Weeping Willows: A Thrilling Mystery Novella (Dark Desires Book 1)

CHAPTER 7 -

  Hard thumps sounded from very far away. Why didn't the banging stop. Her head hurt, all she wanted to do was sleep but the thudding went on. Dragging herself from the mist of deep sleep, Suzie jumped up realizing that the pounding was coming from her front door. She pushed at the bed covers quickly slipping on her bathrobe as she raced bare feet to the front door. Who on earth could that be? She carefully opened the door keeping the chain still hinged and looked out. Two police officers stood there, with a guarded expression on their face. “Suzanne Edwards?” they enquired. “Yes.” she answered hesitantly. “We're sorry to disturb you at such an ungodly hour,” said one of the officers. Producing their badges, holding it up, the younger officer asked, “may we please come in Miss? It's important!” Suzie unlocked the door to let in the officers. Her heart was pounding wildly, she felt nausea and bile rush to her throat. “Have you found Melly?” she quickly asked. The officers looked uncomfortable as they glanced at each other trying to avoid meeting her eye. The older officer who introduced himself as Sergeant Williams stepped forward, pulled off his cap and looked Suzie in the eye as he said, “Miss, we regret to inform you that there has been a car crash and we believe it is your parents Jonathan and Judy Williams. We're sorry but we need you to accompany us for a proper certification.”

  There was a buzzing in her ears as the room appeared to be spinning, she felt like she'd been punched really hard in the belly. She felt arms grab her as she slipped slowly into the deep dark blackness. As Suzie came back to consciousness, she was aware of the two officers standing over her with sympathetic looks. She sat up shakily, questions filling through her mind. One of the officers apologetically asked if she was okay, if she needed something to drink. Suzie refused, feeling shell shocked. She asked them to wait, walking like a zombie she headed to the bathroom quickly washing and dressing. The officers whisked her into the backseat of the patrol car. Her world had just crashed forever. First Melly and now her dear loving parents. The world as she knew it had been altered irrevocably. She felt devastated. The policemen informed her that a vehicle had crashed into her parents car killing them instantly on impact. The driver had fled the scene abandoning his vehicle. The registration plates appeared to be false. That was all they knew for now. The police were hopeful that the perpetrator would be found. Suzie felt a torrent of mixed emotions. What kind of animal would do such a thing? It was appalling that any human being could be so heartless and cruel to her kind, sweet and innocent parents and leave them to die.

  She felt this incredible wave of pain and hate engulf her, the two emotions mixed in a crushing turmoil. She felt so alone, besides her parents and Melly, she had no-one. She was now alone, all alone.

  On arriving at the station, Suzie called Melissa's dad and mum. Uncle Frank and Aunt Lizzie arrived shortly. They were the closest thing to any real family she had left. Dad had a brother and sister in New Zealand and mum had been an only child. They had never really kept up, just an occasional postcard at Christmas, with a few visits over the years. The station was abuzz with police going about their business. A drunken man bawled at one officer as he was led to lock-up, swearing and cussing as he was taken away.

  Suzie was asked to wait for a few minutes. A tall burly policeman stepped out of one of the offices. Suzie was weeping in the arms of Aunt Lizzie, the shock of what was happening sinking in. Uncle Frank patted her hand consolingly and with his soft voice said, “There, there my dear. It's going to be okay. We're here for you.”

  Aunt Lizzie stroked her hair and tried to brush the stream of tears flowing down her cheeks as she tried desperately to stifle her own tears. Suzie reluctantly pulled away as the officer cleared his throat. He introduced himself as Detective Matthews and asked them to follow him to the mortuary.

  The click of shoes echoed on the cold tiled floor as they were led through a cold empty corridor, metal cabinets lined the wall behind the double steel doors. Sergeant Matthews pushed open the doors as he led them through. He pulled out the drawer and lifted the white sheets. Suzie slowly stepped forward swallowing the hard lump lodged in her throat and stared at the lifeless faces. Their faces were a blush white and so still, they looked like they were in a deep sleep but the deep wounds, scratches and dark blue bruised lining their faces was an indication that this was not so.

  She nodded at Detective Matthews as Uncle Frank and Aunt Lizzie whisked her away. An investigation was now open on the death of her parents. Their lives had been cruelly snatched away. From that timeous moment on everything had just become a blur. She vaguely remembered Melly's parents telling her that she should spend the next few days with them in Rosewood creek. Uncle Frank kept reassuring her that she needn't worry, he would take care of everything even in the funeral arrangements. Suzie felt so overwhelmed at their kindness and grateful for having them in her life at this crucial time. The truth was that her brain felt like it had literally shut down.

  - Chapter 8 -

  The earth smelt fresh, a mixture of soil and dampness permeating through the air. A steady light drizzle continued, a few rows of vehicles lined the pavements opposite the cemetery. A few varsity friends and close friends of her parents stood together around the grave site with Suzie and the Franks. The priest voiced the final words of “The Lord is my Shepard.”

  Their caskets were lowered and finally laid to rest. Suzie placed the blood red roses on the caskets of her parents as tears rolled down her cheeks. She brushed them away with gloved hands, praying for their peace knowing that they would be received in heaven where they belong. Sobbing, Uncle Frank and Aunt Lizzie led her away from the grave site. She felt totally spent. The feeling of desolation, a second skin. For now she felt relieved at the support of Melly's parents and her heart went out to them for all that they had done for her. She admired their strength knowing full well that the uncertainty of Melly's disappearance still plagued them. They wanted and needed their daughter home. The fear of the unknown choking their every moment, the fear of what may be.

  Leaving the cemetery, Suzie thanked them profusely for everything telling them she would never forget it. She told them that she appreciated their kindness but she needed to go back to her cottage, she needed time to mourn and grieve her loss. They both said that they understood and would come visit regularly. She thanked them as she left.

  The man had stood at the back of the gathering. He felt secure in his anonymity. It was a funeral after all. This gave him a chance to be closer to the girl, to observe. He stared at her pale face and tear filled gaze. Her brown eyes watery pools. She looked so beautiful. He wished he could gather her into his arm and tell her it would all be okay. He was doing all this just for her. He convinced himself that in time she would understand why he had to do what he did. It had all been for her.

  He watched silently, she had such grace and poise pulling herself together as she thanked everyone who had attended the funeral. A couple had stood just before him, he thought of touching her little hands as she greeted but on afterthought he pulled away. Stepping away, he walked briskly to his car. This was not the time. Their moment needed to be special, not surrounded by these inconsequential strangers. He would wait, he was accustomed to doing that. Patience was definitely his virtue.

  - Chapter 9 -

  The stream gurgled in the early morning. Birds whistled their melodious tunes. The man picked up his axe and struck at the wood. Beads of sweat glistening on his arms and his back as he swung the axe to and fro in a rhythm chopping at the firewood. He calmed the troubled thoughts. It was now two months and there had been no word.

  He missed her so much! He had told Emma, his sister, what had happened and was surprised that for once she appeared to be understanding. She'd told him to take as much time as he needed. If being on the farm gave him some semblance of sanity, then Craig could skip this semester considering the severity of the situation. He knew that it looked bad. He and Melissa had been fighting a lot recently and many people at campus knew of this. Her flirtatiousn
ess was no secret. He knew it was harmless and Melly was impulsive and she'd fought constantly, accusing him of becoming too clingy and possessive.

  He had lied to the authorities and to Suzie, telling them that they had been quarrelling about a silly movie. The argument had erupted over Melly's flirtatiousness and Craig was ready to take their relationship to the next step but Melly had laughed at him. She said that Craig was being hasty and that she wasn't ready to commit to one man. She loved her freedom too much. Sure, she liked Craig but it was still early days. Craig in his frustration had accused Melly of cheating, he knew that this was not true but he had wanted to hurt her like she had hurt him in trivializing their relationship, she in turn had become furious and had forced Craig to stop the car as they were on their way to Rosewood Creek's movie theater. She had screamed at him ranting and raving at what an idiot he was, telling him that she wouldn't speak to him ever again. They were over! He had called out to her to get back into the car but she had stomped