s, and runs Brook Apartments with his brother, Samuel.
Obviously Daniel didn’t seem too happy to have police enforcement on his property. After a few minutes of tense conversation, Hank was able to get Gavin’s apartment number. It was 245, on the third floor.
They were now in an elevator. It smelled of mold, and made very concerning groans. Cheesy pop music was playing, that definitely didn’t help either of their moods.
Ding!
The doors opened, revealing a long hallway. The floor was wood, the walls brick, and the lights a yellow color.
In Front of the men was a door with the number “244,” which means Gavin’s apartment would be to the right.
Hank walked over to the door, Connor and Nines following quickly after.
He knocked on the door, quite harshly, and used a loud voice, “Gavin? Gavin Reed, are you in there?”
There was no reply. However, Apartment 244’s door opened, revealing an older lady, probably around hanks age, with grey-blonde hair, pale skin, a very hideous choice of an outfit, and a pair of hot-pink glasses.
“Stop it with the noise! It’s the bloody morning, people are trying to sleep.” The woman said, her voice loud.
Connor apologized. “Sorry, ma’am. We are trying to-”
“-get Gavin out of the apartment? It won’t work. Trust me, I have tried. Gavin usually brings me groceries, as I have difficulties doing it myself. Three days ago was when he should have made the trip. He told me he couldn’t, so yesterday, bright early in the morning, I did it myself. I know who you are. You are his work friends. You’re here because he's missed work and Jeffery is upset.”
Hank was bewildered, “I’m sorry, who are you?”
The woman walked out of her apartment. “I am Josephine Kyles. I have lived here since 2023 of december, I’ve known Gavin since he was just a little child. I am a friend of his mother, Lia Reed. I used to babysit him. Jeffery and I are friends, we both have been worried about gavin. If you are going to pick that lock, i don't think you should try. I believe it's electronic.”
The door made a click sound, and slowly started to open.
“Got it.” Nines informed.
Hank nodded at Josephine. “Okay. I assume you know who we are.”
Josephine nodded.
Hank turned to look inside the apartment. He seemed very confused at first, then his face drained of color. “Ma’am, get back inside your apartment, now.”
Josephine looked shocked. “Excuse me? You do not tell me what to do, What happened to Gavin?” She started walking over, “Is he okay?”
Nines held his hands out, stopping her. “Ma’am, it would certainly be best if you listened to Lieutenant Anderson.”
Josephine stopped, and looked at the three. She scoffed, turned around and entered her apartment, slamming the door on the way.
Hank took out his gun, switching off the safety and holding it out.
The door to apartment 245 opened more, showing off one hell of a scene.
Right off the bat, something was wrong. The apartment looked as if a hurricane went through it. The carpet was messed up, the kitchen had all kinds of crockery broken, and lounge chairs were all torn up, cotton everywhere. The worst thing, there was blood. Everywhere. There were blood marks at the floor of the door, there were splotches, hand prints, and tiny puddles in the kitchen, and there were some on the lounge chairs, staining the fabric.
Hank slowly walked in, pointing his gun out, ready to shoot any and everything that means danger.
Connor and Nines followed right behind him, preconstruction systems getting ready.
Hank and Connor were freaked out. Nines still had that cold, emotionless look on his face. However, there was a hint of something else.. Hank couldnt put his finger on it.
“Connor, check to see if the blood is Gavin’s. I think he was attacked.”
Connor nodded, “Sure, lieutenant.”
Hank walked around, in the dining room, on the table, there was a red tiara, many case files, a half empty water bottle, and some markers. Other than that, there wasn’t anything more to look at. All they had to do now was check the bedroom.
He walked over to the door, slowly turning the door knob, and opening it.
The bedroom was a mess, too. The window curtains were closed, the bed was messed up. The sheets were tangled up, the fitted sheet somewhat off the mattress.
There was a huge spot of blood on the sheets and the blankets. Something even worse, Gavin’s cat, Charlie, was dead, gutted, lying in the middle of the bed.
Hank gagged. “Connor! Nines, come here. Now!”
Connor and Nines headed towards the bedroom.
“What’s wrong, Lieutenant?” Connor asked. He quickly found out why.
Connor was disgusted, terrified. Nines’ face was twisted up into confusion. His LED was spinning a fast red.
“That's..” Connor started, but couldn't finish his sentence.
Nines walked around the room, looking at things. Hank assumed he was reconstructing what happened.
“It appears that Gavin had been sleeping peacefully, the cat on top of him. Someone had come in, and stabbed them both in their sleep, which I got from the knife over here by the bedside table. “ Nines pointed.
“Gavin woke up, and tried to defend himself. I believe he had tried to defend himself, but was hurt more in the process.” Nines moved away from the bed, walking out of the bedroom into the lounge. “Gavin and the intruder fought, scratching up these cushions. Moving to the kitchen, they knocked things onto the ground, thus creating the mess in there. At some point, the intruder had stabbed him in the back and knocked Gavin out. I believe they had dragged him up until about here,” Nines informed, pointing at the blood by the front door, “picked him up and walked out.”
There was silence. A lot of it. Nobody could speak. This was tragic.
Hank pulled out his phone and dialed Fowler’s number.
Ring
Ring
Ring
Ring
“Lieutenant Anderson.. Didn’t I tell you to report back to me in person?”
Hank didn’t respond.
“Hank? Are you there?”
Hank sighed, “He was attacked.”
“What the hell do you mean by that?”
Nines walked over to Hank, grabbing his phone and putting it on speaker.
“Gavin was attacked, violently. We still have yet to find out when.”
Fowler was silent for a few moments. “There’s something else you're not telling me.”
Hank breathed in deeply. “Gavin Reed is missing.”