Chapter 4

The police had left.

"Go on then if you want to speak to me," said Mariah.

"Mariah, I'm glad you did. I've wanted to speak to you for ages, last time I saw you, you were a baby."

Mariah cut him off.

"So then, dad, why this long to speak to me, feeling guilty are you."

"Oh don't be like that, its quite complicated. Its your mother, Katie, she took you away from me when you were a baby, I've been trying for years to track you down, and when I did I was so happy."

Mariah still wasn't buying it, but started to come around.

"So why follow me like you did, If you want to speak to me why not just come up to me, or where I live."

"Its not that easy, your mother wouldn't have allowed it, she was always difficult you know. Listen, I'm sorry about following you around like that, it was wrong of me to, and I'd like to keep in touch with you, please."

Mariah thought for a bit. "Ok then, just don't tell mum."

"As you insist, now how about getting that ankle of yours sorted."

Grayson took Mariah to the hospital to get her ankle sorted. They said it wasn't serious, and Katie didn't have to know about it. Grayson gave the hospital his address and contact number, then he dropped Mariah home, well a few streets away.

"Well thanks for the lift."

"No problem, look why don't we meet up tomorrow, we can talk more then."

"Ok then, after school, I can meet you in that new coffee shop that's opened in Leeds, bye."

Mariah got out and hurried home, not even thinking about telling mum what happened.

"Hey mum."

"Mariah, you alright?"

"I'm fine."

Mariah went to her room and started doing her homework.

After school, Mariah headed to that coffee shop. She bought herself one of those Frappuccino things and sat down. Grayson arrived shortly and got himself a cup of coffee.

"Hello Mariah."

"Hey dad."

He then sat down, and started talking.

"Does you mother know you're here."

"No and I don't want her to either, she'd go nuts."

"Ok then, so you're 16?"

"Yeah, I got a bit more freedom, can't wait till I get a place to call my own, then I can finally get away from mum."

"You and her don't get on then?"

"Don't get me wrong I love my mum and everything but she can be really annoying, everything I do its 20 bloody questions."

"She's only trying to look out for you, but she had her own problems."

"Like what?"

"Well you'll only find out elsewhere. Well there was this local woman, I didn't know much about her. Her name was Perdita Hyde. Well your mother got really jealous of her and her boyfriend Matthew King. She wanted to split them up, even take away there child. Your mother even tried to poison the poor woman, but it didn't work out, Matthew stopped her in time. Your mother spent some time in a mental hospital, now she's completely better. I was so worried for your safety when she took you away from me."

"Oh my, I had no idea," Mariah was shocked to hear this about mum, she believed it though. Mariah wanted to change the subject.

"So you live round here then?"

"No I live in Emmerdale village, a drive away."

"I think I might have heard mum talking about that but she never wants to tell me, think I should go and live with my friend Tish."

"Look, I have a better idea why don't you move in with me."

Mariah was unsure. "Oh I don't know, best not". She took a sip from her drink. Grayson didn't look happy by her answer but lucky for him, she didn't see the look on his face.

"So how are you doing in school?"

"Oh just getting by, can't wait till I leave this summer, thinking about going to this college in the area and learn dance."

"How lovely" he didn't mean this comment, it was said falsely.

"Look it was nice to see you dad, but I best be off, bye", Mariah said leaving.

Grayson thought carefully. His plan would happen and everything would work his way, nothing would stop him.

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A whole week had gone by and Katie had no idea Mariah was in touch with Grayson. Katie noticed Mariah was spending more time with her friend Tish than ever.

"You never used to spend all this time with Tish before."

"Mum, just get off my case, everything is 20 questions with you, is it any wonder I'm always with Tish."

Mariah didn't give her time to react; she just went to her room and played her music. Grayson had asked her again if she wanted to move in at Mill Cottage, but the answer was always no. Mariah said mum would find out. She wished there was a way. Her friend Tish told her to be careful what she wished for, whatever it meant.

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In the next week the police were called to Mariah's school. They came to her in the middle of science. All the other kids were talking quite loud and one boy shouted to her.

"Oi Mariah, what you been getting up to." He burst out into laughter.

"Oh shut it Dan," Mariah shouted at him and gave him a push so he nearly fell out of his seat.

"What is it officer" Mariah said once out of the classroom.

"It's your mother, she was found in your apartment living room."

"What."

"We're so sorry, she was found with a gunshot wound to the head. "

"Oh my god, who the bloody hell is responsible."

"Mariah, honey, we're ruling out murder completely, it was a suicide", the
other policewoman said to her.

Mariah burst out in tears uncontrollably. "She...Can't...Be...Dea...Dea...dead."

The policewoman put her arm around Mariah. A door to a classroom
opened one of Mariah's teachers came out. She told them to come into
the empty classroom as it was nearly break time.

"Mariah, listen, I'm so sorry, if you need anyone to talk to, you can talk to me, how about I make you a nice cup of tea," the teacher said.

"Thanks," was all that came out.

Mariah never touched her tea, she was so depressed.

"Would you like me to get Tish for you," said the teacher.

"Thanks miss."

Soon enough Tish appeared. "Mari, oh come here, I'm sorry," she gave Mariah a big hug.

"Where the hell did she get a bloody gun," Mariah called out still in tears.

"Well we're not so sure why, but we know where. We've had the gun inspected, it turns out your mother paid for the gun in cash, and we've seen CCTV of her purchasing the gun, just this morning." The policeman said.

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Mariah never felt so alone in her life, she wanted to be alone, but she was advised against it. She didn't want to see her dad for some reason. Then she stopped going to school.

Her friend Tish kind of realised why, then one day out shopping she saw Mariah camped out on the streets looking all cold and tired.

"Oh my god, Mari," Tish cried running to her.

She looked a mess, matted hair, pale and looking thinner than ever. A few coins were on the floor beside her.

"Oh Tish, its you."

"Come on Mari, you're coming with me."

Tish took Mariah to her house a few streets away. Tish lived with her dad but he was away for at least a week visiting friends in London. Tish put Mariah in her bed and let her sleep.

After a few days Mariah had come back to her old self.

"You ok, Mari, I was so worried when I saw you like that."

"I'm feeling a lot better, thanks Tish."

"Hey what are friends for, look we gotta sort out your living arrangements, my dad comes back next week so you can't stay here. What about your dad anyway, he's gunna come looking for you."

"I know Tish, but he lives so far away, in Emmerdale village, I'll be so lonely out there."

"Look Mari, you'll be fine, you can come and see me any time, plus you won't be alone, your dad will be with you, from what you told me he sounds posh."

"Its just the accent, have you heard the way Hyacinth Bucket speaks, you'd think she was posh, Tish, I haven't seen where he lives or anything about his family."

"Well you told me he was a barrister that sounds posh enough to me."

"Whatever."

Before Mariah knew it the funeral had arrived. It was just as she'd imagined, depressing. She hated the way the priest spoke about her mum like he actually knew her, it was a joke.

Mariah couldn't wait till everything was over. Her best friend Tish was with her all the time. After the burial, Mariah wanted to be alone. Tish would meet up with her when she called.

It was a really gloomy day, the weather so miserable like the funeral itself. The rain poured down and the wind blowing the trees in a way they looked like they were trying to grab hold of you and pull you into their clutches.

As Tish left the cemetery she noticed a mist appearing. She picked up the pace. Suddenly in the corner of her eye she noticed something a figure dressed in black, she couldn't make out what or who it was. The gate seemed like forever to get too. Then before she knew it there was no gate and she was lost.

Everything went still, completely still, the rain poured, but the wind was gone. It was like somebody had pushed a button to make it stop right away.
Then Tish heard something, like a branch. Tish felt uneasy like there was someone behind her, but she stopped herself from turning around.

"Mari, is that you?"

There was no reply.

"Mari."

"Mari, quit playing around."

Tish sounded annoyed.

"Ok, who's there, just stop it, just, oh my......"

Tish suddenly tripped over something invisible, and she was cut off.
Everything went dark for Tish.

Mariah noticed the change in weather, she felt nothing. She only wished she had gone with Tish. Mariah knew how nervous she got in cemeteries alone.

Mariah stared at her mum's grave for about five minutes. Then there were footsteps. Mariah decided to turn around, not afraid. It was Grayson.

"Mariah, hello, oh princess I'm so sorry," he said coming to her and giving her a hug.

"Oh, dad, I didn't see you at the church."

"I was busy with a client, terribly sorry."

"Don't worry about it, I had Tish with me."

"Tish, is she your friend?"

"Best friend, I can tell her anything, I could tell her everything especially when mum passed away, she was there."

Mariah stared back at the grave. Grayson had an uncanny look on his face, he was hurt that Mariah didn't talk to him about her loss, but he didn't tell her that.

"Listen, thanks for coming dad, I appreciate it."

"Hey I'm your father; I will always be there, for anything."

Mariah made an awkward smile.

"Listen, Mariah, I've been thinking why don't you come to Mill Cottage with me, It would be great to have you living there."

Mariah thought for a bit.

"Ok then."

Grayson took Mariah to his car and drove to Mill Cottage. Mariah never felt so lonely in her life; she wanted to speak to Tish right now.

Mariah tried to phone Tish, but she was having no luck. Then she heard a tune. It was "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen. It was Tish's favourite song. Mariah followed the noise; it was coming from across the street.
Mariah ended up by a shrub and there on the ground was a phone.

"Oh my god."

It was Tish's phone.