I watch them drive away and then it’s just me, all alone in my house that’s now a crime scene, how did it come to this?

  The kind officer wraps a blanket around me and leads me outside, no-one seems to care he is taking me away, “come on, I’m going to take you somewhere safe.”

  Why is he being so kind to me? He doesn’t even know me or know what’s happened, he could have easily walked away and carried on doing his job but instead he has opted to be my hero for the night.

  He puts me in his car and drives out of the city. Its dark, the night sky is clear and the stars glisten in the distance. If my mother’s murder wasn’t such a prominent fixture in my head, I would say it was a beautiful night. I’d sit in my garden drinking my ‘before bed’ cup of tea and stare at the stars above.

  “My name is Toby,” he speaks distracting me from staring out of the window.

  “Hi I’m Rayne, thank you so much for doing this. I don’t know what to do,” I mumble back to him, “you know, you look awfully young to be in a blue uniform already.”

  He laughs, “yes, well I’m twenty one, I started in the force at sixteen, well the army, I wasn’t what you would call a good student,” he smirks.

  “And you’re a police-man, you must have done something right,” I shrug.

  “Well, I left school at sixteen and I knew I wanted to do something in law but, well, my family were not as keen. I went into the army where they put me through my college degree and in the two years I was there I managed to graduate, do the police-training academy and finally I graduated, I’m one of the youngest people ever to do that,” he smiles proudly of his achievement.

  “Well, that’s nice. My life isn’t so easy,” I tell him looking back out of the window.

  “How so?” I hear the intrigue in his voice, what else do I have to lose?

  “My mother cared for Sophia, we took her in a year ago when her mother was murdered. She saw the whole thing and completely lost it. The past year has been extremely difficult, Sophia, she....” how do I tell him this without him thinking I am crazy, “well, she is classified crazy, I guess that’s the best way I can put it. My father left not so long ago and I don’t really have any family, not that I know of anyway. So it’s just been us, and now,” tears begin to fall from my face, “and now I’m alone, I will end up in the system won’t I?”

  Staring out into the night-time darkness of the road in front, he sighs, “I would never let that happen, how old are you now?.”

  “I’m seventeen tomorrow,” I state looking down, saddened by the thought.” But then what he just said suddenly clicks in my brain, what does he mean he would never let that happen? How could he have any control over this?

  He says nothing about my age, just concentrates on his driving. His face looks so sad but then he speaks, “This place I am taking you to, it was my grandmother’s. She died when I was little and left this to me. I inherited it on my twenty first birthday, you can stay there as long as you like.”

  “Why are you being so kind to me?”

  “Because, I remember when I lost my home as a child, my step-father was a useless drunk and my smoked our money away. I ended up on the streets for a while, when my Nanna died, my mother was angry at me. The house she thought she would get but she got nothing, my Nanna never really forgave her for killing my grandfather.”

  I look at him shocked, mouth wide open, did I just hear him right? “What? Your mother killed her own father?”

  “Not physically, her actions caused him to have a heart attack. He kept giving her money to fund her drug habit but she just took advantage. After the streets, we ended up in a rundown caravan, when I saw you and the thought that you could end up on the streets, after what happened to you, I knew I had to help, I couldn’t let that happen to you, I could never let that happen to you.”

  This man is melting my heart, who knew that a man, brought up in such horrible conditions would turn out to be so lovely. Although his choice of words are making me wonder, does he know me?

  We arrive at the house, it’s a beautiful wooded house surrounded by trees at the end of a closed street. It looks like a large cabin, decorated with hanging flower baskets on the outside.

  He pulls up outside and then helps me out of the car like a gentleman. He takes me inside. The house smells like it is brand new and recently decorated. It’s full of modern furniture, a large flat screen is up on the lounge wall with sofa’s that curve around the viewing area. The kitchen has an attached dining room and then on the other side, a long hallway leads down into bedrooms. Everything is on one level, it’s beautiful, homey and warm.

  He leads me down to a large bedroom, it has a bathroom opposite and an en-suite and the bed is made up with sweet little pillows as decoration, “Here, this will be your room, I hope it’s ok,” I smile and nod, “the fridge is full so help yourself to anything that you need, there are some towels in the cupboard by here, please help yourself, you must be exhausted.”

  “I’m okay, it’s going to be hard to sleep with the images rerunning themselves in my head.”

  “Is there anything I can get for you?” He asks kindly.

  “No thank you, you have done more than enough and I am grateful for your kindness.”

  He gives a polite nod, “well I am only at the end of the hallway if you need me. My shift is over so I will be heading there and then I’m afraid tomorrow we will have to go to the station.”

  “I know, a nice chat with Mr Stiff, he seems like the coldest person I have ever met.”

  Toby laughs, “Yes, he does seem like that doesn’t he.”

  Has he never worked with him before? My mind races with questions and things that just aren’t piecing together but I’m mentally exhausted, my mind is over-thinking everything.

  He smiles at me and leaves; once again I am alone. For the first time all evening I absorb what has happened and finally, I break down.

  Chapter 7

  My face is red from where I have been sobbing uncontrollably. I pull my phone from my pocket and finally switch it on. As it loads I see the time, it’s gone midnight. I hadn’t even realised it was so late, I came straight home after school and saw that, where has the time gone?

  My phone starts flashing, messages coming through from Jack, missed call alerts texts and a voicemail.

  Taking my mind off what has happened I read and listen to the messages.

  Message one

  I’m so sorry, please know this was a hard decision, I couldn’t stay there. J.xx

  Message two,

  Rayne, please pick up the phone. J.xx

  Message three,

  Rayne I love you, I need you. J.xx

  Message four,

  Rayne? J.xx

  Voicemail,

  ‘Rayne, I have tried calling you but I guess you have switched your phone off. I understand you are mad and I left without thinking, I just needed to get away. I cannot go back there, not yet, I love you I really do and I meant what I said, I’m so sorry,’ he sobs ‘I never meant to hurt you, this is really hard for me, please pick up please, I cannot bare to lose you.’

  How can he say he loves me when instead of coming to me, he ran away. Is that love? Is that how you treat someone you love? If it is I certainly don’t want it. My father left me, Jack has left me, and I guess all men are the same.

  Feeling exhausted I climb into bed wearing a t-shirt and shorts Toby has provided me. I pull the blanket over me and turn the lights out. The sound of the night wind howls passed the house, strangely the sound is calming and helps me drift off into a deep sleep.

  I awake feeling cold, the blanket has fallen on the floor. It’s freezing, so cold it makes me want to pee. As I get out of bed I feel something gritty between my toes.

  That’s strange, I look down to see grass. How is there grass in the bedroom? I look up and I’m not in the bedroom, I’m in my Aunt’s back garden with Sophia, my mom and Sophia’s stepdad, Joe. Everyone is happy, smiling and having a good
time.

  I walk around, everything is in slow motion, and I remember this day. It was the day Sophia turned sixteen, the day before her mother died.

  We are all happy and she is hugging Joe and he is hugging her back, why do I not remember this? We are having joint celebrations with our birthdays being so close.

  Joe looks at me, his grin sends chills down my spine. Everyone stops laughing and looks at me but Sophia, her back is towards me.

  I’m alone with them all staring at me, their eyes black and soulless, they just stare at me. Slowly Sophia turns, her face evil, scrunched up and terrifying to look at.

  She glides towards me, I try to step back but I do not move. Her black eyes look into mine, “You” her evil voice echoes, “you know nothing, the world you see is not what it seems, nothing is what it seems,” and with her words she goes to push me.

  I try to fight her off and then I feel something with an almighty thud. As I open my eyes I realise I have fallen out of the bed and am lying on the floor. I see the black figure once again standing in my room, I feel it isn’t there to harm me but maybe to warn me.

  It repeats the same thing over and over. What is it I don’t know? What is it trying to tell me? I fear there is something more to this whole situation than I know.

  “Please, tell me what I am meant to do,” I state to it as it hovers in my room.

  Before it or whoever it is can reply, my door bursts open with a man holding a gun. I scream and the light is quickly switched on, it’s Toby.

  I look at him, heart pounding, “what the hell are you doing?”

  He looks around, gun still pointing, “I heard a scream and a bang, I thought someone had got you.”

  “No, no-one has got me, I had a bad dream and fell about a bed, and can you stop pointing that thing please?”

  He looks at his gun in his hand quickly put’s it down, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you, are you alright?” He asks nicely helping me up from the floor.

  “Yeah, it was just a nightmare, it doesn’t matter,” I brush it off not wanting to get into conversation about it.

  “I won’t ask, it’s understandable though after what you have been through, come with me, I know what will make you feel better.” He holds his hand out.

  I am a little hesitant, I mean I barely know this man. But surely, his kind eyes are inviting and something familiar so I take him by the hand and he leads me to the kitchen.

  He pulls a chair out and sits me down whilst he goes to fridge and starts pulling out all bits and pieces, he seems to be making some sort of drink.

  “Now, don’t worry. I used to have this when I couldn’t sleep. It’s just cocoa with a teeny drop of Tia Maria, perfect to help you calm down,” he smiles.

  When he finishes, he comes over to me and hands me a warm cup of cocoa, it smells amazing. As I take it from him he leans down and looks at me, “Happy Birthday,” his whispers.

  “Thank you” I blush.

  We sit and chat for a while as I drink my lovely warm drink and I start t feel sleepy. As I yawn he scoops me up and carries me to bed. The last thing I see his warm smile and his gorgeous eyes looking at me, finally I drift off to sleep.

  I awake the next morning feeling good. I had a nice sleep and have woken up somewhere nice and peaceful. I don’t feel like going to school today and its Friday, one day won’t hurt surely.

  I have nothing to put on, I know I will need to go back to the house to get my things plus I have to visit Sophia and speak to the doctors. I feel this is going to be a long day, however I feel more easy speaking about it today than I did yesterday.

  Not that this will ever be easy to talk about but yesterday I could barely utter two words, but whoever did this needs to be punished and I want them to find my mother’s killer.

  I hear the sounds of a blender and some cups being moved around, Toby is up and in the kitchen. I make myself presentable and head down the hallway. As I reach the kitchen, there is a ‘Happy Birthday’ balloon floating on the table next to a small cake and some flowers.

  “What is this?”

  “It’s for you, Happy Birthday, everyone has to celebrate their birthday no matter what,” he smiles.

  I look down at the beautiful gesture, I feel my heart sink, how has he managed to do this in the time I have been asleep? No-one has ever bought me flowers before, “you didn’t have to do this.”

  He places breakfast on the table, “I wanted to, sit and eat, today is going to be tough for you but if you need me, I will never be far from you.”

  Maybe all men are not the same, Toby seems so caring, sweet and kind. Why are there not more men like him? I eat my breakfast although my stomach is in knots, if I don’t I’ll only feel worse later.

  “I umm, I need to go back to the house, you know for some clothes,” I mumble embarrassed.

  “Sure, we’ll go there first and then to the station if that’s ok with you?”

  “Sure.”

  We finish breakfast and then start heading back to my house. I feel dread in the pit of my stomach and I feel sick. Did they clean my house after they got what they needed? Is it still going to look the same?

  As we arrive outside, there are yards of yellow tape surrounding the fence outside and across the porch ‘crime scene’ for all to see.

  Standing on the porch I am too afraid to open the front door, Toby stands beside me, “you can touch anything, I know forensics have already been in all night and all morning so they have what they need.”

  I nod in agreement, I push open the door and this time I smell forensic chemicals, the house reeks of it. I go straight upstairs to my room quickly chuck on some other clothes, sort my hair and face out and then leave. As I leave my bedroom I glance at my mother’s bedroom door, covered in tape. I take a deep breath and then head downstairs.

  “I don’t want to stay here, can we leave now please,” I beg him nicely.

  Without question he hurries me out of the house and to station. I can feel my phone vibrating in my pocket, numerous missed calls from Jack but I cannot deal with him right now.

  He has no idea what has happened here, probably just thinks I’m being stubborn, if he had stayed then maybe he wouldn’t be assuming, and neither would I.

  Toby leads me into the station and drops me off outside before driving off, and there I sit in reception waiting for the detective.

  My god I feel sick!

  Chapter 8

  A lady officer greets me and leads me to a small, claustrophobic interview room. It feels like its a hundred degrees in here and she points at me where to sit and then leaves the room.

  I feel nervous, like I’m the one about to be interrogated and questioned for a crime I most certainly didn’t commit. The room is plain, no pictures, posters or leaflets on the walls, nothing.

  The detective enters the room, still stiff and looking at me judgementally, maybe he has heard about Sophia and read up on our past.

  “Good-morning, Miss....”

  Clearly he doesn’t pay attention, “Watts,” I confirm to him, again. Does he not have that written down?

  “How are you feeling today?” He asks showing a small amount of compassion.

  “Umm, hard to say really, how would you feel if you discovered your mother’s blood soaked body in your family home?”

  He sits on the opposite side of the table; his body language shows he is uncomfortable with my choice of words. He puts down a large file and in walks a second detective.

  “Today we just need to ask you some questions to help us piece together what happened yesterday, are you ok with this? Do you want someone with you?” The second detective asks and his character more easy and kind.

  “No, I’m fine.”

  “Good, ok, can you tell me what time you arrived home yesterday?” Detective Clarke asks very coldly.

  “Was after school, I got off the school bus around four I think, around about then.”

  “Did anything seem out of the ordinary
that morning before you left? Someone in the street you have never seen, things like that.”

  I shrug, “Uhh I don’t know, I stayed at a friend’s the night before and I left theirs to go to school. I didn’t see my mother that morning.”

  “When was the last time you spoke to her?” He asks as the other detective writes away.

  “Wednesday, I text her to ask if I could stay at Jack’s house, she had taken Sophia to the hospital that morning, I didn’t hear from her all day yesterday, I tried texting and calling her but when I got home those messages were unread on her phone, here, I have the messages here.” I hand them my phone for them to see.

  “We will need to make copies of those messages, it will help with our time-line,” he calls out and a woman comes in taking my phone from his hand.

  “I need that back though,” I quickly tell him.

  “You will get it back shortly. Our computer analyst will make copies of the messages and then we will give it back to you,” he speaks through his teeth as if annoyed, that slight half assed smile on his face, I’m starting to not like this guy.

  “Miss, did anything happen on Wednesday that may have been a cause for concern?” The nice detective asks.

  “No not really, was just a day like every other day. Sophia came down with scratches on her face, my mum rushed her to the hospital, I don’t think she had been taking her meds, and yeah, I went to school.”

  “Sophia was on meds?” He looks down in his file.

  I slam my hands on the table in frustration, “look, I know you know that and I know you know about her mother and other things, I want you to find my mother’s killer. I haven’t seen my mother since Wednesday, you have her phone and you have my phone, I suggest you do what you need to because I know nothing else.”