Special Agent Wayne's Pov
The morning sunlight cut across the Hale family's home, filtering through the drawn curtains and catching dust in the air. Two uniformed Air Force guards stood in the hallway stiffly as AFOSI Special Agent Daniel Wayne pushed through the front door. He was sharp in his dark suit, tie pulled tight, expression carved from stone.
"Sir." one of the guards said quickly, straightening at attention.
Daniel didn't waste time. "How did this happen?" His voice was clipped, commanding.
The younger of the two guards swallowed hard. "We only found out this morning, sir. When we switched with the night shift. Standard procedure... we check in on Captain Grant during the handover. But when we did, she was gone."
Daniel's eyes narrowed. "And no one saw her leave?"
"No, sir. And her parents… they refuse to talk."
Daniel exhaled sharply through his nose, scanning the staircase and the quiet living room. "She slipped out right under your noses. That doesn't happen unless somebody helped her." He turned on his heel and faced the guards. His gaze was piercing.
The guards exchanged nervous glances. The older one finally spoke. "We don't know, sir. But…" He hesitated.
"But what?" Daniel snapped.
The guard squared his shoulders. "Last night, the only visitor she had was her cousin. Ryan Hale."
Daniel let that sink in for a moment, his jaw tightening. Then he turned, moving toward the living room where Brooklyn's parents sat silently on the couch. They looked pale, exhausted, as though they hadn't slept a moment since their daughter vanished.
"Mr. & Mrs. Hale, I need your cooperation on this." he said evenly. "Captain Grant is already in deep trouble and running away will only makes it worse for her. So if you know anything, now's the time to speak."
Grace & Richard stared at each. They didn't answer.
Daniel leaned forward slightly, his tone softening just enough to sound dangerous. "Alright, where does Ryan Hale live?"
Richard's lips pressed into a thin line. Grace however, finally spoke. "An apartment on 5th and Belmont."
Daniel gave her a small, cold smile. "Thank you, Mrs Hale." He turned back toward the door.
The guards nodded but Daniel was already gone.
A few minutes later... Daniel parked his black sedan across the street, stepped out and adjusted his jacket. He climbed the stairs to the second floor, where the sound of thudding echoed from the open balcony.
Ryan Hale was there, shirt off, sweat pouring as he hammered out push-ups on the concrete. His eyes flicked up as Daniel approached. He didn't stop moving.
"Where is Captain Grant?" Daniel demanded, his voice cutting through the morning quiet.
Ryan kept his rhythm steady, pushing himself off the ground with casual strength. "Who's asking?"
Daniel stepped forward, pulling out his badge, flashing it. "Special Agent Daniel Wayne, Air Force Office of Special Investigations. And I don't like repeating myself."
Ryan finally rose to his feet, wiping sweat from his face with a towel. He eyed the badge, then smirked faintly. "Alright, Daniel. Brooklyn is right where she always is, locked up in her own home."
Daniel stepped closer, boots heavy against the balcony floor, until he was nearly chest-to-chest with Ryan.
"Don't play dumb with me. You look exactly like the kind of man who'd plan something like this."
His voice dropped to a growl. "I'll take your word... for now. But if I find anything that links you to her disappearance? Anything at all? I'll make damn sure that the both of you share a cell."
Ryan's smirk sharpened into something colder. He leaned in just enough for his words to land like a knife. "Well, good luck with that, Daniel."
The two men stood there, locked in silence, the tension like a coiled spring between them. Daniel's jaw worked, his hand twitching as though he wanted to say more or worse. But he finally stepped back, sliding his badge into his pocket.
He turned without another word, walking down the balcony stairs and disappearing into the street below.
Ryan stood there, breathing hard, eyes following him until the black sedan pulled away. He tossed the towel over his shoulder, muttering under his breath.
"Yeah. Good luck."
Daniel gripped the steering wheel tight as he drove, his reflection hard in the rearview mirror.