Chapter 9
Mariah was still upset, Gabby went into the kitchen to speak to Matthew.
"Gabby do you know her mum's phone number"
"I don't sorry, even if I did it would be pointless, her mum died, suicide"
Matthew looked interested and didn't believe it.
"I never had Katie Sugden down as suicidal"
"Do you know how she killed herself"
"She shot herself in the head"
Matthew shook his head. "Impossible," he knew Katie was terrible with guns, at that shoot back at Home Farm she couldn't even hold a gun properly. "I'm going to investigate this, further, it doesn't add up."
"I wouldn't know where to begin, I can help you"
"Thanks"
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Mariah got up from the sofa. She was going home.
"Mariah, where are you going?"
"Back to Mill Cottage"
Matthew stepped in. "You want to go back to him after he lied to you?"
Mariah shook her head. "I need to get my stuff"
"Ok, I'll drive you down there, then you can come back here for a bit"
"Thanks"
All three of them arrived at Mill Cottage, Grayson wasn't home fortunately, probably in a court case. Mariah thought she best be quick.
Mariah ran to her room and packed all the stuff in her huge backpack. Then she went in the kitchen and took £50. Then she left and shut the front door and got back into Matthew's car. They drove back to Home Farm.
Matthew then spoke fast. "Quick, Mariah, get down, I see Grayson's car coming this way."
Mariah got down quick and she didn't get up until Matthew told her he was quite a way away.
"Phew, do you think he suspected anything"
"I don't think so"
Mariah couldn't rest until she got to the safety of Home Farm. Matthew ordered a pizza.
"So what you going to do now," Gabby asked.
"Ain't got a clue, but as far away from the monster as I can get"
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Grayson arrived home from a busy day. He was representing a client, in court. He entered the front door and called out to let his daughter know he was back.
"Mariah, princess."
There was no answer.
He called again, he thought she might be listening to music, so he left her for a while. It was almost dinner time, so he began to cook. He told Mariah he would cook her a proper meal today, so he was.
Dinner was ready, he called out again, there was no answer, it was very quiet up there. Grayson decided to go up. He knocked on the door, it wasn't locked.
"Princess"
After five minutes he opened the door, Mariah wasn't in there, he looked all over the house, she was gone. Grayson opened the wardrobe in her room, all her things were gone. Grayson got angry. She had left him.
Grayson knew she had spoken to Gabby, he marched out of the house and went to her house. He banged on the door really loud.
Ashley answered. "Grayson, hello, can I help?"
"Yes you can actually, tell me where she is"
"Who"
"Gabby, she's in here I know"
"She's not, now please leave," Ashley tried to close the door but Grayson stopped him. Then Laurel appeared.
"What's all this about"
"Tell me where Gabby is"
"Look, she's an adult, If she doesn't tell us where she's going we don't ask, now leave"
Grayson wasn't taking no for an answer. Then Laurel grabbed Arthur's super soaker which happened to be fully loaded with water. Laurel went outside.
"Grayson, all these years I've known you there is one thing I would like to give you," Laurel said in a sweet sickly voice with a big smile on her face.
Grayson looked confused.
"What"
"THIS," Laurel shouted aiming the soaker at him and pulling the trigger. Grayson was drenched in water. Laurel ran back into the house, laughing hysterically. She closed the door behind her.
"I can't believe you just did that," Ashley said laughing too.
Grayson just stood there defeated and looking embarrassed, he would find Gabby another way. He noticed she was very friendly with Matthew King.
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Up at Home Farm, Matthew, Gabby and Mariah were finishing the pizza. Just then a car was heard outside. Gabby went to see who it was.
"Oh my god, Mariah its your dad"
Matthew ran to the window, "She's right Mariah"
Gabby thought quickly of somewhere for Mariah to hide.
"Matt, are those log cabins in the woods still, up at the old holiday village?"
"Yes, but they haven't been lived in since the 90s"
"That will do, fine, we don't have much choice, come on Mariah"
Mariah grabbed her bag and ran out of Home Farm the back way with Gabby. The woods weren't far.
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The doorbell to Home Farm rang. Matthew went to answer the door. It was Grayson.
"Fancy seeing you here, what do you want"
"Where are they?"
"What are you on Larry"
"You know, Gabby and Mariah, and don't call me Larry"
"There not here, come in and look if you don't believe me"
Grayson barged through, he looked all over the house. There was no sign of them.
"What did I tell you, now sling your hook," Matthew pushed Grayson out of the door and slammed it.
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Gabby and Mariah were somewhere in the woods.
"Where are we going, the woods aren't the best place to go if he's after me"
"Relax Mariah, you won't be staying outdoors, look back in the 90s there was a holiday village not far from here, the log cabins are still there, you will be safe there"
They kept running until some log cabins came into view. Gabby for some reason had a key.
"Where did you get that"
"Found it on the ground, come on, from what I can make out it says 8 on here"
They searched for cabin 8, it was on the other end of the village, very secluded. Gabby put the key in the lock and it turned.
The door was a bit stiff so it needed a bit of a push. Strangely the cabin was warm. It was obvious the cabins hadn't been occupied for quite some time, the furniture looked dated.
There was a black and white striped sofa, coffee table, TV which wasn't modern looking. There was a cooker, microwave and cupboards. On the other side of the room was a double bed with bed side table. Wardrobes were nearby and there was a separate room for toilet and shower.
Mariah decided to look through the cupboard, curious to know if there was any food. To her surprise was an unopened multi pack of Wispa Gold. Unfortunately the best before date was May 1999.
"Look Mariah, I brought a pack of Custard Creams along, I will bring more tomorrow, but I'm going to have to be careful, Grayson is about. It will be safe here, just remember to keep the curtains drawn and the door locked with the chain across at all times. If I'm here I will knock three times, now I have to go, take care." Gabby gave Mariah a hug.
After she was gone Mariah did as Gabby advised, she bolted the door really tight and put the chain across. She made sure there were no open windows and that the curtains were closed.
It was dark outside now, there was no electricity so she couldn't do much, Mariah decided to go to bed. After all who knows what tomorrow would bring.
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