LARISSA

Chapter 2

ALICE

“I can’t believe it’s happening to our family, Franco!” I burst out crying. The next day, we awoke to find out that our daughter, Larissa, had gone missing. I still can't absorb what is happening. I remembered we were just having a good time yesterday night!

“Calm down, Alice. It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since our daughter went missing...” Franco embraced me tightly.

I couldn’t stop myself from swallowing hard. “What? Are we going to wait until the twenty-fours before doing anything?” I yelled hysterically. I'm the type of person who is always calm and poise. I never raise my voice to something or anyone. Just now. I can't imagine my daughter is missing. Larissa is still young. She can't survive any hardships. Oh God, I don't know what to do!

Franco had a solemn expression on his face as he looked at me. “Alice, as much as I want to look for our daughter right away, police officers follow protocols when it comes to missing people. Larissa should have been gone for twenty-four hours before they could declare her missing,”

That I am aware of, but I can’t accept the fact that I’ll have to wait another 24 hours for them to make a move to find my daughter.

I love my child. Larissa is my entire existence. To me, she is everything. I can’t even breathe in this room knowing she’s in danger.

“Oh, Franco!  I don’t know what to think anymore!” My cheeks were flushed as tears streamed down my cheeks.

My husband sighed and wiped my tears away with his fingers. “I’m going to do everything in my power to find our daughter, Alice.  That is something I promised you.”

I locked my gaze on him. “P-Please keep this promise. I love our daughter.”

“I love her as well. Brace yourself. Don’t give up.  We were going to find her,” he said as he squeezed my hand.

This gesture of his relaxes me in some ways.

“Allow me to assist you in sitting down, Alice.  It would be beneficial if you calmed down.  “ The cops and investigators need our statement,” he reminded me.

I took a seat on our soft sala set.

“Unfortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Laurent, we can’t continue the search for your daughter because she hasn’t been missing for twenty-four hours. However, our advice is to gather all the people who attended the party last night. Contact her friends or anyone who may be related to her as well. This will aid in the investigation after Ms. Laurent went missing for twenty-four hours.”

I’m at a loss for words. My brain is completely blank.  “Can’t you still... d-do nothing?  I can’t stand the fact that my daughter is missing. She isn’t like this at all. I know she’s gone!”

“I understand your concern, Mrs. Laurent. But, Ms. Larissa Laurent, your daughter is already an adult. We can only go looking for her after she’s been missing for twenty-four hours.”

My rage erupted suddenly. “That’s utterly ridiculous!” Why would you wait twenty-four hours if the victim has already gone missing? Isn’t every life precious? Why waste more time waiting if you can all do your f*****g job and find my daughter?"

My husband, Franco, is taken aback by my outburst. I can’t say I blame him. I’ve never been out of myself. I’m always calm and poised. My face is so innocent that you’d never guess I’d say such harsh words.

But who can blame me?

I’m a mother who is worried about her child. Even the sweetest mother in the world will squeal if her child is missing.

The cops fake a cough. “I apologize, Mrs. Laurents. But that’s the procedure...”

“f**k that protocol!” I screamed and cried.

Franco appears to be embarrassed. “Please accept my sincere apologies on behalf of my wife.  I know she’s stressed out. We completely understand what you’re trying to say. We will notify you as soon as it is 24 hours,”

I looked at my husband, taken aback. I can’t believe he just let those cops walk away.

After they had gone, I confronted him. “What is it, Franco?! Why did you let those cops go?!”

He inhaled deeply. “Alice, I understand how you feel. And, like you, I am concerned about my daughter. But you heard them. Larissa should have been gone for twenty-four hours. We have no control over it. We will not break the law,” he said calmly.

Huh! I can’t believe he’s so composed! 

“I can’t believe you’re handling this so calmly,” my jaws clenched.

His brow furrowed as he looked at me. “What exactly do you mean?  I don’t like your tone of voice, Alice,” he warned.

“We’re filthy rich!  We could offer them money so they could find our daughter right away!” At the top of my lungs, I screeched.

Franco appears stunned. He doesn’t seem to expect to hear this from me.

I don’t expect these words to come out of my mouth, either.

“Alice... we’re not like that. We may be wealthy, but we do not wield power. We understand what it means to be fair. I’m sure you’re concerned about our daughter’s safety. But please, just believe me. We can only pray for our daughter at this point. And have faith in the police that they will find Larissa...”

I could feel my embarrassment. It was as if he slapped me across the face with his words. “Y-Yeah… I apologize. Please excuse me. I need to get some rest,”

I dashed into our room. Franco, on the other hand, followed his wife through his eyes.

He shook his head and massaged his temples. This has been a long and exhausting day...

***