Chapter 9:

Fear echoed through the night as the two teenagers stood on the steps their hearts racing faster than would seem humanly possible. It was easier to walk into a house with a screaming old lady, maybe she just fell and couldn't get up. But with a gunshot everything changed there was definitely danger or at least a crime scene behind that front door.

Sharpay looked at Troy hoping that he could be strong enough for the both of them. Hoping that he could give her the strength to get through this situation. Hoping that he would not just bolt like any sane person would immediately due. She had to go inside. She had to check on her Nana, but she couldn't do it alone. More than she would ever admit to him, Sharpay Evans needed Troy Bolton

Forcing a small reassuring smile on his lips, Troy grabbed Sharpay's hand as he nodded his head toward the door and slowly opened it. This moment was going to change both of their lives forever. They wouldn't have to pretend that they were married, especially if they didn't make it through the next five minutes alive.

The front part of the house was completely dark. There was a beam of light until towards the end of the entrance hallway and the small light was beaming in from the small lounge Nana used for her book club and Sunday brunches.

How fitting would it be for the sincere elderly woman to die in the room that she cherished so much? The silence served only as a dreadful sign of the worse possible outcome of what scene was laid out at the end of the hallway. The only thing Sharpay could think of was how proud her grandmother had been at the fall musical when Sharpay did her most challenging role to date. The way that her Nana understood her no matter what.

The two teens crept towards the end of the hall and stood right before the doorway to the lounge when they heard the back door swing shut and a car engine start, quickly followed by tires squealing out of the driveway. However bad Nana Burgendorf was hurt, at least Sharpay wouldn't have to deal with the extra pressure of seeing her demented father.

Troy immediately let go of Sharpay's hand and frantically fumbled to pull his cell phone of his pocket and dial 911 as he rushed into the delicately decorated room. The small chair and love seat had a renaissance antique design that matched the burgundy and gold that was gently gracing the walls. It was a beautiful home. It would have been a freshly printed picture off the pages of "Veranda" or "Romantic homes". Well, it would have if there wasn't a woman laying in a pile of blood barely breathing on the area carpet.

Shaking Sharpay stepped into the room. She didn't want to see what had become of her grandmother. It was easy to believe the best in every situation if you never saw the worse. However, if this was the last few minutes that she would ever be spending with her Nana, than she was going to suck up the emotional pain it caused. She would make sure her Nana knew that she was in the company of loved ones and that there was always a shred of hope.

Troy quickly described the scene of the crime to the emergency operator. He said that he could find where the bullet entered the body and that she was still conscience but there was a lot of blood on the floor and that Nana's skin was starting to pale.

Tuning out the sirens in the background that were obviously rushing to the house, Sharpay knelt down to her grandmother's side and whispered, "I love you Nana." Tears rimmed her eyes as she watched her Nana struggle to reply. "It's okay, I know!"

Wishing that there was something she could do to help her grandma, Sharpay tried to think of how to handle one of these situations. There had to be a moment from some kind of movie that she seen that would tell her what to do. Then she saw the hole in the silk fabric that covered her grandmother's stomach. Choking over her silent tears, she reached her had towards the hole. It was confirmed her father had just shot one of the few people in this world that Sharpay had in her life... It really did feel like she would never have a way out of his grasps.

She cried for the hope that Nana could pull through this trauma, hoping that just maybe her father's bad aim didn't hit any vital organs. She cried for everything that her father had put it through. She cried for her dead mother, knowing if she were here none of this would have ever happened. A few of the tears were reserved for the happiness that Troy was here helping her. He was the one getting an ambulance. He was the one that was still here and knowing how to attempt to fix the situation.

Troy gently pushed Sharpay out of the way as he held the phone to his shoulder with just his head and took his shirt off. Quickly balling up the fabric he pressed to wear he saw Sharpay's hand extending and applied as much pressure and he could muster. He had to try and stop the bleeding if it was the last thing that he did.

Hearing the sirens quiet as they reached the house, Sharpay snapped out of her shock and ran to the front door to let them in. As the paramedics rushed into the house, she point towards the back of the hallway and slid to the floor of the hallway her body holding the door open as cops rushed in after the emergency medical technicians.

A petite brunette woman cop noticed Sharpay and took a few steps to get to the side of the entrance hall and gave the blond teen a sympathetic smile. She wore her short brunette bob loosely and looked friendly. It was clear that she was here strictly because the police were aware that there were minors involved in the crime.

"How are you doing sweeties," officer Jacobs asked politely. This was a traumatic thing for anyone to go through let alone teenagers. They were old enough to know better, but still young enough to be naive in some aspects of this world.

"i know who shot her," Sharpay mumbled going back into her state of shock as she watched them carry her grandmother out on a stretcher. The only relief that she had was that they were not carrying her out in a zipped-up black bag. She didn't want to talk about what happened. She wanted to run out to Troy's car and fly through traffic after the ambulance and rush to the hospital, but she knew better.

"You can tell me what happened," Ms. Jacobs stated softly. The tone in her voice was consoling as she started to lean down to Sharpay and get on her level. That way they could talk woman to woman. She looked into the grieving teens eyes and continued on talking to Sharpay, "I was your age when I saw my mother get shot by two gentlemen who robbed us. It was that day I decided to become a police officer. If I couldn't help my mother, I would make sure no one else had to go through what I went through. I know how it feels. You are confused, hurt, and angry."

"I was just coming to talk to her about him," Sharpay whispering staring down the hallway her eyes longing for just a glimpse of Troy,

"Who did you want to talk to her about?" Officer Jacobs quietly rested a hand on Sharpay's shoulder and looked down the hallway as well for her two colleagues. She knew that they were questioning the other witness at this time. She could also tell that the young woman next to her wanted to see her friend.

"My father," Sharpay replied instantly anger filling her voice and bringing her back out of her shock. "He.... He... My father treats me more like a prostitute than his own daughter."

Her face filled with confusion Officer Jacobs continued questioning Sharpay, "Your father, was he here earlier?"

Continuing as if she never heard the question that Officer Jacobs asked, Sharpay slammed her fists on the ground in frustration. "Every night when he got done with work he would stalk into my room and touch me... even when I told him no!..." Softly sobbing Sharpay paused briefly as she choked on her own tears. "Or sometimes in the morning if he needs an energizing start to my day he will intrude my being with his presence. Like having sex with your own flesh and blood is a good energy boost! I told Troy and I knew I had to find a way out of my father's house, but I am only 18 what could I do?"

"So you came to talk to Mrs. Burgendorf?" Officer Jacobs quickly questioned as Sharpay paused to breathe. She knew that even as she gently encouraged the teen to continue it was like she wasn't even sitting her. The conversation felt more like a confession than an interrogation. Officer Jacobs knew the only thing that she could do to get answers out of the petite blonde was to sound reassuring and supportive.

"I was convinced that if I told Nana I was getting married to Troy that she would help me get my own place. That she would sign my inheritance to my a week early so that I could leave that torture of a place I called home and the people I thought I could look up to. Troy had given me his school ring and agreed to go through with my plan. We were sitting in the car just going over our stories one last time. Just as we were about to go in and talk to my grandma, we heard the most awful piercing scream shatter the night silence... Then as we raced to the door I saw his fucking car just as the gun exploded. I stood there on the doorstep afraid to go in. I thought if I went in he would kill me, or Troy... But I knew I had to check on her... Troy grabbed my hand to support me and opened the door. He practically dragged me down the hallway. Just as we got to the lounge, the car pealed out of the driveway and Troy called 911."

"It will be okay," officer Jacobs said as she quietly stood up. "As soon as they are done talking to your friend, we can drive you to the hospital to see your grandma. Is there anyone else in the family that we should contact about the situation?"

"Just my brother, but I want to be the one to tell him. He doesn't know about what my father does every night and I want to be the one to tell him everything.." Sharpay cried as she looked up at the police officer.

The two policemen walked out of the lounge followed by Troy and looked at Officer Jacobs. One of the was taller and lean with a brown business suit. It was obvious he was the homicide detective and with soft gray colored hair he looked as if he could have been an extra on a new episode of Law & Order. The other was dressed in the basic black officer uniform same as officer Jacobs with a name badge that read Officer Weiss.

The gentleman in the suit nodded his head in a motion for Officer Jacobs to follow him... He smiled at Sharpay and led Jacobs down the hall still in earshot of the other three. "The boy's name is Troy Bolton he says the young woman is named Sharpay Evans. He says they didn't witness anything. He just ran into the house as soon as he heard a gunshot and came straight to the only room with a light on. When he got in here there was no one in plain sight, but that he heard tires squealing and the backdoor swinging shut. He also said the culprit left the gun on the floor by the fireplace behind the chair in front of the body. He said the conversation could count as an official statement without any parents, he wanted to do all that he could to help. What did the girl say?"

"Kevin," Officer Jacobs started to say and then looked directly at Sharpay who was now crying into Troy's shoulder. "This is a dirty case. It goes deeper than attempted murder..."

"If you know something, now would be a good time to tell me Michelle." The detective named Kevin whispered strongly. There was a sense of authority in his voice as he spoke. "We are partners, whether you wear your street uniform or your suit. You are a homicide detective.... You don't keep information from me."

"i think the girl's father is responsible for all this. I am almost positive that if we dust the back door and the gun they are going to match... He is raping his own daughter. I just didn't want to say that in front of the girl. She is already traumatized enough..." Michelle Jacobs whispered to her partner looking back at the two teens sitting on the floor. "Even if Mrs. Burgendorf survives and some how no charges get brought up for this shooting... We have to nail him for that!"

"Michelle," Kevin warned his partner with the authority out his voice. This was voice that would come from a loving man... "The captain is already on our asses about the engagement if you get too involved in this case... we might be demoted to traffic officer. This is our career and our future on the line..."

"Unlike the last case," Michelle snapped back at her fiance/partner. "I promise to get this one right... I refuse to let that girl go back to her father. He is obviously abusing her and his role as her parent... It is our jobs to protect her, whether we have all the facts or not we have to trust her."

Kissing her her on the forehead quickly Kevin nodded and walked back over to the teens who were still sitting on the floor. He looked at Sharpay and tried to sound kind as he spoke. "Upon hearing both of your statements, it is imperative that we get your father into custody and interrogate him about his whereabouts and the incidents leading up to the matter at hand. What I need to know Ms. Evans is are you willing to go on record against your father about... Everything?"

Briefly looking up Sharpay nodded her head before speaking... Then through gritted teeth she looked directly at Officer Michelle Jacobs and said, "I want my father to pay for everything he has done to me and my Nana! I want people to see the monster that hides behind the generous business man facade. I want my father to burn in fucking hell..." Pausing for a minute she stood up and shrugged her last statement, "or rot in prison, whatever comes first!"

With that Sharpay Evans looked at Troy and walked out the door, it was time that she went and talked to her grandma and helped her pull through this injury. There will always be time for statements and whatever after she knew her grandmother was fine.