Within the Shadows, J.D MCG [best ereader for comics .TXT] 📗

Ally Miller suddenly made an appearance, as she walked through the door to the pub. Everyone inside turned and stared at her, before returning to their conversations. She made her way towards Jacob's table and took a seat.

'I'm sorry for your loss,' she said as she approached Jacob and his family.

'Thank you, Ally. That means a lot,' Adam replied.

'Would you three like a drink?'

'No, thank you,' replied Kate, sat with her head down.

'I'm good, thanks,' said Adam.

'How about you?' she looked at Jacob.

Jacob was elsewhere. His mind was all over the place, reminiscing memories of him and his father. He flashed back to reality to see Ally staring at him.

'Sorry, Ally, did you say something?' he said.

'Would you like a drink?' she repeated.

'I wouldn't mind another pint,' he said after looking down at his empty glass.

Ally made her way over to the bar and ordered herself and Jacob their drinks when she noticed Jacob stood to the side of her. His phone was in his hand texting somebody, but she couldn't quite see who. She didn't want to appear nosy by looking over his shoulder or by asking who he was texting but she was curious.

'Have you heard from Barnes?' Jacob asked her.

'Not since the funeral. He said he was going to meet us here.'

'I know but he should be here by now. I've texted him a few times but no reply,' explained Jacob.

'I'll give him a call,' Ally told him. She pulled out her phone, found Barnes' number and placed it against her ear. No more than two seconds later, Ally moved the phone from her ear. 'Straight to voicemail,' she told him.

'I think something may be wrong, Ally.'

'I'm sure it's nothing,' she said while studying the worried expression on his face. 'But we'll go and check out the cemetery since it was the last place any of us saw him.'

'I'll ask Ethan to see if he can trace Barnes' phone,' Jacob said before making his way over to Ethan.

Ethan, Brian and Sarah were all squashed around one small table with Chloe Fisher, the forensic investigator, who perched with them. They all took their attention off one another and turned towards Jacob.

'I think Barnes may be missing,' he informed them of his suspicion. 'Ethan, would you be able to trace his phone, please? Me and Ally are going to check the cemetery as it's the last place any of us had seen him.'

'Yes, Jacob, no problem,' replied Ethan.

'What do you want us to do?' Sarah asked.

'Would you be able to check to see if Barnes went home?'

'Of course,' replied Sarah, 'But I don't know where he lives.'

'I do,' Brian piped up.

The three of them finished up their drinks quickly before grabbing their coats and heading out the door. Jacob made his way back over to Ally who was now back at the table with his family. He grabbed his pint from the table and downed it as quick as he could.

'Let's go,' he uttered.

Ally finished up her drink and picked her coat up from the back of her chair. She gave Adam and Kate a slight wave before following Jacob out of the door. Jacob ran over towards his car as Ally caught up and snatched the keys out of his hands.

'I think I'd better drive, don't you?' she informed him with a rhetorical question.

Jacob glared at her before moving over to the passenger side. They both entered the car and drove to the cemetery. He had no idea what he would find, but he was hoping it would be something that could help them in the disappearance of their DCI.

It turned 3.44 pm by the time Jacob and Ally arrived in the cemetery car park. They both exited the car and made their way over to where Barnes had parked his car when Jacob received a call from Ethan.

'Jacob, I tried tracing Barnes' phone but no such luck. I think the phone is off. The last location was the cemetery,' he informed Jacob.

'We're here now, Ethan. Barnes' car is gone. Do you know if there is any way of tracking it?'

'Barnes' car was never fitted with a tracker, so I'm afraid not. We could track his car through CCTV images but that could take days, even weeks, by which time he could be gone. Have you heard anything from Sarah or Brian yet?' Ethan asked.

'Not yet, but we'll keep you updated,' Jacob replied before putting the phone down. 'Ethan said the last place Barnes' phone could be traced was here,' he relayed to Ally.

'Right. Let's search the area. There has to be something that can help us explain what happened.'

The pair of them looked around the car park. Five minutes had passed before Jacob noticed something on the floor below him. He crouched down, his eyes trying to analyse what it was. But he knew deep down. Bright red spots of liquid. He was just hoping Barnes was still alive.

'Ally, over here,' he yelled.

She came running over to where she saw Jacob crouched over red spots on the floor. She looked at Jacob who was staring directly at her with a sad look upon his face.

'Do you think it's his?' she asked, knowing she knew what his reply would be.

'Without a doubt,' he replied. 'We need to find him, Ally, and fast.'

Sarah and Brian pulled up outside Barnes' home address. His family had moved out a year ago when he and his wife went through their messy divorce. Brian had known Barnes for many years and visited his house on many occasions.

They both walked up the pathway towards the house. Barnes' car wasn't on the drive so they knew the chances were he wasn't there. But that didn't stop