by Sara Dalton
“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; the killer 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. She saw 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 into the 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.
“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.
Chapter
Two
7th April 2016
Morburn Hospital, Sawbridgeworth, United Kingdom
Addison stopped short of a set of double yellow doors across from the lift she just exited. The sign on the wall read, Paediatric Ward. She clenched her fists before pressing the call button next to the sign. What did she have to be nervous about? These were just children and she was a grown woman, a policewoman at that. Her fingers ran the cold metal edges of her police badge as a woman’s voice crackled, “May I help you?”
“Um, yes, Detective Sergeant Addison here to speak with the children brought in earlier.” She looked about the door frame for a camera, not sure if she should hold up any identification.
“Yes, of course. Please step through.”
The doors clicked, and Addison pushed them open. A rush of chilled air shocked her cheeks as if Jack Frost had blown her a kiss. The white tile hall reflected the brilliant fluorescent lights spaced every few feet in the cork drop ceiling. The walls were painted in colorful murals depicting cartoon characters, waving and greeting the occupants of the ward through dialogue bubbles floating above their heads. The murals were interrupted every few feet by numbered solid wooden doors. Addison made a quick peek inside the first open door she came to only to be met by the swollen eyes of a woman who was holding a small child in her arms.
“I’m so sorry, wrong room.” She could feel her face growing flush. She stepped back and that was when she saw the uniformed officers.
“Look who it is, Addy the Detective. Congratulations,” Officer Tony Poole waved Addison over.
“Thanks, Tony, how are the children?” Addison asked trying to peek in to see them. She could see Jake sleeping in his bed by the window. The curtain was partially pulled covering Anna leaving Jake in full view.
“They are quiet, not said a word,” Poole mentioned. “By the way, this is Officer Rebecca Smith. She’s my new partner now as my old one ditched me.” Tony laughed. Addison playfully punched him in the arm and then stepped into the dim hospital room. A green curtain was pulled across, guarding the children inside from the world. The chemical smell of antiseptic filled her nostrils as she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, offering a silent prayer to a God she hoped was listening. Clearing her throat, she pulled back the curtain revealing Hertfordshire’s two newest orphans.
The frail frame of Jake, the younger of the two, was curled in the fetal position in a hospital bed by a large bay window, like a stray dog too tired to run anymore. Anna lifted her chin, looking at Addison who moved around the foot of her bed, taking a seat in a chair between where the siblings rested. Ribbons of dried tears stained Anna’s rosy cheeks. She sniffled and wiped her bandaged arm across her nose.
“Mummy?” Came the meek question from Jake who turned toward Addison.
“It’s not, Jake, try and get some sleep,” Anna answered softly, Jake rolled back over facing the window again.
“Are you the police?” Anna asked Addison.
“Yes.”
“Are you sure? I’ve never met a police lady before.”
“Here, I’ll prove it.” Addison reached down pulling her badge from around her neck and handing it to Anna.
She ran her thumb over the surface of the badge just as Addison had done in the hall.
“Were you at my house?” Anna asked still looking down at the badge.
“Yes”
“Did you help my mum?”
“I’m here to help you now.” Addison’s throat grew dry as pain radiated up her cheeks. She fought back the tears that welled up at the corners of her eyes.
“Mum needed help.”
Swallowing hard Addison looked down at her fingers which were fidgeting with one another. “Your mum was hurt bad,” Addison’s voice cracked, “I’m so sorry baby...”
“Mum?” Anna’s doughy brown eyes grew glassy as new streams spilled over and down her face.
Addison moved, sitting on the edge of Anna’s bed, the young girl crumbling into her, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Do you like watching TV?” Addison asked.
The young girl nodded as she pulled away from Addison’s arms. She sat back in her bed as Addison started to sort out the television for them to watch.
“They have two DVD’s here, you can watch, Finding Nemo or Toy Story?”
“Finding Nemo,” Anna nodded to the one on the right Addison was holding up. She turned and put the DVD into the slot, playing it. She sat back in her seat between the siblings as the film started.
“Do you watch films with your mum?” Addison asked.
“Mum always put a film on before Jake goes to bed.”
“Did she put a film on that night?”
“She put on Despicable me, that’s Jake’s favourite.” Anna smiled as she glanced over to Jakes bed.
There was a short silence as the film finally begun. Addison sat comfortably in her seat as she watched the film with her. She noticed Jake had turned in his bed to see the television.
“What time does your mum normally put you to bed?” Addison asked. Anna shrugged her shoulders.
“I normally can go to bed when I want to, but last night I was really tired. It was about nine.”
“And what about Jake?”
Anna gazed upward as if the answer was scribbled on the ceiling. “About six, I think.”
“Did you both go straight to sleep?”
“No, I was in my bed with Jake; he was having trouble sleeping because of the storm that night,” Anna replied. Her voice was weak and quiet, but Addison could hear her just enough. She started jotting in her notebook what Anna said.
“What happened?” Addison asked. She saw Anna look over to Jake; he shifted slightly on his bed. His bed was next to the window and Anna was located on his left. Anna had asked them to have him next to her.
“The storm scared him, so I comforted him, stroking his hair until he fell asleep. It was what mum did to me when I was little, and it always helped. I had closed my eyes and fell into a light sleep, and then I heard a noise. It woke me up. Jake was still sleeping soundly.” Anna spoke again. As her confidence grew she spoke louder.
“What kind of noise did you hear?” Addison asked. Anna sat there in silence for a moment, trying to remember. She glanced over at her brother again, he had fallen back to sleep.
“I don’t know how to describe it. It sounded something like a chair screeching on the floor.” Anna said trying to think. Addison saw the tears building up in her eyes again. There was another pause as they carried on watching the film.
“Was it just, you, Jake and your mother in the house that night?” Addison asked, changing the subject slightly. Anna nodded.
“Did your mother have any visitors?”
Anna shook her head.
“Did you go downstairs to check out what the noise was?” Addison asked. She remembered what Nora had said about the faded barefoot prints. Anna nodded her head confirming their theory.
“Did Jake wake up at any point?”
Anna shook her head again and watched Nemo start his school for the first time. She smiled when the little pink squid inked.
Addison noticed Anna started to fidget more in her bed, her hand stroking her bandages gently.
“When you got downstairs, what did you see?” Addison asked. She knew Anna was starting to feel uncomfortable. She shuffled in her bed before answering. Addison saw that her eyes kept shifting from her arms to her brother.
“I peeked into the kitchen,” Anna spoke finally. “I saw…” she paused. Jake was fidgeting in his bed as if feeling his sister’s pain.
“What did you see Anna?” Addison asked.
“I saw my mum.” An
na finally admitted.
“What was your mum doing?”
“She was on the counter, there was a knife in her chest and there was blood everywhere.” Anna finally broke. She started crying into her hands. Addison shut her notebook for a moment. She moved from her chair to the side of the bed. She sat down and put her arms around Anna. She shuffled closer to Addison putting her arms around her waist tightly and wept.
Addison, don’t cry. Addison, don’t cry. Be strong and keep it in, even if you know what the young girl is going through just remember to keep it in.
Addison rocked her gently waiting for her to calm down.
“I’m not allowed to speak of him,” Anna muttered.
Addison moved away slightly so she could see Anna’s face. Anna glanced up at her, eyes full of tears.
“What do you mean?” Addison asked. Her heart started to pump a little faster, she realized that this girl may have seen the killer.
“By my blood, I’m not to speak or he will kill Jake,” Anna spoke again. “But I’ve said too much.”
Addison stared into Anna’s eyes, searching for something. She thought the words sounded like something she had heard before. Her palms started to sweat. Her heartbeat quickening.
“Is there anyone you want me to contact, your father?” Addison asked. Anna shook her head. Addison stood up from her chair and headed for the door.
“Mandy Philips she’s out auntie, also dad if you can get in contact with him.” Anna said. Her full attention turned back to the film and Addison knew that it was time to leave them to grieve. Addison wrote the name into her notebook and nodded. The two officers came back into the room followed by an older woman. She had dark red hair pulled into a ponytail. She wore square glasses that were bigger than her eyes sitting on the bridge of her nose, green eyes blinking through them.