CHAPTER HUNDRED

LANDON:

Returning to my temporary residence, I grabbed my phone and dialed the Spanish police. Luckily, someone picked up immediately the phone rang.

"Hello, this is Landon Kurt. I'm calling to report a missing person. My girlfriend, Venita Lowell, went missing in Madrid. I've been searching for her, but I haven't found any leads and it's already late."

The voice on the other end was calm and professional, which annoyed me. Could they not sense the urgency of this matter? "I'm sorry to hear that and I understand your concern, Mr. Kurt. However, we can't activate a search party until after twenty-four hours. People often return on their own within that time frame."

"But this is different! Venita would never leave me. She's in a foreign city, and I have reasons to believe she might be in danger. I can't wait for twenty-four hours. Is there nothing you can do?"

"I empathize with your situation, sir, but our protocol requires waiting for twenty-four hours. It's a standard procedure."

F