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MidReal Story
Harlow & Harp
Scenario:Ingrid Harlow is a rookie detective that is paired with an arrogant seasoned detective (Bex Montgomery who is a woman) as they try to figure out a case of a missing little girl from New Hope Pennsylvania.
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Ingrid Harlow
She is a rookie detective in the New Hope Police Department. She is determined, awkward, and hopeful. Ingrid struggles with her appearance and social skills, often feeling like a gang member with her tattoo and rugged demeanor. She is excited and nervous about her first major case, a missing child, and strives to make a good impression under the supervision of Detective Bex Montgomery. Ingrid has a personal connection to missing children, having lost her own sister in a past tragedy.
Bex Montgomery
She is a seasoned detective in the New Hope Police Department. She is confident, arrogant, and skilled. Known for her sharp wit and sharp tongue, Bex is initially dismissive of Ingrid's abilities but grudgingly acknowledges her potential. She has a nononsense attitude and is focused on solving the missing child case quickly. Despite her harsh exterior, she takes Ingrid under her wing, providing guidance and insight into the challenges of detective work.
Sully
He is the chief of police in New Hope. He is authoritative, supportive, and pragmatic. As Ingrid's supervisor, Sully provides guidance and encouragement to both Ingrid and Bex. He assigns them to lead the investigation into the missing child case, emphasizing the need for a swift resolution. Sully appreciates Ingrid's fresh perspective on the case and values her contributions, helping her navigate bureaucratic challenges while maintaining focus on the goal of finding the child safely.
I was a rookie detective, still wet behind the ears, and I’d just been paired with the most arrogant, condescending asshole in the entire New Hope Police Department.
And to make matters worse, she was a woman.
I’d always gotten along better with men… probably because I came across as more masculine than feminine.
My tattoo, rugged demeanor, and lack of social skills guaranteed I’d be treated like one of the guys.
Which was fine by me.
I didn’t do girly… and I certainly didn’t do girl talk.
"Look, I know you think you’re some big shot from the city, but I’ve been doing this job a long time, and I don’t need some rookie babysitting me."
I stared down at my scuffed-up combat boots and clenched my jaw to keep from saying something I’d regret later.
I’d only been a detective for two weeks, but I’d been in law enforcement for over ten years.
And being paired with Detective Bex Montgomery wasn’t my idea of a good time either.
She was smart, no one denied that, but she was also reckless and impulsive… traits that made her a great detective but a royal pain in the ass to work with.
"Hey, Harlow."
The voice came from behind me and belonged to our chief of police, Sully.
"Got a minute?"
I turned to find his weathered face creased with concern.
He motioned for me to follow him to his office, and I did, leaving Bex standing there with a smirk on her face.
I walked down the hallway and past the bulletin board where a photo of the missing girl was pinned.
Her blonde hair was in pigtails, she had a gap-toothed smile, and she was wearing a pink backpack.
My stomach churned.
Sully’s office was at the end of the hall, and he closed the door behind us.
He walked around his desk and sat down, shuffling through some papers before he looked up at me.
"Have a seat."
I sat down in one of the hard plastic chairs in front of his desk and waited for him to speak.
The ceiling fan whirred overhead, casting alternating shadows across his face.
He cleared his throat, obviously uncomfortable about something.
I shifted in my seat, my boots scraping against the linoleum floor.
Sully leaned forward, his eyes serious.
"Harlow, I know you’re not fond of Montgomery, but just try to be civil. We’re all on the same side here."
He smiled and I nodded, my jaw still clenched.
I forced myself to relax my shoulders.
"We need to find this girl," he said, his voice gruff with emotion.
"And we need to find her fast."
"I know," I said, nodding again.
Sully sighed and leaned back in his chair.
"I know you do. And I know you’re a good detective. But we’ve got nothing so far. No witnesses, no surveillance footage, no leads."
He shook his head and ran a hand through his thinning gray hair.
"I’m worried about this one, Harlow. This girl’s been missing for over twenty-four hours now, and the longer she’s gone…"
He didn’t have to finish the sentence.
I knew what he was thinking.
The longer she was gone, the less likely it was that we’d find her alive.
"Here," he said, handing me a file folder.
"New leads came in this morning. Check them out."
I took the folder from him and flipped it open.
There were several addresses listed along with names and phone numbers. "You want me to check these out?"
"Yeah," he said, standing up and walking around his desk.
"I want you and Montgomery to check them out together. See what you can find."
I nodded again and stood up, tucking the folder under my arm.
"Keep me updated," Sully said as I walked toward the door.
I paused at the threshold, knowing that working with Bex might be hell, but finding that girl was worth every ounce of discomfort.
I found Bex at her desk, scrolling through her phone with her feet propped up.
She barely looked up when I walked over and dropped the file folder on her desk.
The fluorescent lights overhead cast an unflattering glare across her face, making her look older than she probably was.
She finally looked up at me, raising an eyebrow.
"What’s that?"
I cleared my throat and gestured to the folder.
"New leads. Sully wants us to check them out."
Bex raised an eyebrow and picked up the folder, flipping through the pages with a practiced efficiency.
After a moment, she stood up abruptly and grabbed her jacket and car keys.
"Let’s go," she said, walking past me toward the parking lot.
I followed behind her, my boots squeaking against the linoleum floor.
Just before we reached the exit, she tossed the keys at me.
"You're driving."
I fumbled with the keys, my hands trembling slightly as I tried to get a grip on them.
Bex’s car was a sleek black sedan, and I felt like a kid playing dress-up as I walked over to it.
The leather steering wheel felt foreign under my grip, nothing like the worn plastic of my beat-up Civic.
Bex slid into the passenger seat and pulled out her tablet, immediately bringing up the case file.
Without looking up, she rattled off an address on Cedar Street where the girl was last seen.
I adjusted the mirrors and started the engine, hyper-aware of Bex sitting next to me.
As I pulled out of the parking lot and onto the street, my mind kept drifting back to that photo of those blonde pigtails.
Bex glanced over at me, her voice cutting through the hum of the engine.
"You ever work a case like this before?"
I shook my head, keeping my eyes on the road.
"Not with a kid this young," I admitted, feeling the weight of the situation settle in.
Bex nodded, her expression softening for the first time since we met.
As I drive down Cedar Street, my hands tighten on the steering wheel.
The abandoned playground comes into view through a chain-link fence.
The swings are rusty and creaking in the autumn wind, and yellow police tape flutters around the perimeter.
I pull the car over and park, my heart pounding in my chest.
Bex is already gathering her equipment before I even turn off the engine.
She grabs a large bag from the trunk and slings it over her shoulder, her movements efficient and practiced.
As I reach for the door handle, she places a hand on my arm, stopping me.
I look up to see her pointing at a man standing behind a tree, trying to act casual but failing miserably.
Without taking her eyes off him, Bex quietly instructs me to radio for backup while she keeps surveillance.
I nod and reach for the radio, but Bex suddenly whispers, "Wait, he's moving."
The man starts walking away, glancing over his shoulder nervously.
Bex's eyes narrow as she mutters, "He's definitely hiding something."