Chapter 6

Mariah knew her dad wasn't happy with her talking to Gabby. Mariah couldn't understand why, it was like he didn't want her to talk to anyone but him.

There was silence in the car. Mariah knew something was on his mind; she didn't like to say until they stopped.

"Dad, what's up, you've been acting strange lately."

"Mariah, I was very worried when you went off."

"Dad, you saw me, she wasn't exactly a serial killer you know."

"Listen to me please, princess. You shouldn't get too friendly with people; I'll discuss this with you better inside, come on."

Grayson went in to the house, Mariah followed close behind.

Once they were inside, Mariah wanted to bring up the subject.

"Well go on then."

"Why don't you sit down?"

Mariah sighed and sat on the armchair. Grayson spoke.

"Mariah, this is a new place for you, people around here are not how they seem. For example, Gabby is not who she says, she was adopted by Ashley. Her real parents were murdered; there was this big family, the King's.

Anyway, there was a lunatic amongst them. Jimmy King. He was a nasty piece of work; he was a cold blooded killer. He decided to murder this family when they stayed at Skipdale. This was back in 2006. The girl, Gabby survived, the parents didn't. She was targeted, if you speak to her you might be to, Oh princess, if anything happened to you I don't know what I would do."

Mariah was quiet, she was feeling horrified.

"Well that's only one person, I'm sure all the other village people are nice."

"Oh you do, do you? Don't underestimate them, Gabby's story was only the start."

"What?"

"Well there's this man who lives around here Eric Pollard, his wife runs the local pub - the Woolpack. He's not sane; he has been in and out of a mental hospital for decades. He is on medication, to keep him under control. But not everyone remembers to take their medication. He kidnapped a man, Matthew King back in 2007. The poor man being kidnapped, he had to leave the village after that hasn't been seen since. Me and Matthew were best of friends. He was a gambling addict though and I helped him get through it, I've never seen the appeal in gambling. Casinos sure are a waste of money."

"Oh my, I had no idea, about the people here."

"I told you, princess, didn't I?"

Mariah started to sob. Grayson sat down by his daughter and gave her a hug.

"Oh princess, don't cry, I'm the only friend you will ever need in this world."

----------------------------------------------------

Mariah was lonely all through the summer. It was only days before she would go back to college and do the subject that wasn't her choice. Mariah spent most of the time up in her room listening to music.

Grayson was downstairs, working on a case. Just then the door knocked, he went to answer it, trying not to make a loud noise in the process. Grayson answered the door it was Gabby.

"Hi, is Mariah there, thought she might wanna come out for a bit."

"No, she isn't I'm afraid, in fact she has gone to Leeds for a few days, visiting family."

Gabby was feeling really uneasy talking to Grayson. She thought he wasn't what he seemed, but what could she do.

"Well ok then, tell her I called."

"Of course," Grayson shut the door and got back to his case.

Up in her room Mariah swore she could have heard voices downstairs; she made her way to the dining room.

"Was that the door?"

"No princess must have been me seeing what was on the television."

Mariah nodded. "As you say," she went to go back in her room.

"Princess, I haven't seen much of you these days, you keep yourself locked in your room most of the time."

"Oh, do I," she said trying to sound surprised.

"Yes, you do, college will be starting soon, I bet you're looking forward to it."

Mariah put on a false smile.

"Princess, I know economics wasn't your first choice, but trust me you are doing the right thing."

Mariah just nodded and made herself a cup of tea. She thought to herself for a moment.

"I have no friends round here, life is so lonely, at least I have my dad to talk to.

Gabby wasn't honest with me, why didn't she tell me she was adopted, and what's with that rubbish about dad being married, he never has in his life, he would have told me"

Mariah was waiting for the kettle to finish boiling, she reached in her pocket. It was Tish's phone, she forgot it was there. Then Grayson appeared in the kitchen. Mariah quickly put the phone in her pocket.

"What's that you got there princess?"

"Oh it's nothing."

Grayson nodded, sensing she was hiding something, but said no more.

It was dinner time soon, Mariah couldn't eat a lot, she had lost her appetite lately, so she just made herself a sandwich.

"Is that all you want," Grayson said.

"I ain't really hungry, no point eating loads if you don't feel like, I'll only throw it back up."

Mariah wondered why there were no family photographs in the house; it was like her dad was trying to hide something, but what. Mariah was determined to find out, whatever it took.

First day of college came very fast for Mariah. A year ago she would have been really excited, but now she wasn't really bothered. At least she wouldn't have to wear a hideous uniform like in that school she went to.

Waiting downstairs at breakfast was Grayson.

"Hello princess, I bet you are glad you're starting college"

"Ecstatic," was all that came out.

Mariah sat down at breakfast, on the table was a bowl of cereal, two slices of toast with marmalade, a cup of coffee and a glass of orange juice.
Mariah just sat there, not really bothered about eating.

Grayson looked up from his copy of the Financial Times. "Are you not hungry, I made that breakfast for you especially."

Mariah felt under pressure to eat. She just sipped some juice and took a few spoonfuls of cereal. Mariah wanted a newspaper to read, there wasn't any good ones here.

"Dad, is there a copy of the Mirror here, I like reading the Mirror."

Grayson wasn't impressed. "Ah no, there isn't, look you won't find any tabloid papers here, why don't you read the Financial Times, being as you are studying economics."

Mariah rolled her eyes. "Actually I'm not in the reading mood, you carry on."

Half an hour later Mariah still hadn't eaten all of the breakfast. She pushed everything forward, indicating she was done.

"Look I best be off, gotta catch that bus to Leeds, its a fair way from here," Mariah got up started walking quite quickly to the door. Grayson stopped her.

"Actually, it isn't."

"What, has the journey time gotten quicker?"

"You won't be going to Leeds."

"What, I won't why."

"You're not going to college in Leeds; you're going to college in York."

Mariah's face dropped. She had her heart set on that college in Leeds. It looked a good place. Even if she wasn't doing dance she would still be there.

"Come on, I'll drive you." It was more like an order.

It was a fair drive to the college. It was a very old building, looked like a stone prison to her. Her life was like being imprisoned.

"Look Mariah, I'm sure you will like it here, when I studied law I enjoyed my time here. I will pick you up at the end of the day, see you later princess."

Grayson then drove off leaving Mariah in this horrible place.

Mariah walked inside she was greeted by an older looking woman in a suit.

"Can I help you?"

"Well yeah, I'm studying economics, my dad was speaking to you earlier today, or so he said in the car."

"Ah yes, I remember, you're Mr Sinclair's daughter Mariah, he spoke highly of you."

"He did?"

"Of course, now Miss Sinclair, if you follow me."

Mariah didn't exactly catch what she just said.

"Excuse me but did you just call me Miss Sinclair?"

"Well dear I did, that is your name."

It just caught onto Mariah, as Grayson had taken legal responsibility; he had changed her surname from Sugden to Sinclair. He also hadn't told Mariah about it, so she thought of something quickly.

"Oh yeah, I'm sorry, I'm just not used to people addressing me like that."

The woman led Mariah up a big staircase and along a few corridors.

"This is your classroom; the teacher will explain things to you now, good day."

Mariah walked into the classroom; there weren't many desks in there about seven at the most. A teacher who looked in her 50s sat at the desk. She noticed Mariah.

"Hello."

"Hello, my name is Mariah Sinclair," she said her surname bitterly.

"Ah yes, welcome my name is Mrs Murray, I'm your teacher in economics, please sit," the teacher pointed out a place for her.

Mariah sat down and was sat two rows from the front, in between two girls. A boy sat behind her.

One of the girls started talking to her. "I'm Tracey Smith," she said with a hint of proudness.

Mariah nodded. "I'm Mariah Sinclair"

"How lovely, you're Grayson Sinclair's daughter aren't you?"

"Yeah, how do you know my dad?"

"Well I don't know him personally, just know of him, he is one of the country's best barristers."

Mariah nodded.

Then the other girl butted in. "Tracey leave her alone."

"Ignore her, stick with me and you can't go wrong. My name is Lisa Thomas," she shook Mariah's hand; she seemed a lot nicer that Tracey.

Then Mrs Murray spoke and began the lesson. It was all really complex. Then the woman who showed Mariah to the classroom reappeared.

"Sorry to interrupt Mrs Murray, but there seems to be a problem, Miss Sinclair you must come with me."

Mariah looked confused and brought her stuff with her.

"Miss Sinclair, I shouldn't have put you in that classroom, you are to have one to one lessons, that's what you enrolled on right?"

Mariah was confused. She hadn't any idea; she just went along as normal.

"Yeah, that's right."

"Ok, well sorry about that, you're in here."

Now Mariah was alone in college like at home. It was going to be a long day.