The Dark Places by R. Whitfield (novel24 TXT) 📕

meekly to wave back. They had already had their moment; tears, hugs, sorrys, and promises to see more of each other. They now needed to go home and sleep, knowing that their only daughter was going to be OK.

She looked over at the trapdoor and watched as police officers went in and out like little black ants pouring out of an overflowing nest. She sighed and looked up at the sky, closing her eyes to the commotion. It seemed so peaceful here, a place she had probably walked past every day of her young life, such beauty masquerading such darkness.

Alexander Dillion, a name she had forgotten or, in fact, still barely even recognised. Eamon’s neighbour, just a kid half her age, that she could still only recall speaking to one time. So many innocent girls. She quickly stifled a sob, holding a hand up to her mouth. Poor Eamon, poor boy. No matter what had happened between them, he had never deserved to die. At least now his mother would learn the truth and finally feel closure knowing that he did not do something so reckless and hopefully that would give her some peace.

A familiar voice broke her out of the spell. “As I have told you people a hundred times already, yes I fucking shot him.” Madison folded her arms under her bust as she leaned her back against a North East police vehicle.

“Miss, do me a favour and walk me through it again please,” a surly-looking detective replied with a sarcastic grin.

Madison threw her arms in the air, and Surin had to stifle a smile. “Detective Rhodes told me to go back to Detective Elliott’s parents’ home and keep them calm,” she started. “I’m not going to lie,” she added, looking over her shoulder at Parker, who was chatting to forensics. “I thought he was fucking me over.” The detective looked up at her over his glasses. She sighed dramatically. “Can’t I say ‘fuck’ in a police statement?” she replied, holding up her hands. “OK, I thought I was getting screwed so, you know,” she shrugged, “I followed him, obviously.” She pointed at her chest dramatically. “Crime reporter.” The detective motioned for her to continue. “I stayed a fair way back and thought I had lost him for a while there until I came upon the clearing.” She ran her hands through her hair. “I saw the man Taser Parker; I watched him go down.” She stopped and cleared her throat. “I dropped to the ground, and I didn’t fucking move,” she added. The detective stopped taking notes and looked up at her. “I used my sat phone and called 911, left it on the ground and followed them to the trapdoor.”

He smiled genuinely. “That’s very brave, Miss,” he said.

She shrugged again. “I thought I was caught there at one stage. He heard me and looked around.” Madison looked straight at Surin and smiled sadly. “I went down a while after them, heard the screaming and shouting and waited.” She bent down to scratch her ankle. “Is there fucking poison ivy around here?” she asked loudly, changing the subject.

“Probably,” the detective mumbled. “Let’s finish up,” he added, and she nodded.

“I could see through the door, and Parker eventually saw me.”

“What was happening at this stage, ma’am?” he asked.

Madison swallowed. “He was beating her. He was absolutely terrifying. I have never seen anything like it,” she continued. “Detective Rhodes was trying to get free; he was in a panic.” The words continued to rush out of her mouth. “But he couldn’t and I didn’t think I could go in there… until that man got on top of her. I just…” She stopped and covered her mouth, tears pricking her eyes. “I just couldn’t let that happen to her.” She lowered her hands and tucked them behind her back. “I opened the door further — he didn’t even notice over the sound of his own screaming. Parker kicked me over his gun, that was on the ground, and I just fucking shot him.” She looked at Surin again who was staring straight at her, listening to every word. “I shot him to save her. The end.” She didn’t wait for the detective to let her go. She just pushed herself off the car and walked straight over to where Surin was sitting.

They sat together for a few moments until Surin looked over at her, the woman that she had hated for so long.

“You saved my life,” she said soberly.

“Well, yes,” Madison said with a smile. “You owe me big time,” she added with a laugh.

Surin reached over and grabbed her hand. “You saved my life,” she repeated.

Madison’s eyes began to tear, and they sat there like that for a while, in silence, holding hands. Surin broke the spell and nudged her shoulder against Madison’s. “Get out of here. Go get some rest.”

Madison stood and nodded. “You’re right. I should.” She turned to go and stopped. “Surin, I…”

Surin waved her off. “Water under the bridge, Madison. What’s done, is done.”

Madison nodded. “Tell you what, when you get back to town, how about that exclusive?” she added with a grin.

Surin let her loud laughter fill the air as she threw her head back. “I don’t know about that, but how about a drink?”

Madison grinned broadly. “That would be even better.”

They both nodded, and Surin watched her as she trotted over to a police vehicle and demanded a ride back to town.

“She’s a handful that one,” Parker whispered in her ear, taking her by surprise.

Surin turned to him and was immediately overcome with emotion, which of course, she attempted to hide. “She saved our lives,” she added with a smile.

“Yeah,” he replied with a shrug. “I guess we’re stuck with her now.”

Surin nodded. “Are you OK?” she asked with concern, noticing the ice pack he was holding