Jack felt his pulse beating furiously through his body as he pulled up near Carols, parking behind a cop car containing howling dogs. Stepping out of the car into the darkness Jack felt his energy diminish as his insides twisted and twirled, he felt weak. Three police cars accompanied the van holding the dogs, one still had its lights flashing blue patterns against the wall. The lights in the house were on and the curtains open, people stood outside there homes staring at the commotion, hoping for something to spice up the dull drill of everyday life.
Shaking his head Jack took deep breaths as he crossed over the neatly trimmed lawn ignoring the paved footpath Carol insisted he used. He felt as though he was walking through water, not able to move fast enough, time seemed to slow down.
What was wrong? What had happened? Was somebody hurt? Jack let the image of Mark filter into his head as he flung the front door open and stormed into the house, leaving it ajar as it slammed against the wall and swung back on itself. His rage boiled beneath the surface awaiting the opportunity to erupt, but he couldn't. Not yet. Not until he knew what had happened, not until his family were safe.
Running through the hallway checking the living room on the way he called out to Carol. A young police officer trudged into the room Jack was searching, a notebook in hand, and looked at Jack with curiosity. Jack saved him the time almost throwing his badge at the kid before pushing past him back into the hallway as he moved on into the house, he wasn't going to stop until he found them both.
The kitchen was bustling with activity, Carol in the centre of it, sat at the kitchen table with puffy eyes, a cup of coffee sat besides her untouched.
"Carol?" he called out gently, feeling his heart beat slow down as he realised she was okay, the relief struggling to overcome the pain he felt at seeing her so clearly upset and emotional.
As she looked up at him the two remaining cops left her, one answering a radio call, the other giving them privacy as he too, jotted notes down into his notebook.
"Where's Casey?" h asked, his voice calm but strained, now worried something had happened to her.
"She's fine Jack," Carol whispered, her voice quiet as she tried to hold back the sobs.
"What happened," he asked, taking another step over like a scared child.
She shook her head, not able to form words.
Jack unclenched his fists as he moved over and pulled a wooden chair out ad sat down next to her, watching her with caution and pain mingled together.
"Talk to me," he whispered, resting a hand on her arm gently.
Carol looked up at him, almost flinching at his touch, before breaking down again as tearful cries and sobs shook her body. She fell into his arm and clung onto him tightly, no longer ashamed. The police men had seen her in a worse state, completely devastated and vulnerable - this was her brother, he would protect her.
The young cop wandered back in, saw the two and took an uncertain step back. Jack nodded at the kid, motioning for him to leave. The kid closed the door to the kitchen with him, and Jack smiled at his sincerity. Once alone again he closed his eyes as he held Carol, his teeth grinding against each other as the emotions roared through him. Seeing his sister in such a state scared him more than it worried him, as he started to gently rocked her back and forth he ignored the questions running through his mind and allowed a single silent tear to slide down his face before dissolving on his collar. There was nothing else he could do, he felt as helpless as Carol.