“You have to show me, this is…”
“So, we have camera and digital surveillance,” I said, loud enough to bring the room back to focus. “While you guys go there, we’ll go through his research file and history.” It felt strange to be stamping authority.
“Sounds like a plan,” Ash said, as he grabbed Bree to get ready to leave. Owen, Jay and Warwick ran upstairs excitedly, like a gang of schoolboys.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Mark popped by and collected Mendel not long after I returned from the lab. He seemed to be flustered, collecting his companion and rushing away with hardly a hello. My stomach twisted with guilt as I smiled and waved from the door. He was my friend and I had just instructed my team to bug his house.
We all sat on the edge of our seats while we watched Ash and Bree slide out of the house from under his nose. It was close, but in the nick of time, they managed it. Jay had improved his surveillance around the campus while Warwick somehow managed to sneak into the science labs and place his stickers on each laptop he could find. We were as ready as we were ever going to be.
Research wasn’t like it’s portrayed in films. There was no inspirational music playing while we poured over page upon page of documents, and no magical beautician which kept my hair in place. It hadn’t taken long for the surveillance in Mark’s house to come to life. One by one the monitors fired up, revealing a different room in his house. Owen and Warwick didn’t speak as they pored over streams of information flowing from his computer.
For three days, we worked.
We had survived on cold coffee, call out pizza and frayed nerves. Sleep times were rotated so that someone was constantly watching the surveillance monitors and listening to Mark’s house. In the end, we each simply slept on the settee, ready for our next shift.
We were entering the fourth day of surveillance when tempers began to grate.
I told Bree and Ash to go to training. They needed to keep up fitness as Wolves. They protested at first, but I could tell it was for show. They hated to be cooped up indoors. I watched through the window as the pair simultaneously began a race from the front path. Jay followed behind, sluggishly dragging his feet. Owen and Warwick stayed behind with me. I told them to get to class. I knew that all this missed time would come back to kick us in the arse. Owen said he was doing more here than he was in class. He didn’t see the point in backing away. Warwick was filled with some strange sense of obsession, like the bombings were a personal insult to him. He continued to glare at the computer screens, determined to discover that illusive piece of evidence we so desperately needed.
“God, this is getting old,” Owen sighed, as he flung himself back on the settee. “Don’t think I can read through this much longer.” His piles of notes were stacked on the floor beside his growing collection of coffee mugs.
I leaned back, leaning against his arm. “Nothing useful in his work?”
“There’s loads. Not that I understand any of it. He’s definitely smarter than he looks,” he smirked. “I just can’t focus.” He rubbed his eyes with both hands.
I looked to Warwick. “How’re you doing?”
“Getting through it. Owen’s right though, this is over our heads. I never passed science at school. There’s no chance of me understanding genetics at this level.
“Where’s Fern?”
“She sent me a text last night,” Owen said, “she stayed over at the labs, again.”
“She might as well live there,” Warwick laughed.
I had to agree. She had spent more nights there than here at the house in the last month.
“Alright, let’s give it a break. Meet up again in the morning?” I stretched out in my seat, my arms and legs sticking out blissfully.
“But, we need to do this,” Owen sighed.
“I know. But, we’re on the verge of burning out. We’ve been at this for days. Let’s all have a breather and get back to it in the morning. We can leave the cameras recording.”
Owen clicked off his screen. “I suppose so. Could do with a shower and a few pints of coffee.”
“Me too,” I sighed. The thought of a soak in the bath was worryingly appealing. “I’ll message the others now. You two go have a break.”
Warwick and Owen stretched simultaneously as they stood, each leaving the room like slow moving zombies. I dug my phone out from under the pizza boxes and sent the same text to Bree and Ash. Within a second a reply rang back. It was Ash.
Great, could do with a break. Might come round for a cuppa in a bit. You staying in?
I grinned at my phone stupidly. It was just a coffee. He was Bree’s boyfriend, and just my friend. Friends have coffee. I forced the grin from my lips and tapped in my reply.
Just give my half an hour to shower.
Knees cracking, I pushed myself up and made my way up the stairs. My legs felt like they hadn’t been used in weeks, not days. Apart from the odd trip to the downstairs loo, I hadn’t moved from the settee in days.
I passed Warwick’s room and heard the faint rhythm of music, then smiled as I passed Owen’s. The soft snores told me he had crashed the moment his head hit the pillow.
My room felt cold. The unused bed and days old cup on the dresser were stone cold reminders of the hours of sleepless work yet to be done. I longed to crash face first into my bed, but I knew that would be me for the night. Instead, I pulled out a change of clothes and my wash bag. I left my room hoping I wouldn’t fall asleep in the shower.
The bathroom was a mess. Towels were scattered and wet on the floor. Clothes were piled on top of the toilet seat. The shower curtain was pulled closed around the bath. I took another step in and realised that the water was already running.
“Oh, sorry,” I called, “you already in there, Warwick?”
No reply. I shivered against the cold moisture in the room.
“Warwick?”
“Yeah?” He replied, popping his head out from his bedroom, across the hall.
“Oh, you’re not in the shower?”
He looked at me like I was stupid. “I’m stood right here, Roz.”
“Right,” I laughed. I turned to the shower curtain. “Hello? Who’s in here?”
Warwick watched me as we listened to the soft sound of falling water.
“Someone must have left it running,” I said.
Warwick shrugged and closed his door. I growled under my breath. The air was freezing. Whoever had left it on had wasted all the hot water. Stepping over the pile of towels, I reached for the curtain. Cold water trickled over my fingers as I yanked the plastic back.
I stared. A silent scream ripped through my chest as my eyes locked on the occupied bath. Beads of water splashed up at me, rebounding off her white, bloated skin. The naked body laid crumpled, arms and legs twisted into unnatural positions. The water swirled around her face, her long red hair disappearing down the plughole.
“Warwick. Owen!” I screamed. I stood, gripping tight to the shower curtain as my two friends crashed into the room.
“What is…?” Owen dropped to his knees and reached into the bath. “Karissa?” He felt around her neck furiously, pressing his finger in every angle. “No, Karissa.” He slumped, hands still over the side of the bath.
Warwick reached passed me and turned off the water. His hand resting on my shoulder.
“How?” I asked. “How can she be dead?”
The three of us stood in silence, looking down on the housemate I never took the time to get to know. Goosebumps rose along my arms, the chill from the frigid water still tingling on my skin. Her skin was smooth, even though it was colder than mine.
Lifeless bodies didn’t react to the cold.
It was the sight of a purple flower which made my eyes blur with tears. A single tulip tattoo sat on her hip. Stark against her chalk skin, it glared at me, a symbol of all the things I hadn’t known about her. Why had she chosen to have that tattoo? Was that her favourite flower, or did it have another meaning to her? Was there
a story behind it? Where was she from? What kind of music did she like? What was her favourite food?
There was no time. No time to ask her these questions, no time to correct my single minded obsession to work hard. Without realising, Karissa had shown me what life should be about. She shone like a blazing star wherever she ventured, constantly bringing a smile to her friends. She loved life. She spent her days having fun, where I was too preoccupied to get to know her. She had reached out to me, and I was always too busy to notice.
Now, she was cold. No more time to enjoy life. No more sunshine to brighten our lives.
I sniffed as tears began to fall. “We have to call somebody.”
Warwick squeezed my shoulder. “I’ll go phone the campus hospital.”
He left the room leaving Owen and I to watch over her. I couldn’t pull my eyes away from her lifeless body, unable to process the image I was seeing. She was so young. How could she be dead?
“How could we not notice?” I jumped as Owen spoke. His voice was as cold as our friend.
I gripped his shoulder. “How could we have known?”
He stood, and my hand fell away. “She went for a shower yesterday.” He stared down at her unblinking.
“Yesterday? She must have been taking another one today.”
He turned to me, his eyes red. “No. She shouted over to us when she passed yesterday, remember? She said she was grabbing a shower then going to that party.”
I thought back to the day before. I had been poring over a police report which was detailing the surrounding wreckage of the second bombing. Karissa had rushed through the front door, shouted hello to us before running upstairs for her shower. I didn’t remember her coming back down.
“Didn’t you come in here last night?” I knew I hadn’t. I had used the downstairs bathroom whilst researching.
“No. How could we not notice her not coming back down?”
“We were all working.” My shoulders slumped. It was true, we were working. But, that didn’t wipe clean the guilt of not noticing that your housemate is dead in the shower.
We both jumped as Warwick came back into the room.
“They’re here.”
The sound of the front door crashing open was followed by the thunder of footsteps. Owen pulled me back against him as three men in high visibility jackets rushed into the room. One man laid out a stretcher as the other two lifted her from the bath. A cover was placed over her marble body, then a strap secured her in place. It was over in seconds. We watched silently as she was carried from the house.
We followed down the stairs and to the door. A dark blue van waited ready with its blacked out doors open. Owen held my hand as the doors banged shut, sealing away our housemate in a hollow tomb of cold metal. The men climbed into the front seat and drove away without a word.
The three of us stood at the door. Lost.
“I’m going out,” Warwick announced. He pushed passed us, almost running across the grass.
“Warwick?” I shouted after him.
“Let him go,” Owen said. He squeezed my hand. “He just needs some time.”
“To do what? What are we supposed to do?” I rubbed away more tears with my sleeve.
“Nothing we can do. Just, carry on I suppose.” His voice was flat, devoid of emotion.
“Just like that? It seems wrong. How can we just act like nothing has happened? Our housemate is dead.”
“Not like nothing has happened.” He spoke quickly, like he was forcing his words to stay calm.
I twisted and wrapped my arms around his chest, pulling him into a hug. His arms gripped around my shoulders. Within moments I felt his body shake with tears. I gripped him tighter, my sadness the mirror of his. We stood on the doorstep holding each other, not able to move from the spot. The last place we saw Karissa.
“Everything okay?” I jumped as Ash’s voice broke our solitude.
Owen eased back, keeping hold of my shoulders. “You two go. I’m going to clean up.”
“What? No. You’re not doing that alone. I’ll help you.”
He leaned in and kissed my forehead. “I want to. Please, Roz. Let me clean up the bathroom for her. It’s the least I can do for her.”
“You really want to be alone?”
He stepped back, letting me go. “Yes. I’ll see you tonight.” He looked up at a confused Ash. “Take her somewhere quiet, and warm.”
Ash nodded and took my hand. I stepped out of the door as Owen closed it behind me. I walked without knowing direction. Blinded by tears, I let Ash guide me, his warm hand gripping mine. My feet dragged along the gravel path, scraping a trail behind us.
Ash didn’t speak, didn’t intrude on my racing mind. Questions and blame spiralled in my eyes like red hair in a drain. Why didn’t I check on her? How didn’t we hear the water running? What kind of friend was I to not notice?
I stumbled as Ash pulled me toward a staircase. My legs felt numb. I clung to the banister while he pulled. Every step up felt like a mountain. My body wanted to shut down, to stop feeling.
My knee stung against something hard. As Ash’s arms wrapped around me, the stairs disappeared into blackness.
CHAPTER TWENTY
I woke in a strange room. Slanted light spilled in through the window. The walls were lined with shelves, each filled with books. A stack of weights were piled in the corner. I tried to sit up and realised I was laid in a bed. The thick red duvet was pulled up to my chin. I sat up as the door opened.
“You’re awake,” Ash sighed. He sat on the bed beside me and laid a tray down between us. “I spoke to Owen. I’m so sorry, Roz.”
I shuffled back to lean against the headboard. “Don’t be sorry for me. Be sorry for her,” I coughed, holding back the fresh wave of tears.
“I am. But I’m also sorry for you, Owen and Warwick. Nobody should have to see their friend like that.”
I closed my eyes and saw her white marble skin. “Please, can we talk about something else?”
He smiled and handed me a cup. He had made coffee and toast while I was out of it.
“Here. We can talk about anything you like.”
“Where are we?”
“My room.” He moved up to lean beside me on the bed.
“I’m in your bed?” My voice almost shrieked.
“Relax. It was the best place to bring you. You didn’t want to faint in the coffee shop, did you?”
I banged my head back on the wall. “Fainted? God, I can’t believe I fainted. You must think I’m ridiculous.”
“After what you guys have been through, I think fainting is acceptable.” He picked up the plate. “And, you need to eat something.”
I grabbed a slice of toast. “You don’t mind me getting crumbs in your bed?”
“Don’t mind crumbs, just don’t get jam on the pillow.”
I laughed, and instantly felt guilty. He saw my face change and put his arm around my shoulders.
“It’s okay to be happy. Yes, we need to remember her. But, you also need to live. The world never stops turning.”
“But, it just doesn’t feel right. How can I smile after seeing her like that?” I bit hard into the toast, forcing myself to stay calm.
“Remember who she was? She was always happy. Always smiling, going to parties, having fun. Remember her that way, that’s who she was. You can’t be sad knowing how much she enjoyed life.”
“But she’s…”
“She would expect you to enjoy life too. Not dwell. Don’t you think?”
“I suppose. It’s just, I don’t know.”
He leaned into me. “For tonight, let’s just relax. We can have a night of nothing.”
I nodded, gripping my cup with a sigh. He picked up a remote control from his bedside table and clicked on the TV.
The night passed with old movies, coffee and toast. The conversation flitted from one topic to another, never resting on anything for long.
As the sun rose to the sound of the morning birds,
I was sure of two things: I was going to get out of Ash’s bed with a determination to continue life, remembering Karissa for the girl she was. And, a new burning had taken hold and warmed my heart. Without consciously realising, Ash had claimed a piece of me which could never be broken. Although I knew he wasn’t mine, I knew he was, from this very moment, a burning flame within my heart.
* * *
I was unlocking the door when Warwick made me jump.
“Just getting in? Where did you stop last night?” He asked. He stood at the door beside me, waiting for me to finish fumbling with my keys.
I pushed the door. “At Ash’s flat. What about you?”
“The social bar. Didn’t want to come back too soon. Don’t really want to now, but...” He shrugged and threw himself down on the settee.
I shouted to Owen, to Bree, but got no reply. My hands shook as I approached the stairs. I didn’t want to see the bathroom, or her bedroom door, but I had to check on my friends. I gripped the banister and hurled myself up the steps in a clattering rush. I banged on Owen’s door and opened it, then did the same with Bree and Fern’s. All were empty. I stood alone in the hallway, inches from the bathroom door. My hand reached out toward the handle and pushed. One step took me inside.
It looked like nothing had happened. The floor was dry and clear of towels. The air was warm. The shower curtain was neatly tied to the side. It looked spotless.
Owen had done her proud.
I slumped my way downstairs and automatically put the kettle on. I ran my fingers through my hair as I waited for it to boil. I needed a bath, a change of clothes and a decent sleep, but I knew it would be a while before I could lie down in that tub.
I elbowed my way into the living room with two cups, handing one to Warwick as I sat beside him. We sipped our coffee and watched the hands of the clock tick by.
I jumped and sloshed coffee over myself as an urgent knock hammered on the door.
“I’ll get it,” I said, putting my mug down and climbing over the back of the settee.
I pulled the door open and sucked in a breath. It was Llamp. I stood without word gawking at her.
Trials in Walls of Ivy (Triskelion Trilogy Book 1) Page 18