SARA DALTON

6thApril 2016

Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

Rain tapped constantly against the window and the sudden noise of what turned into hail echoed throughout the bedroom. She heard the wind attacking the trees in the garden, and the sound of roaring that made her feel as if she were in danger. It was nights like these that she found it hard to sleep. She lay in bed, struggling to sleep through the storm that was crashing outside her window. Her blanket was warm, yet she still shivered. The lamplight started flickering until she couldn’t stand it, so she switched it off. Luckily the dimly lit fish tank was enough to ward off her fear of the dark.

Fifteen-year-old Anna Willis was laying in her bed with her pink covers up to her neck staring at the ceiling. She knew the storm would soon drive her brother into the comfort of her room. She started counting in her head, counting the seconds until he would pop his head through the door. She watched her fish dart back and forth in the tank. They were restless, too.

There was a soft knock on her door, slowly opening. A small figure appeared, his Teddy in his hand, quivering. Anna sat up in her bed as she watched her six-year-old brother, Jake, shuffle towards her.

“Anna, can I get into your bed please?” His soft little voice squeaked.

“Of course,” Anna smiled, trying to reassure her little brother. She moved the duvet over, enough for him to slide in with her.

The small boy slid in close beside his older sister, surrounding him with the duvet tightly. She felt his body relax in the warmth of her bed. He lays facing Anna as they both listen to the storm. There was a flash that lit the room, only for a second. After a few moments of silence, there was a crash of thunder and that was when Anna realized the hail had stopped. It was quiet. Anna felt him tremble beside her from the thunder; she started to stroke his hair telling him everything will be fine.

“Jake, it will be all over soon,” Anna whispered into his ear. He closed his eyes to the sound of her soothing voice, trying to drown out the noise from outside. He held his Teddy tight as Anna carried on stroking the top of his hair, humming a soft tune. It wasn’t long until he was sleeping peacefully.

Anna closed her eyes, they were feeling heavy. She couldn’t hold them open any longer. The last she saw was her fish, swimming around in the tank and the dim light that started to fade.

Anna’s eyes fluttered open and glanced over at her bedside clock. It had been only ten minutes since she was last awake. She took a glance around her room; nothing seemed out of the ordinary. She heard a high pitch screech coming from the kitchen. At first, she thought it was her mother, but when she heard it again; this time it was louder. She moved the duvet slowly, taking a step out of her bed. She didn’t want to wake her baby brother, so she tiptoed out of her bedroom, closing the door carefully behind her.

Anna made her way down the hallway. Slowly approaching the staircase, she noticed her mother’s bedroom door was open. Another flash of lightning lit the bedroom and Anna saw that it was empty. Her mother always went to bed early, so Anna wondered why she wasn’t there. Another crash of thunder that made Anna jump even though she was expecting it. She waited for a moment to see if Jake had woken up from the thunder, but he didn’t.

She took a step on the first stair, and it made a creaking noise as she slowly went down, one by one. The noise from the kitchen was getting louder, screeching that made her ears feel sensitive. Anna’s heartbeat started to quicken, the thought of an intruder in the house was playing on her mind. As she started to come closer to the kitchen, she noticed there was a light on. Anna crept to the kitchen door which was slightly open. Her bare feet felt cold against the wooden flooring.

She peeked through the gap but couldn’t see anything. Having a good look around the kitchen, she noticed the knife block. It was missing a knife; her mum always organised the kitchen before going to bed. She suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder, everything had to be perfect. Anna’s heart started to thump in her chest, she knew someone was in there and it wasn’t her mother. Pushing the door open further, to have a closer look, she saw her. Her mother was laying on top of the kitchen counter.

Anna’s hands covered her mouth before she could make a noise, she wanted to run over to her, but she didn’t know who else was in there. She shook uncontrollably and tried to remain silent while tears ran down her face.

She kept as still as possible beside the door, building up the courage to go back upstairs without making any noises. Her lips pressed into a thin line, she couldn’t control them from shaking. She took a small step backward, without taking her eyes off her mother, followed by another step. Suddenly she knocked the cabinet with the back of her foot. She made a hiccup noise and ran as fast as she could up the stairs. Running down the hallway, back into her bedroom, she closed the door behind her. She rushed over waking up her brother.

“Jake, Jake. Wake up,” she shook him awake.

He opened his eyes glimpsing up at his sister, noticing the tears in her eyes. He sat up in a panic; she had one hand on his arm, holding onto him tightly.

“What’s going on?” Jake asked. Fear started to overcome him.

“Someone’s in the house,” Anna whispered. The pair both fell silent to the sounds of footsteps nearing the bedroom door. Jake gripped hold of Anna’s hand tightly, as she dragged him towards her wardrobe, closing the door silently behind them. Then, they waited.

Anna held Jake tightly against her. The bedroom door finally opened, making a small squeak. They listened to the footsteps entering the room. Anna moved forward taking a small peek through the wardrobe door. A flash of lightning lit the bedroom and that was when she saw the intruder, standing by the window.

Now moving towards the wardrobe, Anna shifted back holding her brother tightly in her arms. She swallowed hard, waiting for the wardrobe doors to swing open. She moved her hand up to her brother’s eyes, covering them. He didn’t make any noises or any movements. He was frightened so much; Anna felt his body stiffen.

The moment came, and the doors opened, revealing a figure towering over the children in the wardrobe. Anna’s scream echoed through the room and slowly throughout the house.

7th April 2016

Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

The sun was not even up, and someone was already dead. It was Addison McCain’s first day in the Criminal Investigation Division with the Sawbridgeworth Police Department. She hoped that she wouldn’t be on tea and coffee duty like before when she was a uniformed officer. She earned her position as a Detective. With a pink metal tumbler in one hand, she fidgeted for her car keys with the other while stepping towards her car. Addison struggled to put the keys into the slot of thecar door lock in her nineties ford escort; they slipped out of her freezing cold fingers and into a puddle.

She didn’t like her car, but it got her places. She couldn’t wait for the department to issue her an unmarked vehicle. Addison couldsmell the musky storm air that still lingered, and the groundwas still soaking wet from the downpour. She could see her breath in the cold air as she let out a sigh, she placed her coffee container on top of the car along with her mobile phone and tried to rub her hands warm.

Addison bent down for her set of keys. Her wet flaxen ponytail whipping her in the face as she regained them from the rain puddle. Standing, she tried to unlock her old banger she named Ethel, only to be interrupted by the dancing of her mobile phone across the roof of her car. She cursed as she answered the call, her keychain falling into the same puddle a second time.

“Oh no, I wasn’t talking to you, sir,”

She ignored the keys.

“I’m listening sir,” it was herDetective Chief Superintendent Brian Dowell, but she preferred to call him Chief.

“Could you say that again?” Addison shuffled around, pulling a notebook from the back pocket of her jeans. She listened as his clipped tone gave her the information she needed. “Number seven, Cannons Drive.” She repeated, “yes sir, I’ll be there as soon as possible.” She hung up. She bent down picking up her keys and finally yanked her car door open. She swiped her hot container and shoved her notebook back into her pocket before bending down to fit into the driver’s seat.

This car better not stall on me again. She thought.

She placed her coffee into the cup holder below her cassette radio and pushed the keys into the ignition. It took a couple of turns to get it started, but eventually,it did. She sat back putting her seat belt on, also taking a quick swig of her coffee, milky with two sugars. Addison took one quick look around and then pulled out from the side road, outside her tiny flat. She thought about the location she was headed, it was close by.

As she arrived at the scene Addison saw police cars and news reporter vans everywhere. She parked as close as she could and trudged the rest of the way to the crime scene. Yellow fluttering tape spanned the perimeter of a detached home. The crime scene unit had set up base in the front garden with figures dressed in white Tyvek suits scurrying around like ants on a disturbed mound. She glanced down the road where people lingered to see what was happening, neighbours coming out of their homes. Addison saw the news reporters trying to interview each officer who comes out, hoping for a story.

“McCain, over here.” Called the voice of her new boss across the drive.

“Name and badge number please.” A uniformed officer requested while clicking the back of an ink pen as Addison approached.

“Peter, it's me. Addy.”

“Well, well look at you. Made Detective already. Now, don’t you forget about us poor sobs still out here on the street?”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Uh huh,” Peter grunted with a smile while lifting the yellow tape.

She headed towards her boss, DCS Brian Dowell where she could see him talking. A man, roughlyin his mid-thirtiesshe guessed, was standing beside him.He was a tall glass of water, with his blue button-down dress shirt bunching at the sides in a desperate attempt to cling to his six-foot-three frame. Dark brown perfect cut hair, a little shaggy, he was good-looking.

Very good-looking. She thought.

“Addison McCain, this is DetectiveChief Inspector Robert Arrows.” He introduced the pair. Addison put her hand out for him to shake. Robert Arrows inspected Addison as a teacher about to admonish a child. His eyes narrowing into slits. He heard Brian Dowell clear his throat and Robert shook her hand quickly.

“Why don’t you run and get us some coffee, the real police will handle this.” Robert dismissed her with his hand.

“I’m not here for coffee duty sir, I’m here to help solve a case.” She responded. She crossed her arms when he finally looked at her.

“She’ll learn a lot from you, Robert,” Brian said turning back to Addison. She stared at Robert who turned away, back towards the house. She watched him as he put on a Tyvek suit and latex gloves.

“He’s an arrogant bastard,” Brian laughed as Addison’s eyes followed Robert heading into the house.“He is a good detective through, one of the best.” Brian tried to explain.

“What happened?” Addison said leaning sideways to look through the doorway of the house. Brian nodded his head for her to follow him. He was tall but not as tall as Robert, he had brown hairwith a touch of grey on the sides. Addison estimated in his late forties maybe early fifties. She had known him from when she was training as he was one of her examiners, he gave her a recommendation and ended up on his force. She was glad because she knew him. She watched him smooth out his tie and tucking it into his suit jacket.

“You’ll need these before you enter.” One of the forensics team said. He handed over two Tyvek suits and a box of latex gloves. “Once we’ve finished examining the crime scene, I want you to interview the first officer on scene.” Brian said as they both got into the white suits.

“Yes sir,” Addison nodded.

Addison was already taking notes of the crime scene on her notepad. They made their way to the kitchen first, yellow number placards marking anything thought to be of evidentiary value. Addison glanced up and saw the body.

Holy shit, she thought.

The knife was plunged into the heart of the woman’s chest, a few centimeters deep and fatal. The body was propped in an awkward fashion as if it were ornately placed, planned to be the center of attraction in a landscape of blood. Addison grimaced at the smell and thought of death. A man with a Nikon camera flash sparking with each shot, he was being guided by what Addison assumed was the coroner. Her boss gave him a curt nod.

“That is Dr. Charlie Richards, we will speak to him in a few moments. This is Wendy Willis, forty-two-year-old divorcee, and mother of two. A single stab wound to the chest and…” Brian started.

“Where are the children, were they here?” Addison interrupted, earning a scornful eye.

“They were both taken to Morburn hospital, they didn’t say a word when we first arrived, still haven’t now. Social services will be with them until they have contacted a next of kin.” Brian replied. He cleared his throat before carrying on. “There doesn’t seem to be much of a struggle with the mother, caught by surprise. I would like you to have a crack on the children; they might feel more comfortable talking to a female officer. The daughter had wounds on her wrists; it looks like the killer slit them. But they weren’t deep.”

Addison was chewing on the end of her pen and pulled at her sleeves. She pressed her lips into a thin line as she jotted down the information. Her eyebrows furrowed as she started to write quicker, her jaw tightening the quicker she wrote.

How could someone do this to a mother and her children? She thought. She scrunched up her face when she looked at the body. Her heart pounded in her chest as she saw the dead woman upon the counter. She hoped Brian hadn’t noticed her discomfort.

“What are their names?” Addison asked. She flicked a glance up at Brian.

“Anna and Jake Willis,” He replied.

Addison noticed a tall attractive woman entered the kitchen. She was dressed in a plastic whiteTyvek suit with latex gloves on. She headed in their direction.

“Superintendent,” she nodded.

“Run us through the scene,” he asked acknowledging her nod.

“This is DetectiveSergeant Addison McCain, Robert’s new partner, she is our newest Detective graduate.” Brian quickly introduced them. The woman put her hand out to Addison which she took, shaking hands.

“Congratulations and welcome on the team, I’m Forensics team leader Nora Williams,” The woman said introducing herself. Addison gave her a nod and Nora turned her attention back to Brian. “This is all based on an assumption from what the evidence shows. It's a possibility that it could have been domestic. The mother obviously didn’t see what was coming. There was no break in anywhere, nor any open windows. She probably died instantly, but Dr. Richards will give you more of an accurate confirmation. I believe one of the children might have seen what had happened.” Nora started to explain her theory. She pointed towards the kitchen door.

“One of the children stood there. If you look carefully, there are some faded barefoot marks. There is mud everywhere, the killer may have been the one to bring it all into the house. If you look here, this small cabinet has been shoved backward slightly, there are scuff marks. Maybe the kid made a noise, or the killer caught them here. The boy must have joined his sister in the bedroom, the storm probably played a part in that. They both hid in the wardrobe together, there areblood drops where the killer must have cut the girls wrist. That is the only worrying part for me, why did he cut the daughters wrist?” Nora finished.

“What wrist did he cut?” Addison asked.

“Right,” Nora replied.

“Do you know if she’s left-handed, or right?” Addison asked another question. Jotting down the answers as she goes along.

“Is there a meaning to this?” Nora looked at Addison.

“Just wondered,” Addison put her book back into her back pocket.

“Seems straightforward, let’s hope that it stays that way,” Brian replied. “I would like to know the answer tothe question as well. Was the young girl left-handed, or right?” He answered followed by another question.

“I am not too sure at this moment,the doctor will tell you that,” Nora replied.

“If you are asking about the mother, she is right-handed.” Dr. Charlie Richards joined the group, handing Brian Dowell a bag of evidence containing jewelry. “Nora is right, Wendy died instantly. Roughly at one thirty-five am. She doesn’t have any other wounds, but rigor has set into the body, but I won’t know anything else for sure until I get her on the table. The body will be gone soon, so you can continue with the scene. I’ll get Harry here to take some shots of all the evidence for you Nora.” Dr. Charlie Richards headed back outside.

“Thanks Charlie,” Nora called.

“Do you think the children saw the killer?” Addison asked. Nora and Brian both looked at her. She felt small under their gaze when she asked the question that everyone also wanted to know the answer.

“Well, it's hard to tell. But I think there is a possibility they did.” Nora answered. Addison jotted down in her notebook once again, everything Nora had said. “I believe they may have, he would have had to face them, unless he covered it,” Nora carried on.

Nora nodded for the pair to follow her. They moved further to the body, Addison started to feel nervous, she wanted to cover her nose from the smell of the decaying body.

“Here,” Dowell handed her a cigarette.

“I don’t smoke sir,”

“It's not to smoke. Put it under your nose, it will get rid of the smell. It’s menthol.” Her boss laughed at her. She took the cigarette and gently placed it under her nose. Her eyebrows raised.

It works. She thought.

She took a good look at the woman who was laying on top of the counter, she saw a knife sticking out from her chest. Addison looked over at the block behind her, a knife was missing, she scanned the kitchen searching for a knife but there was nothing, it was clean. She assumed the one in Wendy Willis’s chest is the one missing. She glanced over to one of the forensic workers dusting the side of the counter, trying to pick up some fingerprints.

“Have you managed to lift any fingerprints yet?” Brian asked as he looked at the body and the knife. Nora shook her head.

“Only the families. We haven’t found anything just yet; thekiller was most likely wearing gloves.” Nora replied. “Dr. Richards told me the body was neatly placed, and he thinks she was killed here. There isn’t much blood as the knife in her chest is stopping the blood from coming out. Her arms and legs were placed by her sides.” Nora said looking at Brian to Addison.

Nora headed towards the kitchen door.Addison glanced back at the dark-haired woman lying lifeless on the counter.Shesaw the number markings placed on the spot where one of the children had stood.

That poor woman and her children. She thought.

Using her latex-gloved hand, Nora pulled the kitchen door to.

“This is what I think one of the children saw when the door was like this. I think they got a glimpse of the killer. They must have panicked and rushed back upstairs.” Nora explained.

“What makes you think they went back upstairs?” Addison asked.

“Because the children were found in the bedroom wardrobe.” Nora paused and looked at Addison.

“Right,” Addison replied. She felt stupid for asking.

Nora led them to the stairs. Addison saw Robert with his latex gloves, looking through paperwork in the dining room. He glanced up to see Addison passing and carried on with what he was doing. She followed Nora and Brian up the stairs. They walked intothe room, everything was pink, the bedcovers, the drawers, even a pink TV. Nora stepped into the wardrobe. Addison and Brian looked inside, a couple of blood drops on the wooden floor.

Addison looked around the bedroom; she noticed the fish tank over to the side. The light was still switched on, she moved to the side of the bed. She glanced out of the window across to the neighbour’s house opposite, noticing someone standing by their window next door. A young boy was staring back at her.

“Sir,” Addison called.

Brian moved to Addison, he looked out of the window and saw the boy. Only for a second before the boy moved away.

“Do you think he saw anything?” Addison asked.

“We have uniforms doing door to doors, but you can go and have a talk with them,” Brian replied.

Addison carried on looking around the room, she saw the fish tank right in the corner, it was dark, but she could just make out what it was; a faded footprint. It was too big to be the children’s but a possibility that it could be their mother’s.

“Sir, a muddy footprint has been missed here,” Addison called again. He moved to her side, following where she was looking. He saw the print on the floor. Nora moved over, placing a yellow number marking next to it.

“Ben,” Nora yelled.

A man in white coveralls appeared through the doorway with a kit in hand and gave the superintendent a curt nod. Nora nodded towards the print and watched as he knelt placing a number cone next to it.

“I want that print taken in; find out what size, shape, what shoe it could have been, brand-new or old,” Nora demanded.

“I want you to find PC Richards, he was the first on scene. And then do you think you can go over to the hospital? There are a couple of uniformed officers over there right now with them. Maybe see if you can get anything from the children. After, I would like you to talk to the next door neighbour and see if that little boy saw anything, take Robert with you.” Brian turned to Addison. She nodded. She went to turn around, but Brian spoke one last time.

“We’ll get him,” Brian told her. Addison nodded.

She plodded down the stairs and outside the house removing her white suit and gloves. She glanced over to where Peter was still standing and she headed over to him.

“Peter, do you know where I can find PC Richards?” She asked him. He clicked his pen over and over which made her eyebrow twitch. He nodded his head over in a direction and she glanced over to see PC Richards hovering around. She nodded to Peter and trotted over to Richards.

“PC Richards?” She asked.

“Finally, you’ve come to interview me, it’s been a long night.” Richards explained.

“Of course, it shouldn’t take long.” Addison said as she got her notebook out. “What time was it when the call came in?”

“It was between 9-10pm, I can’t remember exactly but it will be on the records.”

“How long did it take you to get here after you received the call?”

“It took me fifteen minutes to get here. The front door was wide open when I arrived.”

“Did you call for back-up before going inside?”

“Yes, I did, they arrived twenty minutes after me. I went inside as I could hear crying. I found the woman on the counter but there was no pulse, then I followed the crying upstairs.” He paused. Addison glanced up at him from her notebook.

“That’s where I found the children, in the wardrobe. The girl she had something wrapped around her wrist, it was stained with blood. I guided them outside, avoiding the kitchen as the ambulance arrived. More officers arrived and two of them went with the children to the hospital. I was told to remain here until someone spoke to me.” He finished.

“Thank you, Richards, you may leave now. If there is anything else you remember when you arrived on scene, please let me know or DCS Dowell.” Addison told him. He nodded and headed off under the tape, she watched until he disappeared into his car and gone from the scene.

Addison glanced at her watch and quickly made her way to her car. She noticed a news reporter heading in her direction, panic started to rise until when someone grabbed her arm.

“McKenzie,” Robert called. She looked round to see him behind her. She sighed, placing her hands on her hips.

I’m determined to earn this man’s respect. I will show him what I’m capable of and he’ll be surprised. She thought, hiding a small smile.

“It’s McCain,” she snapped.

“Whatever, we are going to need to contact Wendy’s parents.” Robert started. Addison nodded but then said, “I am going to try interviewing the children first and when I get back DCS Dowell wants us to talk to the next door neighbour.” She spoke.

“Why?”

“Because the little boy who lives next door, his window is opposite, and he could have seen something from last night. We saw him at his window when we were going through the scene. He saw us, so what else did he see?” Addison explained.

“Well, make it quick. We’ve got much work to do.” Robert replied.

“Arrogant Bastard.” She said under her breath.

He went to walk away but heard Addison mutter. “Excuse me?” He stopped and looked at her.

“Nothing,” Addison said turning on her heel towards her car. He watched her stride away and then stuffed his hands into his pockets, making his way back to finish the crime scene.