The things we do for family
By Heather Lewis
There was a knock at the door. Calleigh woke from dozing on the settee and sat up confused. The knock came again, more urgent this time. She got up and looked for her slippers. The person knocked continuously.
'OK! I'm coming for God sake!' she said annoyed.
Giving up the search, she went to the front door and opened it. A man pushed his way past her.
'Hey!' she said angrily. 'What the hell do you think you're doing?'
The man told her to shut the door and waited for it to close before turning the light on. Turning around, she suddenly recognised him.
'Matt?' she asked, staring at his cut face and ripped shirt. He nodded and she took him into the loung. 'What are you doing here?'
He sat down in an armchair and rested his head back. Calleigh sat opposite him and waited for his answer. Somehow she didn't think she was going to like what he had to say. He breathed deeply before speaking.
'They are after me Cal. I can't go back, you have to help me. You have to' He spoke quietly and distressed. 'Can I stay with you Cal?' he asked.
Calleigh was silent. She loved Matt but she couldn't help him. She was a stickler for the rules and never liked breaking them. She opened her mouth to refuse but he spoke first.
'I know you never like doing anything that's wrong but this is different. They are wrong, not me. I can't go back they'll put m in jail Cal. I didn't do it I promise you. I never touched her.' He looked at her and his deep blue eyes were full of pity. 'Please. Please Cal'
She sighed, nodded and stood up. Glancing at the clock, she realised it was after midnight.
'You can sleep in the spare room. I'll give you some blankets and I'll make the bed up properly tomorrow. I'm too tired tonight.' She locked the front door and made her way up the stairs. She took two pillows and a blanket out of the airing cupboard on the landing and drooped them on the bed in the spare room. She said goodnight and went into her room shuting the door.
Nothing untoward happened for a couple of days. Matt refused to go in the lounge without the curtains shut, so he spent most of his time in the kitchen at the back of the house. He was grateful for everything and, as a thank you, cooked, cleaned and did various other jobs for her. Calleigh thought he was probably bored stiff.
It wasn't until a week later that they came. It was six am and they were watching some early norning T.V. The knock at the door sent Matt flying up the stairs. Nervously Calleigh answered.
'Stettler. What do you wan't?'
'Calleigh Duquesne, we have reason to believe you are keeping your brother Mathew Duquesne in this house.'
'Well you're wrong,' Calleigh said. 'There's just me here.'
'I'm not in the mood to play Calleigh. You know harbouring a fugitive is an offence.'
'Yes I do know that. I am a cop. But that doesn't even matter 'cause he isn't here, and I haven't seen him since I moved out of 216 Iowa Ave about twenty years ago. So you and your little friends can get lost.' Calleigh went to close the door when Stettler shoved his foot between it and the door frame.
'You won't mind us taking a look then will you' he said pushing through and passing her a warrant.