Chapter 8: Murderer
There was a police officer in her house. Only she didn't know that. Not before she'd already closed the front door behind.
"...I really don't want to bother you like this Lynn, but you know how people are..." A muffled male voice came from the living room.
Now, when she thought about it, there was in fact a police car standing in the driveway. Ugh. Had she known better, she would've waited outside, but that was impossible, because her corrupted mind just wouldn't let her think straight. While crossing one street after another on her way back home, the girl felt numb, as if someone had emptied her skull. Why am I always so weak and insecure? That's pathetic! Is that really the best I can do? She kept asking herself, disapproving of her own behavior.
"Madeline, you're home! Come here, please." Lynn called.
There was no turning back now. The girl took off her backpack and headed slowly in the right direction. What could the police want with Lynn? Madeline went through the various scenarios in her head in an attempt to remind herself what she should and shouldn't tell if the man asked questions, but there wasn't really anything disreputable about her and her mother's situation now, excluding those late night escapades. If it's only about that, then good. Things used to be much, much worse. She walked in.
"Hi mum, good day sir." She tried to sound calm and well- behaved. Worked out pretty well. The officer nodded.
"What's the matter?" They were sitting at the table since the room was linked with the kitchen to save some space.
"Officer Tacker is here to talk with you, dear. He says maybe you could help with an investigation." She was hiding it very well, but Lynn was definitely worried.
"With me?" Asked Madeline nervously. She was not prepared for this.
"That's right. But there's nothing to worry about, it will only take a while. I want to ask you a couple of questions..." The man's angular face suddenly hardened. Though he wasn't tall beyond average or particularly muscular, his mentality made Arthur Tacker look like a really tough guy. "...about David Harris. I heard you were a close friend of his, and due to what happened throughout the last few days we're trying to find out if anyone's seen anything suspicious."
Madeline bit her lip hesitantly, but then took a seat opposite the officer as she was told to.
"Now, if you wouldn't mind leaving us alone Mrs. Glave." He gave the woman a comforting and yet unarguable look. Lynn didn't want to leave, but understood.
"Of course." Arthur's eyes followed her leaving the room, then returned to the girl.
"We weren't really close, me and David. I mean we were, but that was a while ago and I'm not sure how could I-" She began, but Arthur cut her out with a gesture of his hand.
"You don't need to explain that, not to me anyway. That's not what I'm here for."
"What? But you just said-"
"I had to say something to ease your mother's nerves, that'd be close enough to the truth. I believe I can talk about it freely now that we're alone." Madeline's jaw tensed.
"What is it then?"
The man sighed and fought the urge to run a hand through his short cut hair. He always did that when he was beginning to feel uneasy. Don't be such a wuss, you're a policeman for God's sake! Thought Arthur. He shouldn't be doing this and yet, he did.
"Madeline, was it?" He got a brief nod as a reply. "Listen, this is not an investigation, more of a... friendly advice. We both know what happened to David and his friend." I do for sure, but you don't Mr. Tacker. You really don't. "I don't know how it happened, and I don't care." Exactly. So what's your deal? "The case is; the other two guys, who were with David at that time confirmed to have seen you near the town center a few hours before the incident."
Madeline's chest suddenly felt heavy and her gaze went down. Were they really going to accuse her of the murders? But that's ridiculous! How would she manage to rip someone's head off? With her bare hands?
She sat in silence, playing with the blue material of her skirt.
"I know how it sounds, and I'd never believe a girl like you would even think of doing such things, and that's why I'm sharing this with you."
"Is there any... physical proof it was me?" The girl still didn't look him in the eye. The officer hesitated before answering. This was not quite the reaction he'd expected.
"No. Don't get me wrong, you're not technically a suspect, because as I said, there's no investigation and there won't be, but if this information spreads, people are gonna talk. And sometimes that has more maligning consequences than a trial."
Still, Madeline said nothing. Terrible thoughts were swirling inside her head.
"What were you even doing there? Out? At night?" He wasn't saying this as an interrogator, bur as a genuinely worried person. It seemed like he really wanted to help, but the girl had the strange feeling that nothing could truly help her now.
"Nothing really. Went out for a walk." She lied. Arthur nodded. He said he wasn't going to pry, and he meant it.
"The more reason you should start looking for a good alibi."
"Why do you care, officer?" Just then she decided to look at him, and it was a look of a lost, yet determined child.
"I..." He began, as if he'd forgot that there were things he was not allowed to say. All those little facts and pieces of emotions were expressed in one brief look to the door through which Lynn has left. "...I just care."
The conversation was over, and while officer Tacker got up to leave Madeline didn't stop him. The man would've left just like that if the girl didn't turn to say something just as he was standing at the doorstep.
"Thank you." It was a simple message, but there was just no other way to put it into words. Any kind of showed understanding or support was appreciated deeply by her. Even if in this case it was about to bring no good. Seconds before Arthur went out, his eyes lingered on her neck, where her sweater went down a couple of inches. He saw it. The bruise was fading slowly and didn't look as wretched as before, but she knew he saw it.
Apparently Madeline wasn't the only one to know about Mr. Tacker's thing for her mother. Sandra Tacker knew it from the very beginning. Whether she liked it or not, she was a very observant girl and sometimes noticed things she shouldn't have. And the popularity in school that has given her could hardly be considered as a compensation. For some time now she's been blaming the woman for her parents' separation and the bitterness she felt turned her against Madeline, making Sandra truly hate the girl. By talking behind her back and spreading rumors, more or less truthful, she made sure there was no one who'd stand up for Madeline and succeeded, but when she saw how well she dealt with it, it only caused more suppressed anger towards the girl. So, she's been waiting for an opportunity to release it, and now came just the perfect one. It would be a waste not to use such an affair.
Throughout the next day, it was hard not to notice all the strange, leery glances directed at Madeline in the school corridor. Her alienation was not a new thing, but even Madeline wasn't used to such impudence. It made her feel sick, it made her feel miserable, and she couldn't stand it. She'd rather be lonely her whole life than get through one day more, treated like that. The girl still hoped that there was another reason and it wasn't about the death of those two boys, but everything became clear when she saw her locker from across the hall and the word 'MURDERER' written across it with red paint. She wanted to scream. She wanted to run off and bury herself under the ground. Who? Who did this? But Madeline already knew. Who else if not the daughter of a police officer.
She found her on the second floor, hanging out in a larger group as always, laughing and chatting as if nothing happened. Madeline paid no mind to the wary stares as she jostled through them, approaching Sandra with clenched fists.
"What did I ever do to you?" Asked the girl a bit louder than necessary.
"To me? Nothing." It was impressive how she was still able to keep up the act. Madeline was not to be provoked by the blonde's little smile.
"Why do you hate me so? If you've got a problem, then you should confront me by yourself."
"OK, calm down, Maddie-"
"No! And don't call me that. If I'm a murderer, then I'll tell you who you are." Her tone was powerful, and sounded unfamiliar. She couldn't remind herself when she last spoke to anyone this way. "You'd be nothing without them." The girl gestured at the circle of curious eyes, that's formed around. "You're a coward."
Madeline didn't cry or weep out of self-pity, but simply sat with arms hugging her knees, closed in one of the cabins, eyes dry. It's already been more than half an hour, but she didn't really care about the classes or... anything. At least it was quiet there.
I can't go on like this. There's gotta be a way to make it stop. There's gotta be. And I have to do this. But how?
The ground was cold and the atmosphere heavy. She counted the quiet beats of her heart to calm down, but instead she suddenly felt dizzy and claustrophobic. Standing up unsteadily, she finally left the cabin and walked up to the sink. The cold water on her face felt relieving, but when she looked up to meet her own gaze in the mirror, she was all red and didn't really look too well.
Do I really have to do this alone?
And just as the thought ran through her mind, another face appeared on the glass surface behind her. That damned, gorgeous face.
"Is there anything troubling you, dear?" He teased getting a few steps closer, his green eyes shining with amusement as usual.
"You already know, don't you?" It was hard to name what she was feeling towards him now. Things can get quite complicated, when you have no one to turn to.
"You do really ask a lot of unnecessary questions. Of course, I do." Robert placed one unruly strand of her hair behind her ear, but she didn't turn to face him
"And you only ask them if you already know the answer."
"My precious, little murderer." The man paid no mind to the hurt in her voice and mindlessly caressed her shoulders. "It's okay now, I'm here. I can protect you. I can take care of that Tacker girl. Wouldn't even hesitate to murder the whole town if you wanted me to." It was bizarre how sweet and comforting he could sound, while saying such horrible things. It was also bizarre that the girl didn't oppose at first, and for a brief moment even considered his words. The situation was just so unfair, it almost seemed unreal. To turn the whole school against one person? And bear no consequences? What if she did want him to take care of Sandra? What if... No, no, no.
"No! It's you! It's all because of you!" Madeline shouted in rage and her clenched fist hit against the mirror, breaking it. Pieces of shattered glass had cut her skin like blades before rattling onto the ground. She stood there motionless as if deafened by the sound, not feeling the pain yet. Robert caught her injured hand in the air impetuously dragging her back from the sharp slivers scattered all over. But when he felt the red liquid from her palm on his own, a chill ran through him. He let go of her abruptly and just couldn't stop staring intensively at the blood on and in between his fingers. Its vivid color hypnotized him and made his senses converge. Madeline saw his irises flush bright yellow and that's when she knew she had to run. Staying just a while longer would definitely cost her much more than a couple drops of blood.
She stormed out of the girls' bathroom and into the empty hall, not looking back.
All sweaty and distressed, with eyes wide and one sleeve dappled with red — that's how the librarian saw her when she came up to the counter. She didn't have to say anything, in fact, he's been expecting her.
A/N: Hi everyone! So this is where things start to get real and I have to admit, I had planned a really dark, sad ending, but thanks to a lovely review I got from a Guest, I might actually change it. There is hope ;) Let me know if you like the story so far! xx
