Chapter 1
Nightmares„Jane?" Maura had come up to me and laid a hand on my shoulder. I stood in the room of Kate, my little cousin, who has disappeared for almost two months now. Kate is a young, intelligent and creative person who probably were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
„On such days, I hate my job!" I sighed. We hadn't been able to find Kate's kidnapper so far. For months, my team and I had been busy with the case about my missing cousin but nothing. No trace of her or her kidnapper. I hadn't slept properly for weeks. Either I worked through the files and evidence without interruption or if I did get some sleep, I was plagued with nightmares. I was never so close to a case, which was understandable. It swallowed me inwardly that this son of a..., which has kidnapped Kate, hadn't left a significant proof.
„Come on, it's getting late." Maura said affectionately and gently pulled my jacket. I hadn't noticed how long we had been here. It were hours.
„Thank you." I smiled gratefully at my best friend. Not everyone would have stayed with me for so long without saying a single word. In moments like this, I was really glad to have Maura by my side. She understood how I felt and respected my behaviour, even if she didn't always agree with it. We went to the car and I let myself sink on the passenger seat. I felt the tiredness in me rise every second and the stress of the last few weeks were noticeable.
„I'm going to take you home, Jane. Just because I want to make sure you're sleeping tonight!"
Her sentence didn't tolerate any repugnance. Normally I would have rolled my eyes and made a derogatory remark, but I was too exhausted.
In her chic town house, I first dragged myself under the shower. The hot water on my skin and the scent of Maura's expensive shower gel made me quiet for a moment.
„Jane, is everything alright?" I shrugged, as I heard the knocking on the bathroom door.
„Y-yes." I replied irritably and fished for my watch next to the sink. That was why Maura had worried:
I had been under the shower for an hour. It hadn't occured to me so long. It was well to forget for a while.
Quickly I slipped into the shirt and the sweatpants that Maura had given me and made a trip to the kitchen.
„In the guest room, the bed is freshly made and this is chamomile tea, it will do you good." Said Maura, with a cup of hot tea in her hand.
„Thank you, I think I'll go to bed right now. Good night, Maura." I smiled.
„Good night, Jane. If you need anything, you can wake me up. Try to sleep. I know the case is very important to you, but your body need to rest!" I just nodded and went towards the guest room.
I just stared at the ceiling for minutes. So many thoughts circled in my head. Why should Kate have to be a victim, why she had to run with her dog on exactly the same day. She was creative, loving, helpful, intelligent… If I hadn't known it by myself, I almost believed that I could turn pages in Maura's CV:
Above-averange grades, dedication to social projects and not much contact with other classmates or people. That was the reason for my nightmares. Again and again I experienced only one scenario in my dream:
Slowly I walk along a forest path. At the end is a hut with a door that opens by herself. The hut is devastated. On the bed lies a lifeless and cold body. I stepped closer and turned the body aside. I shrieked. It was Maura. Again this dream..
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Sorry for my english. I usually don't write in that language! I hope you liked my story and had fun to read it! :)