The crime scene around the house was cordoned off and emergency vehicles lined up the street with their light flashing, paramedics wheeled out a gurney out of the house with my dad strapped to the bed, I couldn't really care what kind of condition I had left him in I just hoped he lived so he could stand trail for murder charges

A police officer came up to me with his colleague right behind him, getting up from the ground I dusted the cut grass off my jeans, knowing they would want to talk to me again about what happened when I told them to just look inside

'Do you live here son?' a male officer asked

'Yeah I do' I replied

'Would you mind coming down to the station and answering a few questions there what's happened'

'Can't we just do it here? I'm sure it wouldn't take long'

'Given what has just happened you would prefer the privacy and a cup of tea as well'

I was shown to the squad car and placed into the back seat of the vehicle, crowds of my neighbours had come out of their houses to see what was going on. Looking back to the house a coupe of the paramedics rolled out two more gurneys with blankets placed over the bodies, pushing them over to the ambulances to take my mother and brother to the morgue….

During the car journey to the police station my mind was elsewhere and didn't want to fully comprehend what had happened at the house. All I could think about was the front door, if only I had gone back and shut it then surely this morning would have turned out different right?

I was booked into the station and moved along to the interview room, the place was exactly like you'd see on the television and I knew someone might be standing behind the two sided mirror waiting for me to crack in here and show my guilt

The two officers that brought me to the station finally came back into the room, placing a cup of tea in front of me; taking the warm beverage in my hands I took a sip of the sugary tea. The officers eyed each other and the junior of the pair gave his senior the nod to start commencing the interview

'I know you gave us a verbal statement back at your home but this is just for formality and a tape interview might help with a conviction if charges are pressed'

'I'm more than happy to help officers'

'Well I'm officer O'Reilly and this is my partner, officer Glenn' he introduced. 'Can you tell us where you were this morning and what you found upon your arrival home'

'I went for a run this morning and left my mom and brother all alone in the house, I must have been gone an hour and when I came back the front door was slightly open. Something was just off when I entered and then I found my brother first and then my mom died in the house'

'What was your father doing at the house before we found him in the living room unconscious'

'I don't know what he was doing there as my mom had kicked him out of the family house, they had been separated for a couple of weeks now'

'Did you or your brother have an contact with him whilst he was gone from the family house'

'We stopped contact with him as soon as mom had done and started again as a family of three'

'And did you have any idea if they might have talked and thought about a possible reconciliation'

'There was no chance of that happening when we burnt all of dad's belonging that he left behind at the house'

'I see' he replied

The two officers talked amongst themselves again in a quiet whisper, they had definitely found something and they were keeping it from me. Hopefully they had found some incriminating evidence against my father to add further years to his already murder charges when they finally arrest him

'Can you tell us how your dad ended up unconscious in the living room'

'We got into a fight after he told me he'd killed my brother and mother. I was the final piece of his jigsaw that he needed to kill'

'Just before we started this interview we had some news from the hospital regarding your father's health'

'He's not escaped has he?' I giggled nervously, unable to control the noise coming out of my mouth

'Your dad has had a bump to the head and there's been a bleed on the brain. They haven't been able to stop it, he died ten minutes ago'

'No that can't be. Surely they are mistaken'

'I wish it was Mason but the facts are that he is died and no charges can be pressed against him now'

'If only I hadn't beaten him to a pulp and left him for dead he would be in a cell right now as we speak'

'Is that an admission of guilt that I detect in your voice'

'Of course not officer O'Reilly' I proclaimed. 'Do you think I'm that stupid to kill him and then cry about my guilt in an interview room in front of two police officers'

'Well people have done so before and you wouldn't be the first Mason to do so now'

'Well to put your mind at rest I had no intention of killing my dad and everything I did was in self defence'

'What kind of relationship did you have with your dad if you don't mind me asking' Officer Glenn asked

'It's been a rocky one for the last couple of years and truth be told if either of us had the chance to kill the other we'd have taken it'

'Is there anyone else that can back up that allegation'

'Go and ask my principal or even better yet there's cctv footage when he decided to attack me first in the school parking lot'

'We can check the tapes but as you know there's no audio, what you tell us could be completely out of context why a fight had started in the first place'

'I don't believe this' I exclaimed furiously. 'I literally don't have any way of proving to you what my dad was like, If my mom was still alive she would tell you what kind of lives we were living and how she feared for her own'

'Anything else you would like to add to your statement?'

'The only thing I feel guilty of is not being at home when my dad came around to kill my family, I could have prevent this terrible day from happening in the first place'

'I really don't know how to break this to you Mason but we may not be able to place your father under any charges but we can place you under murder charges against him'

'That's outrageous you can't just do that'

'There is overwhelming evidence that you killed him but the manner that it was committed was in self defence so you won't' be on murders charges but manslaughter' Officer O'Reilly explained

'I'm sorry but who's decided to press charges when he's died and cannot do so himself'

'You phone the police for help and that was the situation we found at the house, we've got no choice but to pursue that matter further'

'But I'm innocent I tell you'

'Tell that to a jury'

The senior officer motioned for his junior to place me in handcuffs and make the formal arrest for the murder of my father. I was hauled up from my seat and escorted to a holding cell, being pushed into the small confined space I watched as the cell door was closed and locked…..

Jumping up right in my bed I saw the time on my alarm clock just seconds before it was about to go off, flicking the off switch I laid back down in my bed and slapped a hand over my forehead. The whole police interview was just a bad dream I had last night and just my imagination going into overdrive that I said something to the officers to take their focus away from my dad

After the last couples of weeks the prosecution team were ready to start the trail against my dad for murder. Aunt Liv drove up from California to stay the night at my grandma's place so she could be here for the trail, a familiar face in the stands would do me the world of good knowing I wasn't on my own in this

Without a moment's delay I decided to start the day instead of trying to fall back asleep with these recurring nightmares while the house was still quiet, I hit the showers to freshen up and let the warm water take my mind off the case...

The next few hours were just a blur and I just followed closely behind Aunt Liv to the courthouse. We were shown to our courtroom by the prosecution team that we met outside the building and they filled us in on what would most likely happen today. Everyone was sworn into the room and the last people to take their places was the defence team

The judge addressed the room before motioning to one of the security team to let the defendant into the courtroom, my dad was clean shaven and dressed smartly into a suit instead of an orange jumpsuit provided by the police holding jail. He was allowed to sit next to his defence team to discuss how the trail would go

In the courtroom every little detail was put forward to the jury about the relationships between the four members of my family, the defence and prosecution scrutinised my dad first on the stand before bringing in his new girlfriend. The woman took the stand and testified a whole different character of my dad that the jury seemed to buy it, an honest man wanting amicable divorce from a violent woman

Casting a glance back to my aunt we couldn't believe what we were hearing, the lies that were spilling out of this woman and my dad's mouth. The trail broke for a quick recess and then it was my turn on the stand

During the break I consulted with the prosecution team and they told me what kind of questions I would face from them and not to fall into the trap of the defense and get worked up on the stand. Once everyone was pilled back into the room I took the stand and came face to face with the defence team first

'Can you tell me what your relationship with your father is like Mason' The woman asked

'A troubled one is the easiest of saying it'

'And have you ever been violent to your father before?'

'No I haven't'

'But your father has been violent and threatening to you correct'

'Multiple times in my life. I'm sure if you looked really hard you would find footage of it at school property'

'Can you explain to the jury to why you had beaten your father when you returned home from your morning run that fateful day'

'I found him at my family home when he had moved out weeks ago, he confessed to me he killed my mother and brother'

'So you snapped and beaten him to a pulp'

'Only that one time at the house and nothing more' I informed the jury

'When looking into your arrest record, you have been charged with assault numerous times on several different people. Your father a couple of time on the arrest sheet'

'Charges were never pressed' I countered

'But you have just told the jury you have never assaulted you father, why should they believe you when you said he confessed to killing your mom and brother to you'

Looking over the shoulder of the lawyer and behind at my dad, he just smiled wickedly and gave a quick wink back at me. Feeling enraged I wanted to jump out of the box and attack him again, looking down at my hands they were clenching into fist as I tried to keep a lid on things

'Because it's the truth' I admitted

'With numerous deceptions you have told on the stand, who's not to say you didn't kill your mother and brother before your morning run' she proclaimed, walking back and forth in the open space. 'No further questions your honour'

The prosecution team would have a hard time trying to convince the jury what the defence had argued was a bunch of lies. I was struggling to come up with more than one word answer to the prosecution team's questions. I could feel the sympathetic gaze from my Aunt Liv as it was getting messy on the stand…..

The jury was given all the evidence put before them to make a decision, all twelve of them were sent away to go and deliberate a verdict on my father for murder

The next twenty four hours were a long wait as I just sat at home watching movies with my grandma and Aunt Liv. I was watching the movie but never really focused on them, my mind were elsewhere thinking what the jury were deliberating in that small room,

The land line in the living room rang and my aunt picked it up quickly, her face dropped whoever was on the other end of the line. she placed the phone back down on the hook and turned to me

'That was the prosecution team, the jury has come back with a decision Mason. Court will be back in session tomorrow' she informed me

If a day had all it taken to come to a decision then I could wait a couple of more hours before being summoned back to the courtroom. I don't think I will be sleeping much tonight

With only a couple of hours sleep here and there, I couldn't wait to get back in that courtroom again and look my dad in the eyes when the verdict was read out aloud. Walking in the courtroom hand in hand with my aunt we sat behind the prosecution team

Once the court was filled lastly the judge entered the room, Judge Bates banged the gavel on the mat and addressed the room on what the procedures will be in his court. The door was open and out stepped my dad with security right behind him and took his seat next to the defence team.

'Has the jury come to a decide yet' Judge Bates enquired

A woman from the selected jurors stood up as their spokesperson and nodded her head. 'We have your honour'

'On the indictment how do you find Mr James Baker on the charges of murder iin the first degree'

'Guilty on the first charge against Mrs Natalie Baker'

'And on the secord indictment of first degree against Teddy Baker'

'Guilty as well your honour'

I clenched my aunt's hand tightly as the whole family cheered in celebration of the verdict, reaching over the banister I shook the hands of the prosecution team at all their hard work. I cast my gaze to the defence team and couldn't see my dad anywhere, the next few moments where the scariest in my whole life

Dad had moved past the defence team and jumped over the banister, he was marching over to me with a knife in his hands that he pulled out of somewhere in his suit, he choked my neck in one hand and held the knife up high to stab next. The room ascended into chaos as Aunt Liv tried to hold his arm back from attacking me, security guards rushed over with tasers in their hands and fired quickly at him

Taking control of his arm I grabbed the knife from his grasp and threw it to the floor and kicked it away from us, taser bullets hit him in the back and volts rushed through the cords and disabled him to the ground, it wasn't long before he was placed in cuffs and taken to his seat

Judge Bates banged his gavel a couple of times to bring calm and control back into the room, everyone retook their seats and waited for what the judge might order upon my dad. He didn't look to pleased with the disruption and wanted to add further charges to the indictment

'Mr Baker I will not tolerate violence or weapons in my courtroom to be used. I don't know how you managed to smuggle a knife in here but I will be sure to scrutinise the security service on how it could have happened' Judge Bates reprimanded. 'You're clearly a danger to society and left me with little choice with your sentencing'

'Your honour' the defence barrister interjected

'You are not permitted to speak so please sit back down' he ordered. 'Where is Mason Baker?'

'Over here your honour' I replied, raising up my hand

'If you decided you want to press charges of attempted murder then the court will gladly give you the video evidence to put forward to the police'

'Thank you your honour'

'And Mr James Baker, can you please stand up for me from your seat'

Dad obligated his order and stared up at the judge ahead of him. 'You have left me with little choice regarding your sentencing and what you have also done in my courtroom. I hereby sentence you to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole'

The judge motioned over to the guards to take him away from the court at once, probably being escorted to a holding cell in the building before being transported to permanent prison cell

'It's finally over' I whispered quickly to myself

Looking back at my dad he was escorted quickly out of the room, he kept his head down and didn't bother looking up at anybody. Turning to the side of my aunt I embraced her tightly and felt her arms wrap around me, I buried the side of my face in the crook of her neck and tasted the tears that rolled down my checks, he could never hurt another soul again…..

It had been over two weeks since the court hearing and I'd been altered that dad had been moved to a permanent facility in Nevada. Deciding it was time to finally see him face to face again in a much more safer environment. After being cleared of any weapons by the guards I saw shown to a visitor room and took my seat in a small booth

The alarm buzzed above a door and prisoners were allowed into the room to meet their closest relatives, dad walked over to my booth and sat in the small chair in front of me. We both picked up the phone off the hook at the same time and held it to our ear

'Well what do I owe the pleasure to son?' he greeted

'I just wanted to see how you are settling into your new home'

'I'm settling in just fine I got a roof over my head, a comfy bed and a tv in my cell, what more could I ask for'

'Freedom for a start I can go anywhere and do anything I want without being back in my cell by sun down if I'm a good boy' I exclaimed. 'I guess in a way this place is perfect for a monster like you'

'You can keep calling me a monster all you like Mason but have you looked in the mirror recently'

'What'

'We're not so different you and I' Dad sighed contently. 'You'll never let me forget what I've done to my family but have you forgotten what you done to Jacob Johnstone'

'That was a long time ago I'm not the same….'

'Always excuses with you Mason but you could never take responsibility for your action either kid'

I balled up my hands into fist and raised them up in the air before slamming them down in front of me, all conversations in the room halted and seeking gazes searched where the loud boom came from, I wanted nothing more than to leap through the thick glass panel and kill my own father for bring up his name

'Touch a nerve did I?'

'Now look I paid for what I had done to Jacob and took the consequences that came with it'

'A slap on the wrist and a firm telling off to never do that again. Hardly paying your dues son'

'Whatever I took some responsibility and now it's time that you did so as well' I replied. 'I just came here to say to you I disown you as a father'

'Took you long enough to grow a pair of balls to finally say something to my face' dad admitted. 'I see that you're still keeping up with your boxing training'

'Yeah why not I can see myself making a career out of the sport'

'You can hit that punch bag as hard as you like Mason in anger but you would have never been able to save your mother and Teddy from me' he laughed, slouching back in his chair

'From a monster like you I wish you were dead instead of them' I snapped back angrily. 'You're no father of mine; I'm too ashamed to admit to myself I even came from you'

'We'll always be family Mason no matter what. You won't be able to let me go no matter how far away you run, Teddy and your mother will always be my family'

'They are no family of yours anymore just like neither am I murderer. I hope you like your new home for years to come father'

I got up from my chair and walked away from that cruel man I called dad, I didn't even give him the satisfaction of even glancing back at him like I cared even an ounce at all about him….

It was late afternoon by the time I reached my grandma's house and everything was quite in the neighbourhood, there were still the odd glances and curtain twitches from the neighbours ever since I came to stay here. Entering through the front door I found my grandma and Aunt Liv in the living room watching the tv together

Deciding to join them in the living room I shredded my jacket off my body and lay down next to my aunt, she locked her eyes with her mom before both of them turned to me instead of watching the tv again

'What's up' I enquired

'The coroner gave something to the police and they handed it back to us today whilst you were out'

Grandma unrolled a clear evidence bag and handed it over to me, it was the personal jewellery that Teddy and mom wore the day they were taken from me. There was a couple of rings in the bag and a necklace my mom wore all the time that I loved

'I shouldn't have theses' I whimpered, feeling a lump in my throat

'You're the next of kin, they belong to you'

'Thanks grandma'

Placing the jewellery back inside of the plastic bag I would hold onto theses forever and keep the memory of them alive

'Um grandma I've been doing some thinking lately and I don't want to stay here in Nevada anymore'

'Where are you going to go Mason' she asked

'I was hoping I could move in with you Aunt Liv in California'

'I don't see why not babe but I need some time first to get everything sorted before you come over'

'Take as long as you need I don't mind waiting and living here still everything is sorted'

'If this is what you really want I'll phone your uncle later and arrange the plans for it babe' she proclaimed. 'After all I made a promise to my sister that I would protect you no matter what'

Looking over to my aunt I felt the warmth of her arms pulling me closer to her, leaning into her touch. I stayed by her side for the rest of the evening, thinking about the new life I could have for myself with her and my extended family in Crestmont….

Present Day

Finally finishing off the hidden story of my life in Nevada I laid back in the bed with the weight of my shoulders lifted, Jessica was gobsmacked by what I had revealed to her as she laid on her side of her body, she had so many questions that were rattling through her mind and wanted to ask but didn't know where to start first.

'How have you not had a mental breakdown over what's happened to you babe' she proclaimed

'I try not to think about everything that I had done but remember only the positives you know, like mom and Teddy'

'From what you have told me about the courtroom, it doesn't seems that bad at all now'

'Not every courtroom is the same Jess but I will be there for you and Hannah everyday that you have to go in or be on the stand'

'I think that would help us a lot out knowing someone that's been through the justice system is there to guide us through it and came out the other just fine'

'It won't be a straightforward conclusion like it was with my dad and Bryce will put out all the stops to be acquitted'

'I know he will but I trust Mrs Jensen has put together a strong case' she replied. 'Let's just forget about it for now and go back to sleep'

I nodded my head and got comfortable back in the bed, clearing my mind from the awful nightmares and dreams. Jessica shifted in the bed and pushed me to turn over onto my side, she curled up right behind me and wrapped her arm tightly around my waist, feeling the love and comfort from her I wouldn't have a bad dream again…..