Back again! Not that long since an update!
Here we go chapter 14…
Can anyone tell me if they are even reading this? Haven't had much response recently…
Chapter 14.
Zoe.
I could not move. I felt sick inside and like the world had just fallen down around me.
"Is she dead?" I asked DCI Harris, nervously. I didn't want to know the answer but I needed to know it. I didn't want my little sister to be gone forever. I didn't want Jess to go back to her dad and grow up without her mother. I know that every girl needs a mother.
"I would like to discuss this properly at the station. I can send you a car and it will be with you in five minutes." He replied carefully, think about his words.
"Ok." I replied in what was barely a whisper. The only way to find out if Lou was alive or not was to go to that station and be told.
"I'll see you soon Miss Hanna." DCI Harris said before hanging up.
I stayed frozen for a few minutes allowing myself to get composed before I slowly moved back into the bedroom and got dressed into a black pencil skirt and crisp white shirt. Grabbing a little blue bag I placed my purse and phone into it then I found some blue high heels and coat that I could wear before I crept over to Ash and nudged him slightly in attempt to wake him up.
"Ash." I tried. "Ash!"
No response.
"Oh for goodness sake!" I cried in despair as I heard the police car pull up outside. I hit him on the shoulder and he woke with a start.
"Ahhhh. What time is it? Do I need to go to work? Wh…" he started.
"Look its fine. I just got a call to tell me Lou has been involved in a car crash. I need to head to the police station. If I'm not back by the time Jess gets up can you look after her?" I asked trying to remain calm, even though inside I was feeling sick.
"Sure. Is she ok?" he asked sitting up.
"I don't know." I replied before I sat on the bed and the tears came flooding to my eyes. I couldn't hold them back any longer. Ash placed his arm around me comfortingly.
"It'll all work out. I promise." He said as the car outside beeped its horn.
"I need to go. I might be late in for work. Don't tell Jess where I am, make something up. See you later," I said standing up kissing him lightly on the forehead.
"Ok." He replied simply.
I turned around and walked towards the door before turning back and waving to him. I went down the stairs to Jess' room and looked in at her sleeping peacefully, not aware that her mum had probably just died.
I shut her door slowly so she didn't wake before going down more stairs and exiting the house.
I saw the police car outside and walked towards it slowly, I was nervous and didn't want to find out if I was now an only child or not. The thought filled me with dread. I would be and only child and Jess would no longer see me.
I walked to the car and was greeted by a friendly looking police officer who introduced himself as DS George Wilkinson. He then introduced me to his companion DS Freya Davies. I got into the car and we drove to Holby Police station, which is about 2 miles away from my house.
When we arrived Charlie took me, to the reception where I was told to go and wait outside DCI Harris' office. Freya joined us again and took me there.
I was left outside an office that reminded me of my school days. Sitting outside the head teachers' office for smoking behind the bicycle shed or drawing on tables if I got bored in lessons. I was a well-known troublemaker at school. Lou was the opposite and she was always working hard and never in trouble. Just this thought of Lou bought the tears back to my eyes and I sat there with my head in my hands.
"Miss Hanna?" said a voice from next to me. It was the same voice as the one on the phone.
I looked up and saw a man standing there; I presumed it was DCI Harris. He was a tall man with black greying hair, he wore thin glasses which sat on the tip of his nose. He was in a smart grey suit but his face was tired looking and withdrawn. He wasn't the man he used to be. He had a sly thin mouth, which made him slightly daunting but his eyes looked trusting.
"Yes," I said wiping my eyes.
"Would you like to come in?" he said pointing behind him to his office.
I nodded and entered the room. I was a white room with a black desk; which held a computer, notebooks, pens and so on. Behind the desk was a black leather chair similar to the two that sat in front of the desk. The walls were bare and the floor was carpeted in white. One of the chairs facing the desk was already occupied by a woman with a sympathetic look on her face. I sat on the other chair and DCI Harris sat behind the desk.
"Miss Hanna, this is Julienne. She is your support officer." DCI Harris said and the woman smiled.
I just nodded at her. I wasn't in the mood for small talk.
"Now as I said on the phone your sister Louisa was involved in a car crash earlier this evening. I am sorry to tell you that she has unfortunately died."
As he said the last few words Julienne placed her hand on my shoulder and tried to offer some comfort. My world just stopped then and there. I broke down into tears. Sobbing into my hands.
After a few minutes I composed myself.
"How did the crash occur?" I whispered, barely audibly.
"Your sister was driving on the main road for Holby and a car coming the other way much to fast swerved hitting her car and causing her to spin off into a tree." DCI Harris explained.
"Instant." I muttered under my breath. DCI Harris still heard.
"Sorry but what was that? Did you say 'instant'?" he asked softly.
"Yeah." I replied. "I'm a doctor. A car hitting another car at speed causing the other car to hit a tree would cause instant death for the driver who would most likely go through the windscreen and be killed by the impact of their head on the tree."
He looked shocked. The paramedics at the scene had obviously not worked that out.
"Great. I really trust the doctors in Holby then." I said sarcastically.
"Well…" DCI Harris said.
"What will happen to Jess?" I asked nervously, dreading the answer.
"Jess?" he questioned, "Who's Jess?"
"Lous daughter." I replied unsure of why he didn't know already.
"Oh right, sorry I forgot about her. Not my department. You'll have to get onto child protection. Where is she now?" he said remembering immediately.
"She's been staying with me lots recently. Lou has been working lots recently so me and my partner have been taking care of her. She's back at mine." I explained.
"Right well, do you want to tell her or do you want one of our officers to?" he asked shuffling some papers round on his desk.
"I'll tell her thanks." I answered. "What happens now?"
"Well when you're ready you need to identify the body or we can get your mother or father to do that." He said looking at me over his glasses.
"I'll do that." I said not wishing my mother or father to have to look at their daughters' dead body.
"I must say that she received quite a hit and had a nasty cut on her forehead. Her things are in the morgue. Julienne will escort you there now if you want." He informed me.
"Please." I said gathering my bag and coat up.
He nodded and gave me a sympathetic smile. Standing he offered me his hand. As I took hold of it Julienne stood up to lead me to the morgue.
Leaving the office the realization of what had happened hit me and I broke down into tears again. Julienne placed her arm around me and attempted to support me.
After a moment I regained my composure and muttered a sorry to Julienne before she lead me to the elevator to take me to see Lou.
As we exited the lift the cold air from the basement morgue hit me like a wall.
Julienne took my hand and lead me towards a door.
"It will be all right Miss Hanna. Everything works out ok in the end." She said before opening a door for me
From outside I could see a table covered in a white sheet, a figure could be made out from beneath. Two figures stood against the wall waiting for me to enter so they could pull back the sheet for me to identify the body of my sister.
I slowly gathered the courage to enter the room as I did the two figures made their way to the side of the table and took hold of the sheet covering Lou.
I gave them a nod and they each took hold of the sheet before they pulled back the sheet to reveal Lou. Her face was pale and blank. As DCI Harris had said, she had a gash on her forehead which would never heal. It saddened me to see her like this.
"Yes, its her." I whispered not believing the sight I saw before me. Tears filled my eyes and I took hold of her hand, stroking it like I did when she was a baby.
I stayed there for a few minutes just saying how much I would try to look after Jess and how she would always know her mother.
I finally said goodbye and turned to leave the room. As I got to the door and the sheet was being pulled over her once again I turned and said,
"Bye bye sis. I'll miss you."
Please review. I have a few more chapters written but ideas are greatly welcomed.