As the floods ravaged through the small town, Officer Harper noticed a frantic cat clinging desperately to a car door handle. The police boat edged closer, intent on saving the distressed animal, but the cat fiercely resisted any attempts to be rescued. Harper couldn’t help but wonder why. It wasn’t until they pulled closer that they understood the cat’s strange refusal. “Let’s go, Harper! It doesn’t want to come; just leave it!” Officer Cliff said as he spotted a woman desperately waving her arms in the air in the distance. Harper had both of his hands wrapped around the soaking wet cat, but it kept its paws tightly around the car door, leaving Harper balancing above the water.  “I almost have it!” Officer Harper grunted as he pried the cat’s paws away from the handle. He couldn’t just leave the cat behind; it would drown or freeze! Suddenly, his eye fell on something inside the car, and he let go of the cat immediately. “We have to open it up!” Officer Harper yelled, his eyes wide in shock. Officer Cliff wasn’t impressed. “That woman over there needs help, just get the damn cat!” he yelled at his colleague. The water level was still rising, and people were climbing up the roofs of their houses just to be safe. Time was a sensitive matter but Officer Harper had seen something he just couldn’t ignore. With a final pull, the cat let go, and Officer Harper dropped it on a towel on the boat. But just as Officer Cliff wanted to turn the boat around, Officer Harper jumped into the water, which was waist-deep, and began to try to open the door. “What are you doing?!” Officer Cliff frantically asked, but Officer Harper didn’t respond. He was fully focused on opening the door, which was difficult as the water worked against it. After a few failed tries, Officer Harper got out his gun and smashed the car window with it. Shards of glass splashed into the water as Harper cleared the edges from any glass left behind; it was now safe for him to climb inside the vehicle. But why was he so interested in the car in the first place?. “Harper! Get on the boat. That is an order!” Officer Cliff suddenly yelled. Luckily, Harper had already found what he was looking for, and he climbed back on the boat, soaked from the waist down. “What the hell were you thinking?!” Officer Cliff said as he turned the boat around. Harper looked at the object in his hand and held it up so Cliff could see. “This is what I was thinking.” Officer Harper held a woman’s purse in his hands that seemed oddly familiar to Cliff. “Where have I seen that before?” he asked, now less angry and more curious. As they sped to the arm-waving woman, Officer Harper opened the purse and found a wallet inside. As he read the ID card, his eyes widened in shock. “This is your daughter’s purse,” he carefully said. Officer Cliff’s face turned instantly pale. “Luna’s purse?” he asked, his voice shaking. Officer Harper nodded his head as he looked at the shivering cat cuddling up against the purse. It seemed it felt safe near the purse as the cat began to loosen up. “Have you seen this cat before?” Officer Harper asked, hoping to find a link, but Cliff shook his head. After securing the woman on the boat and taking her to safety, Officer Cliff called his daughter. To his worry, she didn’t pick up. He rang her two, three even four times, but each time, the call went straight to voicemail. Harper could see the worry written all over his colleague’s face. The water had swept through town without warning this morning, and there were still a lot of people unaccounted for. Sadly, his daughter was one of them now. Suddenly, Officer Harper’s eye fell on a small collar around the cat’s neck. It had a name tag so dirty and black that he had missed it the first time. As he wiped away the dirt, a name and a phone number appeared, so Harper showed it to Officer Cliff. “Have you seen this name before?” Harper asked. Judging by Officer Cliff’s eyebrow raise, he did. “Culligan?” Cliff said, squinting at the name tag. His mind raced, trying to place where he had heard that name before. Harper, noticing his confusion, asked, “You recognize it?” Cliff nodded slowly, the wheels in his head turning. “Yeah, but I can’t remember from where. It’s so familiar, though.” He rubbed his forehead, frustration building. The urgency of the situation didn’t help. They needed to figure this out, and fast. Cliff stared at the tag, trying to jog his memory. “It’s on the tip of my tongue,” he muttered. Harper glanced around, keeping an eye on the rising water. “We need to move, Cliff. Think, where could you have seen it?” Cliff shook his head, annoyed at his own memory. “I know the name, but I just can’t place it.” He clenched his fists, determined to remember. The name Culligan meant something important. Suddenly, it clicked. “Facebook! Instagram!” Cliff exclaimed. Harper looked puzzled. “What about them?” Cliff explained, “I’ve seen the name Culligan on social media, a few times actually. Someone I know must be connected to them.” Harper nodded, seeing a glimmer of hope. “Alright, that’s something. We can work with that. Maybe it’s a friend of Luna’s?” Cliff nodded, feeling a bit of relief. It was a lead, and they needed to follow it. Cliff approached their superior, urgency in his steps. “Sir, we need to look into the disappearance of my daughter. We’ve found a lead,” he said, showing the purse and explaining the connection. The superior nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. “Go, Cliff. Take Harper with you. Find your daughter.” Cliff felt a mix of dread and determination. “Thank you, sir. We’ll bring her back.” With renewed purpose, they headed towards their next step. While Cliff and Harper shifted focus, the rest of the officers continued their rescue efforts. “We’ll handle the search,” one officer assured them. Cliff nodded gratefully. “Thank you. We need all hands on deck.” The team worked seamlessly, pulling people from rooftops and guiding them to safety. Cliff and Harper exchanged a glance, both understanding the weight of their new mission. They had to find Luna, and time was running out. Harper and Cliff burst into the station, dripping wet. They ignored the curious glances from their colleagues and headed straight for the computer room. “We need to find out who this Culligan is,” Cliff said, urgency in his voice. Harper nodded, already pulling up a chair. “Let’s get to work. Time’s ticking.” They both logged in, the room silent except for the clacking of keys and their rapid breathing. Cliff logged into his computer and opened Facebook and Instagram. “I’ll check Facebook, you take Instagram,” he told Harper. They worked in tandem, fingers flying across keyboards. Cliff’s eyes scanned countless profiles and posts, searching for any clue. “Come on, come on,” he muttered to himself, frustration mounting. Harper occasionally glanced over, offering silent support. They had to find something, anything, that could lead them to Luna. After what felt like hours, Cliff finally paused. “I’ve seen this name before,” he whispered. Harper looked up, hopeful. “Where?” Cliff scrolled through Luna’s posts. “This Culligan account, it’s always liking and commenting on Luna’s pictures.” Harper leaned in closer, peering at the screen. “You’re right. It’s everywhere.” Cliff’s heart raced. “This is it. This is the connection we’ve been looking for.” He felt a spark of hope. Cliff clicked through Luna’s pictures, each one revealing the same pattern. “Culligan liked this one, and this one,” he pointed out. Harper nodded. “And look at the comments, always positive, always there.” Cliff frowned, realizing how close this account seemed to Luna. “We need to check this account out.” Harper agreed, “Let’s dig deeper, see what we can find.” The urgency was palpable, and they both felt it. Cliff tried to access Culligan’s account, but his face fell. “It’s private,” he said, frustration evident. Harper sighed, “Of course it is. Can we send a request?” Cliff nodded, sending the request immediately. “We’ll have to wait and see if they accept.” The clock was ticking, and they were running out of time. “What do we do now?” Harper asked, but Cliff was already thinking of their next move. Culligan was their only lead, so Cliff and Harper dug into every detail. “Check the photos, comments, anything we missed,” Cliff said, his eyes scanning the screen. Harper nodded, clicking through posts, zooming in on details. “There’s got to be something here,” Harper muttered. They scrutinized every interaction, hoping for a clue. “Wait, look at this,” Harper pointed out. Cliff leaned in, examining the new discovery with renewed focus. Cliff decided to run a full background check on the name Culligan. “We need more than social media,” he said, typing rapidly. Harper watched as he accessed databases, pulling up records. “Let’s see what we can find.” Names, addresses, and other details filled the screen. Cliff sifted through the information, hoping for a breakthrough. “There’s got to be something useful here,” he murmured, determined to find a lead. After a thorough search, Cliff found three Culligans living in their town. “Okay, we’ve got three possibilities,” he said, showing Harper the results. Harper peered at the screen, “Let’s narrow it down.” They reviewed the profiles carefully. “Two of them are an elderly couple,” Cliff noted. “That leaves one more.” Harper nodded, “Let’s focus on that one.” They had a potential lead, and it was time to dig deeper. “So, the elderly couple is out,” Cliff said, crossing their names off the list. “That leaves just one Culligan.” Harper looked at the remaining name. “What do we know about them?” Cliff started pulling up more information. “We need to find out everything,” he said, his determination clear. They had to be sure this was the right person. The pressure was mounting, but they were getting closer. Cliff’s eyes widened as he found the last Culligan’s record. “They’ve got a criminal history,” he said, worry evident in his voice. Harper frowned, “What kind of record?” Cliff scanned the details. “Petty theft, trespassing, nothing major, but still concerning.” Harper nodded, “This definitely adds to the urgency.” Cliff’s heart raced. “We need to move fast,” he said. Their lead was becoming more critical by the minute. Cliff and Harper drove to the address they found, a small, unassuming house on the edge of town. “This has to be it,” Cliff said, parking the car. Harper nodded, checking the surroundings. “Looks quiet,” he noted. They got out, the air thick with tension. “Stay alert,” Cliff warned, as they approached the house. They had no idea what to expect but knew they had to be prepared for anything. The area around the house was still flooded, though the water was slowly receding. “Watch your step,” Harper said, navigating the muddy ground. Cliff followed, careful not to slip. “This place must’ve been hit hard,” he observed. Harper nodded, “Yeah, but it’s starting to clear up.” They moved closer to the house, the water swirling around their boots. Each step brought them closer to potential answers—and Luna. Cliff knocked on the door, his fist echoing in the quiet. “Anyone home?” he called out, but there was no response. Harper frowned, looking around. “Maybe they’re not here,” he suggested. Cliff knocked again, louder this time. “We need to be sure,” he insisted. The silence was unsettling. They waited, tense and alert, but the door remained closed. “Let’s check around,” Cliff finally said, determination in his voice. The cat started to get agitated, squirming in Harper’s arms. “What’s with you?” he asked, trying to calm it. The cat meowed loudly, its eyes fixed on the house. “I think it recognizes this place,” Cliff said, watching the cat closely. Harper nodded, “It’s acting like it knows something we don’t.” The cat’s agitation only heightened their sense of urgency. “We need to find out what’s going on,” Cliff urged. Sensing the urgency, Harper decided to check the back of the house. “I’ll see if there’s another way in,” he said, handing the cat to Cliff. “Be careful,” Cliff warned, staying at the front. Harper moved quickly, circling the house. The cat continued to meow, now in Cliff’s arms. “Shh, it’s okay,” Cliff tried to soothe it. Harper disappeared around the corner, leaving Cliff to wait and hope for a breakthrough. Harper found the back door slightly ajar. “Hello? Police!” he called out, his voice steady but cautious. The door creaked as he pushed it open, stepping inside. He glanced around, eyes sharp for any signs of movement. “Is anyone here?” he called again, listening intently. The house felt strangely still, the silence almost oppressive. He took a deep breath, ready for anything that might come next. The house was eerily quiet except for the faint sound of water dripping. Harper’s footsteps echoed softly as he moved through the hallway. “This place gives me the creeps,” he muttered to himself. The silence was thick, wrapping around him like a heavy blanket. Every creak and groan of the old house made his heart race. He kept his senses alert, knowing something could happen at any moment. The muffled meows of the cat in Cliff’s arms added to the tension. Outside, Cliff tried to calm the cat, but it kept squirming. “Shh, it’s okay,” Cliff whispered, his eyes darting towards the house. Inside, Harper could hear the faint sound of the cat’s distress. It made the eerie silence even more unsettling. He clenched his jaw, determined to stay focused. They had to find Luna, and fast. Suddenly, Harper heard a rustling sound from one of the rooms. He froze, listening intently. “Who’s there?” he called out, his voice steady. The rustling stopped for a moment, then continued, softer this time. Harper’s heart pounded in his chest as he inched closer to the sound. He took a deep breath, preparing himself. Whatever was making that noise, he was ready to confront it. Cautiously, Harper approached the sound with his hand on his holster. He moved silently, every sense on high alert. “Show yourself!” he demanded, inching closer to the door. The rustling grew louder, more frantic. Harper’s fingers tightened around his holster, ready to draw his weapon if needed. He had to be careful, but he also had to move fast. Taking a deep breath, he prepared to turn the corner. As Harper turned the corner, he found a young man, soaked and shivering. The man looked up, startled, his eyes wide with fear. “Who are you?” Harper asked, keeping his voice calm. The young man stammered, “I-I’m just trying to help.” Harper took in the sight of him, dripping wet and clearly scared. He lowered his hand from his holster, sensing the man wasn’t a threat. The man was trying to clean up the water seeping into the house. He used a rag to mop up the puddles, his movements frantic and desperate. “What are you doing?” Harper asked, watching him. The young man glanced up, “The water’s coming in fast. I’m trying to stop it.” Harper nodded, understanding the urgency. “We need to talk,” he said, stepping closer. The man paused, looking wary. “Culligan Perrow?” Harper asked, and the young man nodded, looking surprised and scared. “Yeah, that’s me,” he said, his voice trembling. Harper took a step forward, his expression serious. “We need your help. Do you know Luna Cliff?” Culligan’s eyes widened in recognition. “Luna? What about her?” Harper held up the purse they had found. Culligan’s fear deepened, realizing the gravity of the situation.  Harper quickly explained the situation and showed him Luna’s purse. “We found this in the car with the cat,” Harper said. Culligan stared at the purse, his hands shaking. “She’s missing, and we think you might know where she is,” Harper continued. Culligan swallowed hard, his eyes darting around the room. “I-I don’t know,” he stammered. Harper pressed, “Anything you can tell us will help.” Culligan’s face went pale, and he mumbled, “I know where she is.” Harper’s heart skipped a beat. “Where?” he demanded, his voice urgent. Culligan looked terrified, but determined. “Follow me,” he said, starting towards a door in the corner. Harper nodded, signaling for Cliff to come over. They were finally getting somewhere. Cliff joined them, and together, they prepared to follow Culligan’s lead, hoping to find Luna safe and sound. Culligan led them to a hidden basement room, partially flooded but still accessible. “This way,” he said, pushing open a door that led down a narrow staircase. Harper and Cliff followed closely, their flashlights cutting through the darkness. Water lapped at the steps, and the air was damp and cold. “Watch your step,” Culligan warned, his voice echoing in the confined space. They descended carefully, hoping they were in time. As they descended, they found Luna unconscious but breathing. Harper’s flashlight beam fell on her still form, lying just above the water level. “Luna!” Cliff shouted, rushing forward. Harper checked the surroundings, ensuring there were no immediate dangers. “She’s alive,” Harper confirmed, seeing the faint rise and fall of her chest. Cliff’s heart raced, but relief washed over him. They had found her, and she was still breathing. She was lying on a makeshift bed above the water level. “We need to get her out of here,” Cliff said, his voice urgent. The bed was a crude construction, just enough to keep her dry. “Help me lift her,” he instructed Harper. Together, they carefully moved Luna, ensuring she stayed above the water. “Why was she down here?” Harper wondered aloud, but there was no time for answers now. Cliff rushed to her side, checking her pulse and breathing a sigh of relief. “She’s okay,” he said, feeling the steady beat under his fingers. Harper nodded, keeping an eye on Culligan, who hovered nervously nearby. “We need to get her out of here and to a hospital,” Cliff said, his mind racing with next steps. They had found Luna, but the situation was still critical. Luna’s steady pulse reassured Cliff and Harper of her condition. “She’s going to be okay,” Harper said, a smile breaking through the tension. Cliff nodded, feeling a wave of relief. “Thank God,” he muttered. They carefully began to carry her up the stairs, taking care not to jostle her too much. Culligan followed, looking both guilty and anxious. Cliff glanced back, ready to demand some answers as soon as Luna was safe. Officer Cliff demanded answers from Culligan, who seemed hesitant and nervous. “What’s going on here? Why was Luna in the basement?” Cliff’s voice was firm, eyes locked on Culligan. The young man fidgeted, avoiding eye contact. “I…I don’t know,” he stammered. Harper stood by, watching the exchange closely. Cliff stepped closer, his frustration growing. “Start talking, Culligan. We need the truth, now.” Culligan cast worried glances at Luna and refused to speak. His silence only made Cliff more suspicious. “Why are you protecting her?” Cliff demanded, his patience wearing thin. Culligan shook his head, his lips tightly sealed. Harper exchanged a concerned look with Cliff. “We don’t have time for this,” Harper said. Cliff nodded, his mind made up. “You’re coming with us,” he said firmly. Sensing something was off, Cliff decided to take Culligan into custody. “You’re not leaving our sight until we figure this out,” he said. Culligan’s eyes widened in fear. “But I didn’t do anything!” he protested. Harper moved in, ready to back up Cliff’s decision. “We’ll sort this out at the station,” Cliff said, not budging. Culligan’s nervous behavior only confirmed their suspicions. Culligan protested, but Harper restrained him for further questioning. “You can’t do this!” Culligan yelled, struggling against Harper’s grip. “Just cooperate, and it’ll go easier for you,” Harper advised, keeping his hold firm. Cliff stayed focused on Luna, ensuring she was stable. “We need answers, and you’re the only one who can give them,” Cliff said, his tone leaving no room for argument. Cliff hoped to get to the bottom of the situation back at the station. “Let’s get moving,” he said, leading the way out of the basement. Harper kept a firm grip on Culligan, who had stopped struggling but still looked fearful. “We’ll figure this out,” Harper reassured him, though his tone was cautious. Cliff glanced back at Luna, then at Culligan. They needed answers, and fast. Harper and Cliff carefully carried Luna out of the basement and back to the boat. “Watch your step,” Harper said, navigating the slippery stairs. Cliff nodded, making sure Luna was secure in his arms. The cat followed them, meowing softly. They moved quickly, the urgency of the situation clear. “We need to get her to safety,” Cliff said, determination in his voice. Harper agreed, their focus unwavering as they reached the boat. They wrapped her in a blanket to keep her warm. “Here, this should help,” Harper said, draping the thick fabric over Luna’s still form. Cliff tucked it around her, making sure she was covered. “She’s so cold,” Cliff muttered, worry etched on his face. Harper nodded, “We’ll get her warmed up soon.” The boat rocked gently as they prepared to head back, their minds racing with what needed to be done next. Culligan, now handcuffed, sat beside her, the cat laying contently on his lap. “Stay still,” Harper warned, keeping a close eye on him. Culligan nodded, looking down at the cat as it purred softly. The scene was surreal, the tension palpable. Cliff glanced over, his eyes narrowing. “You better start talking soon,” he said, his voice low and serious. Culligan shifted uncomfortably but remained silent. Cliff’s mind raced with questions about Culligan’s involvement. “Why was Luna there? What’s your connection to her?” he wondered aloud, frustration evident. Harper stayed silent, focused on steering the boat through the receding waters. The silence was thick, filled with unspoken tension. Cliff looked at Culligan, trying to read his expression. “We’ll get to the bottom of this,” he vowed, determination hardening his features. He hoped Luna would wake up soon to shed light on what was going on. “Come on, Luna, wake up,” Cliff whispered, holding her hand. Harper glanced back, worry etched on his face. “She will,” he reassured Cliff. The journey back to the station felt long and filled with anticipation. Cliff squeezed Luna’s hand gently, willing her to open her eyes. They needed answers, and Luna held the key. As they made their way back to the station, Culligan finally broke down and confessed. “I need to tell you something,” he said, his voice trembling. Cliff and Harper exchanged a glance. “Go on,” Cliff urged, his tone firm. Culligan took a deep breath, tears welling in his eyes. “Luna and I… we’ve been seeing each other,” he began. Cliff’s eyes widened, surprise and confusion mixing on his face. He revealed that he and Luna had been secretly dating for months. “We didn’t want anyone to know,” Culligan admitted, looking ashamed. Harper kept the boat steady, listening intently. “Why keep it a secret?” Cliff asked, his voice softer now. Culligan sighed, “Because of my past. Luna thought it would be better if no one knew.” Cliff shook his head, trying to process the revelation. Luna had been helping him clear his name from a crime he didn’t commit in his youth. “She believed in me,” Culligan said, his voice breaking. “She found new evidence, stuff that could prove I wasn’t guilty.” Cliff listened, his mind racing. “So, she was trying to help you?” he asked, piecing together the puzzle. Culligan nodded, tears streaming down his face. “She’s the only one who believed me,” he whispered. She had kept their relationship a secret because of Culligan’s criminal record. “She didn’t want her dad to find out,” Culligan explained. Cliff felt a pang of guilt and anger. “You should have come to me,” he said, frustration in his voice. Culligan shook his head. “Luna was scared. She thought you wouldn’t understand,” he said, his voice trembling. The weight of the secret pressed heavily on them all. Luna feared her father’s reaction, which is why they kept it hidden. “She didn’t want to disappoint you,” Culligan said, his eyes pleading for understanding. Cliff’s heart ached. “I just wanted to protect her,” he muttered, his voice cracking. Harper remained silent, steering the boat through the calm waters. They were getting closer to the station, but the emotional journey had just begun. Cliff knew they needed to talk more. Officer Cliff listened in silence, his emotions a mix of relief, anger, and understanding. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing, but at the same time, pieces of the puzzle started to fit. “I just wish she had told me,” he thought, clenching his fists. Harper watched Cliff closely, sensing the turmoil within him. “We’ll figure this out,” Harper said quietly, trying to offer some comfort. Once they arrived at the station, Luna was taken to the hospital for a check-up. “She’s in good hands now,” Harper assured Cliff as paramedics took over. Cliff watched anxiously as they wheeled her away. “She’ll be okay,” he whispered to himself, needing to believe it. Harper placed a hand on his shoulder. “We did the right thing,” he said. Cliff nodded, though his mind was still racing with everything that had happened. Cliff took a moment to process everything that Culligan had revealed. He sat in a quiet corner of the station, his head in his hands. “She was trying to help him,” he murmured, shaking his head. Harper joined him, sitting down next to him. “It’s a lot to take in,” Harper said gently. Cliff sighed, “Yeah, it is. But it explains a lot, too.” He felt a mix of confusion and clarity. He knew he had to find a way to reconcile with Luna and understand her choices. “I need to talk to her,” Cliff said, determination in his voice. Harper nodded. “You will, when she’s ready,” he replied. Cliff stared at the floor, deep in thought. “I need to understand why she felt she couldn’t tell me,” he said quietly. He resolved to listen, to really hear her side of the story. For now, he was just grateful she was safe and vowed to help Culligan clear his name. “We’ll get through this,” he said, more to himself than anyone else. Harper gave a supportive nod. “One step at a time, Cliff.” Cliff took a deep breath, feeling a glimmer of hope. “Thank you, Harper,” he said, appreciating his friend’s support. They both knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but they were ready.