Jessie's Nightmare by Catherine Holland (each kindness read aloud TXT) 📕

The Detective nodded and held his hand out to offer Jessie a hand out of the chair, she took his hand and stood up. The Detective dropped her hand and led her to the back of the station where she lit and smoked her cigarette.
The Detective stayed with her and remained silent, Jessie finished her fag then asked “Detective? When can I go home?” The Detective looked at her sadly. “I’m sorry Jessie but your house is still a crime scene, we’ll have to make other arrangements.” Jessie nodded and followed the Detective back inside, wondering what was going to happen next.
All she knew was that the future looked dark and bleak, stretching out into an endless road before her eyes.


Chapter Four


Detective Bridal and two plain clothes officers drove Jessie to a local hotel where they booked two adjoining rooms. The officers at Detective Bridals direction ordered room service, they had a selection of fruit and various meals along with juice, tea and coffee bought up to the room.
Jessie took an apple and a glass of juice, then retreated to the bedroom, she sat on the bed staring at the apple and juice for about two hours before a gentle knock on the door brought her to her senses. “Come in.” Jessie said, her voice cracking. The tears had flowed non-stop since she’d had to re-live the horror of her family’s demise.
Detective Bridal entered the room and saw Jessie sat cross-legged on the edge of the double bed. She’d taken her shoes and socks off but that was as far as she’d gotten, the Detective sat next to her “How are you coping?” He asked. “I’m fine, I just still can’t believe it, and I can’t believe they’re gone.” Jessie replied, then burst into tears again.
The Detective wrapped an arm around her shoulder for comfort and Jessie leaned into him, crying on his shoulder until her eyes ran dry. The Detective looked at her and said “Why don’t you go and take a long hot shower and try to relax?” Jessie nodded “Thanks Detective, I will.” “James, please call me James.” He replied.
Jessie’s lips twitched as she stood up, she heard the bedroom door close and opened the bathroom door. A few hours later, after she’d tried and failed to relax her muscles, and after she’d cleaned herself up, she went back into the bedroom and saw her clothes were missing. Jessie clutched her bath towel tightly and walked into the small lounge area. One of the officers looked up, “Is something the matter Miss Werner?”
“Jessie, my name is Jessie, uhm where did my clothes go? I left them on the bed but they’re gone.” The officer smiled “My partner took them to go and get cleaned.” Jessie nodded, she turned round and headed back into the bedroom, hearing the familiar gasp. Her hair was up in a towel so the top of her scar was visible.
Jessie grabbed her cigarettes and lighter and headed back into the lounge, she sat partially dry on the edge of the sofa and put a fag to her lips. Just as Jessie was about to light it the officer coughed and pointed to the balcony doors. Jessie stood up and went out onto the balcony and sat in a chair. She shivered slightly and lit her fag, jumping as a jacket was draped over her shoulders.
Standing up and moving quicker than the other person expected she turned round and saw James. “Sorry, I should’ve said something, I was just going to put this round you so you don’t freeze.” He said. “thanks, I guess I’m just a little jumpy.” She replied. Jessie accepted the jacket and lit her fag savouring the first drag, she noticed that James also smoked and sat back down.
They sat in silence for a few minutes until Jessie said, “Normally this time of night I’m curled up in bed asleep and ready for work in the morning, my collie usually sleeps next to me.” “I can see if I can find a teddy or something soft for you if you like?” He offered. “Thanks but somehow I very much doubt I’ll be sleeping.” She replied.
James nodded, “I didn’t sleep for three nights after my brother was killed, I know what you’re going through but I’d strongly suggest trying to get to sleep.” “I’ll try, but I highly doubt it.” Jessie replied, the doubt obvious in her voice. Jessie stood up and gave James his jacket back, as she did so the towel slipped slightly, revealing more of the scar.
Jessie quickly covered herself over and went back inside and straight to the bedroom. She closed the door, dropped the towels and climbed naked into bed, she knew that James wanted to know the story behind the scar, but that was still painful to talk about, and she had enough pain inside to fill up the Grand Canyon, Jessie turned off the lamps and rested her head on the pillows.
She lay staring at the ceiling, and listening to the television in the lounge, but before she knew it, Jessie had fallen asleep. She was opening the front door to her home, police tape gone as though it’d never been there. She walked along the hallway, it seemed longer than It used to be, but Jessie eventually reached the lounge, she pushed open the door and saw a dark shadow hovering over something that was squirming on the floor.
Suddenly the shadow turned and produced a bloody knife, her mum had stopped squirming, and the shadow had just finished killing her and was now coming for Jessie. Jessie screamed and sat up in the bed, tears streaming from her face, James and the officers came rushing into the room together, alert and ready for action. James rushed to her side and pulled the covers up over Jessie’s chest, covering the scar that was bigger than he thought.
He wrapped his arms around Jessie and rocked them both backwards and forwards murmuring soothing words, after half an hour Jessie calmed down, James looked at the watch on his wrist, it was four am. James went to move but Jessie gripped his bare arms with surprising strength, “Don’t leave me, please? Please just stay with me tonight? I don’t want to be alone.”
James nodded “I promise, I won’t leave you tonight.” He nodded to one of the officers and they threw something long and white at James, a blanket. James covered what he could of Jessie then he turned round and gave her some privacy. When she was covered they went outside to the balcony and had a cigarette. “How long was I asleep?” She asked, “Two hours.” James replied. Once they’d finished their fags and went inside Jessie looked at the officers.
“Sorry for giving you such a scare.” The officers waved her apology away and resumed watching the television. James followed Jessie into the room and turned around to give her privacy while she got in the bed. “I’m covered.” Jessie said, she lay on her side and waited for James to lie down, she felt the bed indent with his weight. Jessie turned over and said “Is it OK if I snuggle up? I swear nothing will happen.”
James chuckled softly and lifted his arm up so that Jessie’s head was resting on his shoulder, she draped her arm over his bare chest and felt him stroke her hair. She’d always found it soothing having her hair stroked, within a few minutes Jessie was asleep, but every tie James tried to move, she’d stir.
The next morning Jessie woke up in the position she’d fallen asleep. She was bleary eyed but felt better having slept a dreamless sleep. As Jessie sat up she realised James was awake, and that the covers had slipped revealing even more scars. James’ eyes went wide. Jessie covered herself up and went into the bathroom, when she came back out James had gone, but freshly cleaned clothes were on a chair.
She got dressed and went into the lounge, she saw the officers and James having a discussion so she went and had a cigarette on the balcony. Five minutes later she was back in the lounge. James had a look in his eyes that meant business. Panic flooded through Jessie, “What? What is it? What’s happened?” James sat next to her and said, “My superior was on the phone just now, we’re moving you to a safe house.” He replied.
“Something’s happened, something else, what is it?” Jessie asked, James shook his head and one of the officers said “You may as well tell her, she’ll soon find out.” James looked at the officer and nodded, “The person/people who’re responsible for your family’s deaths sent a letter to the station, and it’s not pleasant.”
Jessie froze, “Isn’t pleasant? What does it say?” James took a notepad from his pocket and showed her what was written;

Poor Jessie, alone in the
world, but don’t worry
you won’t be for long.
Some scars come back to
haunt you. You know what I
mean, the police can’t protect
you from me forever. History will
repeat itself. See you soon!


Jessie sat frozen at the words. “What does this mean?” She asked. “It means that you were the intended target, whoever is doing this won’t stop and it’s personal. We’re leaving in five minutes.” James said, the officers were already making calls.
Five minutes later, Jessie, James and the two plain clothes officers were leaving the hotel and heading back to the station.


Chapter Five


Jessie found herself sat in the same room as the day before, the only difference was that the blinds were open and sunlight was streaming in through the windows. Detective James Bridal was pacing the space between the desk and the chair where Jessie sat, deep in thought.
The obese man sat in the chair behind the desk was watching his Detective, after a few moments the man said “James sit down, I’m sure between the three of us we can work something out.” James went to reply when there was a knock on the door, the obese man said “Enter,” and the door swung inwards revealing the plain clothes officers from the night before.
“Captain, we’ve found a secure location for Miss Werner, we’ll be ready to leave momentarily.” The Captain nodded and stole a glance at James, “Detective Bridal, I’d like for you to stay here and work on your case files, I’ll have Detective Sanders -.” Jessie abruptly stood up “No!” James looked grateful and the Captain looked at her, “Miss Werner, why are you saying no?”
Jessie took a deep breath, “With all due respect Captain, I’d rather have Detective Bridal with me, I trust him and feel safe with him. And I’d rather be with someone I trust then someone I don’t.” The Captain looked thoughtful but the expression barely