Chapter 18 Chapter Seventeen

Chapter 18 Chapter Seventeen
2016

Addison was stunned to watch Robert drive off after leaving her at Carl Willis’s house. She stood watching the car as it disappeared down the road. He had left it down to her to find out the connection between the two families. He had more important things to attend to back at the station, so he says. Just when she thought that Robert was starting to like her and then he goes and ditches her again. She rolled her eyes as she knocked on the door. Addison was almost certain that Anna was the biggest key to this case, but she needed to piece the puzzle together. The killer was closer than she thought.

Carl finally answered the door, surprised to see Addison there. He opened the door to let her in. “Have you found something?” he asked.

“I wanted to ask Anna a few more questions, if you don’t mind.” Addison said. Carl stared at her. He rubbed his hand over his face and into his hair. She could see he was very tired, the dark circles under his eyes and his dishevelled hair.

“What now? What is it that you want to ask her? Don’t you think this is traumatic enough for them?” Carl hissed. Addison’s nostrils flared at his angered words. She knew it was traumatic, but she had a job to do.

“I’m sorry, but there has been another murder and a young girl is in a coma. Anna is our only witness.” Addison told him. Carl’s eyes widened.

“You mean, he’s killed again?” They finally made it to the living room and Carl let himself drop onto the sofa. Addison perched beside him.

“Do you know a Joan Charles?” Addison asked. Carl sat back in the sofa, looking up as if he was thinking about something. He shook his head. “Please can I talk to Anna; Joan Charles has a daughter and she goes to the same school as Anna.” Addison asked. “You can stay in the room if you want while I talk to her.” Carl nodded and called Anna down.

Addison heard footsteps getting louder as they got closer. Anna came around the corner and entered the living room. She saw Addison, giving her a soft smile which she returned. She sat opposite her.

“Hi Anna, how are you doing?” Addison asked. Anna glanced from her to Carl and back again. “Don’t worry, he’s just supervising.” Anna nodded.

“It’s been a hard couple of days, especially with Jake, but we are doing fine.” Anna smiled and Carl nodded along with her.

“I’m here because I have some news about our investigation, you are our key witness and I will need to ask more questions. Are you ok with that?” Addison asked.

“He’s killed again, hasn’t he?”

Addison leaned over and placed her voice recorder on the coffee table. Anna glanced at it and then to Addison with worry in her eyes.

“I’m just recording our interview so I can remember what you said if we ever need to listen back. I hope you don’t mind.” Anna nodded. “I wanted to ask you some questions, if it becomes to hard, tell me when to stop and I will. There has been another murder, someone called Joan Charles.” Addison told her. Anna’s eyes widened and her hand came up to cover her mouth.

“Rebecca’s mum.” Anna said. Addison nodded.

“Are you and Rebecca close?”

“She’s my best friend.” Anna told her. “Is she?” Anna started but tears appeared in her eyes, rolling down her cheeks slowly as she thought about her best friend going through the same thing as she did. Carl got up and sat beside Anna, putting his arms around her. Anna leaned into him as she sobbed.

“Is she ok? Can I see her?” Anna asked.

“She’s in a coma. It seems that she attacked the killer when she found that he killed her mother. She put up quite a struggle, she’s a brave girl. Like you,” Addison told her.

“So, her mother is really dead?”

“Yes, Anna, I want to know all your classes that you and Rebecca did together at school. Were you both in clubs together, which ones if so? It could really help us.” Addison asked.

“I can give you a copy of my timetable, me and Rebecca were in the same classes for everything. Is it someone from school who is doing this?”

“We are not sure, but we are covering all different angles. Our only connection is you two at the same school, so this is a good start, thank you.” Addison explained. Anna got up and went through her school bag, she handed the piece of paper to Addison. She had a quick look at it, folded it and popped it into her notebook.

“Can I go and see her?” Anna asked.

“Of course,” Addison nodded. “I know my way out, thank you Anna, you’ve been a great help. Remember to call me if you think of anything else.” Addison got up from her seat and glanced to Carl. He nodded and Anna gave her a soft smile.

“Trust us,” Addison signed with her fingers. Anna smiled and leaned her head back onto Carl. Addison walked out leaving Carl to comfort Anna. She started to like Carl, he didn’t once butt into their interview and he comforted Anna when she was upset.

Addison made her way back home to listen to the tape again. She managed to get Anna’s timetable for their school subjects. She was hoping this could be a step forward to finding their killer. She could feel them getting closer.

When she got home, she poured herself a glass of wine and started to go through her notebook and write down some theories. She written down all the evidence they had found and all the interviews they had taken, now she started to piece as much as she could together.