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It started with some missed phone calls and a cat. This particular cat came scratching and mewing at the back door of the shop and Algie, ever feeding hungry strays, discovered it to be Zac's cat.

Zac the employee of his who hadn't shown up for work.
Zac who was recently announced the newest missing person.

Mogget was hungry and insistent, and while he had the food Algie didn't know what to do about the other part. The cat was kept in the bookshop and his apartment, but calls to anyone who could help him weren't answered. Jeremiah even, ever steadfast, was letting his calls go to voicemail. It was odd, too odd really with everything that had happened, and it ate away with worry in the pit of his stomach.

In the morning he found Jeremiah's car empty, phone on the floor and keys in the ignition, parked outside of his house. It was enough to take Algie to the police station finally, not initially to report anything, but to look for Jeremiah- but the detective's presence had been noted and Algie was suddenly swept up and taken in for questioning.

Sunny, other ashdown, the old stories were true. Jeremiah's words rung in his ears.

He was hardly going to tell that to the police, nor was he going to give them (or mention) Jeremiah's phone or car keys that he'd taken from the car. He knew they weren't something stupid like evidence. There were other forces at play. He knew he couldn't be held long, it was just a grueling waiting game.

But Algie knew exactly where he needed to go and who he needed to speak to.

So the author sat in the police station with his face stoney, because while he was not under arrest, he was still 'too close to all the disappearances and he may be needed for a few more questions'. He was quiet and glaring, fingers curled around a cup of water because what they called tea in this place was an abomination.

Algie was tapping, a relentless bob of the foot on his knee that spoke volumes on his current annoyance. He glanced up at the woman, looking for familiarity but finding little before he quipped with a slight growl, "Can you summon someone who will let me leave?"

Algie was very definitely English, and since they were a rare breed around here, it was almost a guarantee he was being held on account of Jeremiah's disappearance.

He then sighed and rubbed his face under his glasses, "Pardon me- I've been here too long. How about a decent cup of tea?" Which was probably limited to Jeremiah's stash in his office but he wasn't getting that.

"Hours at this point," he huffed, "not worth it to call a lawyer. They don't have anything. And why would I kidnap my friend and then walk in here looking for him?" His hand was flicked in agitation. Still he couldn't fault them totally, the missing teens had been to his store, Zac worked there, and Jeremiah was his closest friend.

Thanks Sunny. Thanks.

"I'll stick with water I think. Thank you." Algie looked very displeased with green tea as an option and the smell of stale coffee seemed to permeate this corner of the room from an undisclosed source.

He realized how rude it was of him not to introduce himself, "I'm Algernon by the way." He offered a hand, "I run a bookshop by the college."

"I, uh, also am at the college part time. This is just my second year there.." He nodded. Her name sounded familiar, from recently. Was this the woman Jeremiah told him he threw out of his office?? The details were hazy with everything in the past few days but she seemed pleasant enough (and Jeremiah had been stressed).

"I am-" he huffed and his foot bobbed with irritation again, "-obviously. I found his car outside my store. He's my oldest friend you know," Algie waved his hand as if all this weren't important, "As if I'd waltz myself in here if I was a serial kidnapper or summat.."

He glanced up across the room, sending an expectant look to whatever officers were dealing with him. None of them would meet his eye.