PRIEST

TROUBLE IN PARTNERSHIP

Griffin could swear he was flying above the clouds. He'd never felt so relaxed. 

He found himself in a peaceful and beautiful place. 

A little girl ran up to him. "Mr, your father is calling you"

Griffin wrinkled his brows in confusion."My father?"

She nodded her head as she took Griffin's hand "Yes. Let me take you to him. Follow me"

Griffin followed the little girl that he could swear he'd never seen before. 

"What's your name?" He asked. 

"Annette" she replied with a smile. "We are here".

She stopped infront of a big house and softly knocked on the door twice before turning the knob. "Let's go in"

Griffin was about to walk in when he felt someone pulling him back. 

"What's wrong sir?" She asked.

"I-I don't know"

"Griffin!" A muffled voice called out to him. "Hey!"

Griffin opened his eyes to see George above him. He stood upright as the sun rays blinded his eyes. 

"What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing. What are you doing asleep? I thought you said you were going to look for Miss Amanda"

Griffin furrowed his brow in confusion"Sleeping?". He looked around him. Sure he was in his house on his bed but what the hell, the last he remembers he was ...

He rubbed his head. Why couldn't he remembered anything?. 

"Griffin, are you alright?" George asked watching him with worry plastered over his face. 

"What about Miss Amanda, did you find her?"

George shook his head. "No. She escaped"

"Damn!" Griffin shouted expressing his frustration. "How did I get here? What about the little girl?"

"What little girl?"

"Annette. She was the one who brought me here, right?"

"No. I was the one. I found you passed out by the door out front."

Griffin's eyes widened in shock. That didn't make any sense. 

"Breaking news; Early this morning by 8:03am Jayne Mansfield was found dead in tbe forest..."The newscaster broadcasted . 

"Sh*t! Another murder? What is this world turning into?" George shouted out in frustration. 

Griffin zoomed in on the face as a he got hint of recognition "That lady"

"Do you know her?"

"She was the one I met in the bar when I was out on John walker's case. She's related to Miss Amanda"

"No way. So are you saying this is Miss Amanda's work too?"

"Wait. Did they say anything about a sword with the biblical verse?"

"Let us see...oh, there's that sword but not a biblical verse I'm familiar with"

"What does it say?"

"In this world you come and go. Does it sound biblical?"

"Not at all"

"Maybe it could be a different murderer"

"Or she's trying to throw us off her trail." Griffin jumped up from the bed. "Let's go to the station first and put an APB on her before investigating the next case"

George nodded his head as he followed Griffin suite. As they headed out for the door, they saw Christina, Maria's mother. 

"Detectives, any news about my daughter?"

Griffin sighed. "We are on to something. We have reasons to believe that the school teacher has something to do with your daughter"

Christina placed her hand over her mouth in utter shock. "My poor girl. But is shs safe? Is she still alive?"

Griffin balled his fist as he forced himself to say "Ye-"

"No" George impeached."Your daughter has been dead for over 3 days now. We are sorry ma'am"

"No!" Christina wailed before grabbing George by his collar. "Tell me you are lying!"

"I'm sorry , ma'am"

Christina fell to the ground as she sobbed. George turned to face Griffin. "Let's go"

Griffin followed him suite as they headed to their car. 

George started the car as they headed to the station. 

"Why did you say that?"Griffin asked after much silence. 

"It was about time she knew. We've done the best we could but now her daughter's killer has escaped. We can't even give her justice anymore so why still give her hope?"

George parked the car as soon as it came to an halt Infront if the station. 

Griffin angrily climbed down from the car and walked into the station. 

"Griffin! Griffin!"George called after him. 

Griffin avoided him as he walked over to Martins, a computer expert. 

"Put an APB on the woman, Amanda Augie and also do help me run a search for any little girl called Annette"

"Will do, boss"

Griffin walked out of the station avoiding George but George had had enough. 

He held Griffin back. "Don't act like I did something wrong and give me the silent treatment, man"

"You want me to say what's on my mind? You don't know what it's like to loose someone so you don't understand what that lady is feeling but I do. That's why I told you that now isn't the right time to tell her but you went ahead and did your sh*t anyways!"

"I don't know what it's like to loose someone?"George says in disbelief. "It's like you forget that I also lost my daughter once and they did to me the same sh*t you wanted us to do to her! They gave me false hope that they would find my daughter and mean while she was dead!"

"You know what Griffin, what's the point of us being partners if you always get to call the shots? You can go ahead and do everything as you wish from now on, I'll ask Tony to change us from being partners so that you don't get to worry about my decisions anymore"

"George, I-"

"Oh and I'm taking the car. It's mine anyways" George said as he climbed into his car before driving off leaving a stupified Griffin behind. 

***