Chapter Five (Part Two)

Calla

***

Leaning my crutches up against the wall, I ignored the sharp pain in my leg and sunk to the ground. Police officers milled about, some with coffee cups in hand, others walking perps to interrogation rooms.

They refused to let me talk to my dad. Claiming he was being booked for the murder of Jerrica Norris, whose body had been found in the woods near our house in the city. Officer Trudent told me that they had found evidence linking my father to the murder.

For the third time in my life, everything had crumbled down. My stepmother's death, my father's incarceration, and now this, my father being booked for the murder of one of my harshest bullies.

Of course, it would make sense to link me or even my dad to the murder, but neither of us would ever hurt a fly!

My cell phone buzzed gently in hand.

"Cal, what's up? Is everything okay?" asked Rowan on the other line.

"No... No... Things are not okay," I responded, my voice quaking.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Hot tears flowed down my cheeks. "Row, they just charged my dad with Jerrica Norris' murder! They're booking him right now. My Aunt Rita is on the way, but they won't let me talk to him or even see him. I don't know what to do."

He inhaled sharply. "Calla, I'm on my way up there!"

"Thanks, Row," I whispered.

As I hung up and let the phone fall from my hand to the ground, I broke down. Tears streamed down my face and dripped on to my t-shirt. Someone must have framed him. There's no way there would be evidence at the scene linking him to the murder. Maybe it was the same person who killed Laurie?

"Calla, honey," My Aunt Rita crouched down and wrapped her arms around me.

"It's terrible," I sobbed. "It's happening all over again."

"It's okay, Sweetheart," she said, stroking my hair. "We'll get through this, I promise."

I shook my head. "When are bad things going to stop happening to our family?"

Aunt Rita helped me to my feet. "Let's get you to a chair. Which officer should I talk to about this mistake?"

Her words should have comforted me, but they felt hollow. I pointed toward Officer Trudent, who just emerged from an interrogation room.

After helping me into a nearby chair with worn cushions and metal legs, Aunt Rita marched toward Officer Trudent, her shoulders rigid and her face tense.

As her voice began to get louder, the police officer ushered her to an office and closed the door behind them.

I closed my eyes and tried to go over everything I remembered about Jerrica.

She was pretty, long blonde hair and aquamarine colored eyes. She was one of the most popular girls at school and also one of my most vicious tormentors. Every time she and her lemmings would strut down the hall, they would all hurl insults at me. The first dozen times, I had broken down and sobbed. After that, I had turned numb to their insults.

Jerrica was mean to lots of people, but I didn't think anyone would actually kill her over of the vitriol she spewed.

Plus, my dad hadn't left the farm house without me. I paused, he had gone to the store a few times, but he had never been gone for more than an hour and it would have taken at least that long to get back to town. There's no way he could have done it. No way.

I ran my hands through my hair and closed my fists.

Shivers erupted over my arms as I came to a sickening conclusion, if the police didn't figure out who really killed my stepmom or Jerrica, the real murderer would never stop trying to ruin our lives. 

"CAL!"

I spun around, my eyes landing on Rowan at the other side of the room.

He raced toward me, ignoring the wary looks of nearby officers.

Scooping me up from the chair, he wrapped his arms around me and squeezed tightly.

"I'm so sorry, Cal," he whispered.

My knees gave out, but Rowan continued to hold me.

"It's going to be okay, I promise," he said.

"What am I going to do?" I cried. "He can't go through this again. He won't make it. The last time almost killed him. I have to help him, but I don't know how."

"We'll figure it out together, okay?" Rowan said as he helped me back to the chair. His fingers wound in mine. "Calla, I'm not leaving your side until your dad comes home, okay?"

A fresh wave of tears flowed down my face. "Thanks, Row. I don't know what I would do without you."

He reached down and wiped the tears off my cheeks. "You're my best friend, Cal. I'd do anything for you."  

*******

Cliffhangers,

Uh oh! Things are not looking too good for Calla's father. Do you think he did it? Or do you think he was set up? 

Leave me a comment with your thoughts below! 

Hearts and Daggers,

Kelly Anne Blount xoxo

P.S. Votes are massively appreciated!