The Christmas Village Blues

I looked out the window of my office and watched the crowded mall below me.  My favorite time of year but right now it seems like something is missing. I could see Santa's chair and all the children eagerly waiting to tell Santa they have been good and what they would like. I see young couples together shopping for their first holiday seasons together or the elderly couples holding hands and sitting on benches reminiscent of days gone by. I was lucky our Christmas village was a little part of life and happiness tucked into the mountains. As someone who loves Christmas our village is open almost year round and only closed on Christms and Sundays. My job as head of security really was quite simple and I almost never got a call to help with a shoplifter. My biggest issue normally was if someone tumbled and hurt themselves and even if I was the one making sure the stairs in were salted and the airdried entrances were cleared I had one of the best no accident ratings in the area.  That was until I got the call on my walkie that would shake me out of my holiday blues.

"Beth what's your location?" Max our groundskeeper bellowed through the line.

"My office why?" I replied.

"Beth you might want to call the sheriff and head to the north indoor garden. I just locked the doors to keep people out of here. Remind the sheriff that whoever he brings needs to be discreet there are kids around. Have them come to the back loading door."

"Max, what's going on?"

"We got a dead body, Beth."

"Ok I will be right there do not touch anything," I called the sheriff and told them to come in the back discreetly as we had a bunch of kids here today and headed to where max was myself.

I had not dealt with a dead body since my time working as a detective in Tampa, Florida. Nothing ever happened in this town to warrant as much as a ticket so this worried me a lot.  I got down to the garden entrance and my guys moved aside to let me in. I followed the pathway through the hedges and shrubs to where I heard Max's voice coming from. 

Max looked at me and said, "Beth I know you used to deal with all of this in your past but this is not too pretty."

I looked at Max and said, "Never is easy finding a body.  Do we know who the poor soul is?"

Max looked at me and then back towards the covered body. "Beth I am going to be 100 percent honest with you I saw the body, checked for a pulse, and realized his eyes were open and called for you. I don't handle dead very well. I don't even go to funerals very often unless I have to."

I knew how Max felt about the dead but also knew we needed to see how this man died.  I reached down to pull back the sheet Max had used to cover the body.  I started checking the pockets and no wallet and ID were found from what I could feel. I didn't want to move the body until the police got here.

"Max, when was the last time this area was used?" I asked. "This gentleman seems like he has been here for a while."

Max looked up, "Beth that's the thing.  This spot was just used six hours ago for the children's center lunch with Santa. The last people cleared out of here around 5pm.  I helped the volunteers load the last of the items in their van via the loading door for this area.  After they left I locked the doors and walked to the entrance and shut off the lights and locked the main door. I do not know how the body even got in here as the area is secured."

As I sat on the nearest chair thinking about the possibilities there was a knock at the entry door. I stood up as Max went to unlock the door. I looked up and saw our local detective, Charles walk into the room. He walked up to me and asked, "Well detective you have any thoughts on how a body ended up on your property?"

Charles loved to push my buttons as he knew I used to be a detective in the big city. "Well, detective you are the only law enforcement here.  Max had this area shut down after an event earlier today. From the look of the body, it's been deceased for a while as rigor mortis set in. Not like a corpse can just walk its way into an event hall.  But I was going to check the security cameras to see if there is anything we can see."

Charles turned to Max, "Max, Beth said you had this area locked up.  May I ask why you came back in?"

Max turned and said, "Sure thing I had lowered the security gate when I shut the area down as I didn't want teens to sneak in here to make out.  But when I was doing my rounds I saw the lights for the bathroom area were on and I could have sworn they were off when I locked up."

Charles asked, "So then why did you go back in there?"

"Because I did not want to risk someone being locked in here," Max said. "Plus I know I shut the light off. It's a habit the wife at home keeps on me about so I do it here as well. Came through the side door walked towards the bathroom and saw the body when I looked from the bathroom to the back loading door."

"Well officer, While you're doing your job here I am going to pull all the security tapes and see what I can," I said, "Come on Max let's leave the police to do their jobs. You can be my second set of eyes."

Max chuckled as we left the area and headed to the security office, "Is it me or does Charles seem threatened by you?"

"Its not that he is threatened," I said. "He just does not get how I could have went from a detective in a major metropolitan are to a small town amusement site head of security."

Max looked at me, "You never explained why you came here? Come on Beth if you explained why then he wouldn't be such a bear to you."

"Max," I said. "If he was a good detective I wouldn't have to explain anything." 

Max chuckled and led the way back to the security office. After we got back into the office and poured ourselves some coffee we sat in front of the security camera. I put in the time for the video feed and brought the feed up to where I see Max locking the back door, walking and checking both bathrooms, and heading to the main entrance. When Max shut the light off and the night vision came on.  

That's when we see a man come out of the men's bathroom. I looked at Max and said, "How you checked the bathroom?"

Max looked at me and said, "Was he hiding in the bathroom ceiling?"

We saw our dearly deceased walk to the center of the room and then another man appears from the bathroom and we see a figure fully clocked in black run up on the victim. It looks like he karate chops his neck and as the victin falls to the ground the cloaked man runs back to the bathroom. I make a disk for Charles and Ma and I head back to the event room.

Walking in we see charles and I pull my gun at the bathroom door. Charles comes over and I said, "Have any of you been in there?"

"No why?" He said as he pulled out his gun.

"Because thats where both the victom and the killer came out of," He said.

We walked in and started looking in every nook and cranny. Then I looked up and over the last stall the ceiling tiles were moved. I pointed that out to Charles and he said, "Where does the ceiling paths go to?"

Max groaned, "The ceiling pathways go all over the resort."

Charles muttered under his breathe and said, "We need to see if any of the external exits are compromised and also see if any of the shops restaurants or hotel areas are messed up."

I looked at Charles and said, "We will but there are a massive amount of kids throughout this entire place. We will do this in a calm manor and we will get my entire team in."

I took out my walkie and said, "Hey all I have a issue and need to have a meeting for all waking staff members. Please meet in the break room in 10 minutes and please do not make a big show with leaving the floor we need to stay discreet."

I started hearing copies over the headset. Looking back at Charles I said, "You coming or what?"

Charles looked at me like I had lost my mind and said, "You know Beth this is my investogation."

Turning to him I said, "Listen Charles I am going to be honest with you. People might be reluctant to talk to you. If any of my staff has a inkling of what is going on they might not tell you because you are pushy."

We walked into the security office and he pulled me into my office, "What do you mean I am pushy?"

"Listen CHarles I been were you are I did your job for many years but you need to be kind or people will not want to say anything" I said "I want to make sure this gets handled and I do not want another dead person on my hands"

Charles was quiet as we headed into the office and I took point. "Okay everyone I know all of you have military or security training. This is what we are dealing with. Two men were hiding in the same room that we had the childrens home party and after the area was emptied one of the men emerged from the bathroom and another came out and murdered him. The police are dealing with the body but there is no forced exit and the security footage showed the killer went back into the bathroom. All exits are being watched but here is the thing as we are an active hotel, resort, event center along with a mall people can be in danger. The tunnels along the roofs as well as the ways to get out are plentiful. We need to find this killer. After the mall closes we are gonna implement the propertys bio sensors. But I am open to other sugegstions?"

"How about we take a team in under the preface there are reported leaks and smells? Matt said. "I don't want to see a kid or anyone else get hurt and we can put on repair cloths. Me Shawn and Marty are all ex special ops so we can handle anything."

I looked at Charles and said, "you know that's not a half bad idea."

Charles looked up and said, "I want a camera on each of you if this is going to happen. Guns hidden on you as well."

Matt gave a Cheshire grin and said, "Sure thing boss. Who would have thought we could do what we were trained for in the middle of Santas village."

Matt and his team geared up and went through the ceiling inside the office to start searching the building. They decided to start further away to flush whoever was there towards the bathroom. Charles and I listened to them on ear pieces and we had officers waiting in the bathroom incase someone came out. Matt said into the speaker, "Beth I have a question what was this place before Santas Village?"

"Matt it was a event center, why do you ask?" I said.

"Did the event center have a skating rink?" He asked

"Sure did I skated here as a child when I visted my Grandma." I said.

"Well so you are aware we are over the court yard in what I would assume would be the second floor and I just found the skating rink," He said.

"I will be honest with you, There are still a ton of things up here someone could easily hide in here." He said. "Like its a building within a building and its sitting here. I am sending you some pictures."

He sent a series of pictures and Charles looked at them and said, "Those are stores full of merchandise just sitting there. Is that a Merrygo round?"

I rubbed my temple and said, "This is not even on the blueprints to the building. How in gods name does a whole section of the original mall disappear from the blueprints. Hey Matt do me a f avor can you get into any of the locations?"

"Beth I am insulted you think so little of me," He said. "What are we looking for Boss?"

"A news paper or something dated," I said. "Also is the power on down there?"

He responded and said, "Yes Maam, I bet Geroge had no clue especially when he was out last month. He mentioned the electric was so high..ho hum umm Beth there is a bank down here. A full ass bank."

Charles grabbed the phone and said, "Matt go to the bank and see if there is a safe."

We heard the team walk and then heard Matt say, "Well well someone has been in here."

"What do you mean Matt?" Charles asked.

"There is equipment here to bust into the bank vault," He said. "Hey boss lady take this down. Echo Foxtrot 385 Delta. That is the safe number for University Bank."

Charles said, "Anything dated Matt?"

Marty quipped in, "December 13th, 1971 We are saddened to inform you this location will be closing on December 23rd. Please see bank HR for severance package."

"Well shit" Max said, " I think I know what that is. Back in the 1970's I lived a few towns over and we heard that in a 2 week time a local shopping mall shut down and a bunch of walls were put up around the building. Businesses in the mall complained about not being able to get everything out of the stores. The developer stated that they gave plenty of notice and they told stores they had until the 24th to get everything out. On the 26th people arrived and saw the walls and the guards said that the building was demolished and everything inside was destroyed. There was a lawsuit and the owner of the property was not held liable as the contract he had stated that they had 30 days to give notice and they provided 50 days notice."

"Well apparently they did not destroy the Mall." I said.

Max said, "Thats the thing when the walls came down the event centers first structure was in place. It was almost as if they built over and around the mall. Which doesn't surprise me because the mall had two stories and the stories went down not up." 

I grabbed the radio and said, "Matt listen to me, get out of there and look for a set of stairs that goes to the bottom level."

"What are you thinking Beth," Charles asked.

"Listen if the businesses couldn't get anything out what if someone was in the know when this place was an event center and mall and knew all these businesses were here." I said. Think about the mall it probably had multiple businesses and a bank and jewelry stores. Rob and grab and no one would be the wiser. Matt does it look like the businesses are opened and broken into?"

"Negative boss lady and look at these fancy stairs and a fountain," He said. "What are we looking for Boss?"

"See if there is any sign of people living here and what is running," I said.

They guys were quiet and after a few minutes Matt replied, "Hey boss your hunch is right about this we found a ladder that I am going to guess leads up to the bathroom our guys came into. There is also a store with beds and a few are made up and look slept in."

"Guys come back," I said. I turned to Charles and said, "I need to call George and find out what he knows."

I walked into my office and called George. I was thankful he answered on the first ring, "Beth my dear how are you?"

"George are you in town," I asked.

"No sweet girl I am taking Stella to see the Grandbabies," He said. "Whats going on Beth?"

"George take me off speaker phone," I said.

I heard a click and he said, "Beth I put you on my ear piece, whats going on?"

"I will tell you after I ask you a few questions," I said. "Do you know the history of the land that the conference center was built on?"

"No I was told the property was once a mall but they tore it down and built the event center," He said. "Beth what is going on?"

"George there was a murder in the room we used for the orphanage party," I said. "It happened thrity minutes after the party ended and the kids went home. I have the police here and when we could not find the person who commited the murder, OUR own personal strike team went in to see if they could find anyone. George they never tore the mall down. Santas Village is right over the mall. All the stores are there frozen in time full of merchandise."

"Beth thats not possible I saw the blueprints," He said.

"Wanna see the video the guys are taking when they get back to me?" I said.

"Your not joking," He said. "Shit Beth. Okay let me get my love to the Grandbabies and--"

"George stop," I said. "Stay with the Grandbabies I have this handled here. There is nothing you can do but guess what you have more than you thought you bought."

"Beth are you sure," He asked.

"Yes," I said. "You hired me for a reason and I got this. Now you give your love a hug for me and call me once you settle and I will give you an update."

I hung up the phone and turned to Charles and said, "George had no idea. He said that he saw the blueprints and had no idea that the mall existed. Before you ask could he be lying? No I don't he was shocked and wanted to drop Stella off with the family and come back here. I told him no because there is nothing he can do."

Charles nodded and said, "I am contacting my guy at the county zoning office and going to get the blueprints."

"There is no need," I said.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"Because the blueprints are in Georges office and I have the keys. He has been toying with the idea of adding a skating rink inside the village and has been going over places he can put it. Well Now that he has a whole mall under this he can probably add the skating rink and another hotel. He has been toying with the idea of a capsule hotel as well." I said. "Come on lets go to Georges offices."

With the walkie in hand I said, "Matt where you boys at?"

"We are almost there Beth," He said, "Did George shit himself? I bet thats where he is going to put the skating rink and capsule hotel. Beth from what I could see the whole building down there is structurally sound. He is sitting on a ton of square footage that expansion he wants can happy and we found the original doors to the mall. Beth they lead to the wall near the bathrooms on the D wing. I am guessing that wall was built to block the Mall off and D wing and part of C and E wing were built right over it."

As Charles and I walked Charles asked, "Are those floors safe Matt or do we need to get people out?"

"Nah Man those support beams they use are safe and are meant to be built over existing buildings," He said. "You know Sisters of Mercy Church? If you go to the parking structure there was a whole strip mall underneath it. They built the parking garage right over the strip mall that has the church offices and charity store and soup kitchen. Those beams are solid."

Charles gave a sigh of relief. When we got to the office I unlocked it. We walked in and I stopped Charles. I grabbed my gun and put my hand in to put the light on. When the light went on we saw that the office was tossed. I looked at Charles and  pointed to the ceiling and said, "Look in the corner they came in through the vent. I was here this morning and this office was pristine."

I walked over to the cabinet that held the blueprints and said, "The blueprints are gone."

Charles said, "We need to get a strike team downstairs. We also need to check the footage and see of we can see anything from the cameras in the hall."

Taking out my phone I said, "I have a hunch. Give me a second."

Dialing Georges number he answered right away, "Whats up Beth?"

"You are not coming home is that clear," I said. "But I need to ask do you have another set of blue prints?"

Beth- Head of security

Max- security Guard

Charles- Local officer

Matt shawn marty-security workers

George- Owner (Stella)

The Sleep Visitor!

I couldn't escape him no matter how much I tried. He visited me in my dreams and was good pure and true. He visited me in my nightmares where he was evil, controlling and demonic. Today though today was the first time I saw him during my safe time of being awake. We both accidentally turned our carts into each other as we were both grocery shopping. For a second I had thought I had closed my eyes and dozed off a split second.

We both looked at each other and at the same time said, "This can't be possible your just part of my dreams."

I froze looking at him, "Which version are you?" I asked.

He laughed, "You should talk. You can be an angel or a witch."

I looked at him and said, "So can you."

"Well shit," He said. "What do we do now?"

I looked at him and stuck out my hand, "My name is Maggie whats yours?"

He looked at me as if he thought I was going to pull a weapon out and then reached out and said, "Hi Maggie My name is Max."

"Max I need to ask you look scared of me. What happens in your dreams with me?" I asked.

"I will be honest with you Maggie, You hunt me." He said. "You get close to killing me to. But with the look on your face I am guessing that the same goes for you?"

"You could say that," I said.

"Listen I have to get shopping done and back home for a meeting. Would you like to talk about this later? I can give you my phone number," I said as I took out my business card and handed it to him.

"I will call you after 7 when I get finished with work," He said as he took the card and walked away.

I didn't realize I was shaking until after he walked away, My villain and prince was a real person and I met him in the flesh. I finished grabbing what I needed and headed to the registers. By the time I got home I had just enough time to put my groceries away and jump on the meeting call.

After I had finished my meeting I finished up the last of my work for the week and when dinner time came I logged off of work. Looking at the clock I wondered if he was going to call. I went into the kitchen and looked at the fridge and freezer to decide on what I was going to eat for dinner. I looked at my weekend to do list and decided I was going to go get a bunch of takeout to eat while I wrote all weekend. I made a list of what I was going to get and placed a to go order at the BBQ place, Chinese, Applebees and Chilis. 

I hopped in my car and headed out. On the way to the Chinese restaurant I stopped at Chick Fila and got a few of my favorites and then to burger king to get my favorite meatless burgers. I stopped and picked up my chinese and BBQ take out and them stopped at the pizza place and got 2 their ready made pizzas and bread sticks and then next door at chipolte. Then I stopped at Mcdonalds and grabbed some cheeseburgers and fries, KFC for my sides and chicken sliders that I love and picked up My applebees and Chili's since they were next door to each other. Then because I am a glutton I stopped at the local sushi place and picked up a few orders of sushi and shasimi since they do not answer their phones. 

Now I can here you now Maggie you bought enough for enough meals for two weeks and its just you. Yeah I know. I am a writer and I planned on finishing the edit on my new book this weekend. When I am writing I need something I can eat and pick on. I had just sorted all my food while munching on a cheeseburger and went to make sure all my drinks were in the fridge. I filled my water bottle and sat at my lap top ready to begin. I just started to open everything when my phone rang. I picked up and said, "Hello"

"Maggie?" The voice said, "Do you have any idea what is going on?"

"Max I really do not have any idea," I said. "Sometimes you are my prince and sometimes I barely get away from you when your trying to hurt me."

"Maggie its the same for me," He said. "Have you ever talked to anyone about it."

"Honestly yes," I said.

"What did they say?" He asked.

"He ended our engagement, took the ring and started fucking my best friend," I said.

"Shit," He said. "I'm sorry. Wait you were engaged and he just left you?"

Sighing I said, "He used it as a reason to leave me. Honestly though I found out after the fact he had a relationship with my ex best friend right after he became engaged with me. Then I could do nothing right. My job was not a real job because I worked from home. My books I write were a waste of time and made me seem like I cheated on him because of the sex scenes. Then the final one was I found out I could never have a baby due to issues I had as a child. What she about you?"

"My Grandma," He said. "But she say's that its because I am scared of commitment and that fear manifested as the bad version of you. She believes that when your the princess in my story its because I am looking for love."

"Every Grandma's wish is for the ones they love to be happy," I said.

"Oh did your Grandma tell you something similar?" He asked.

"Oh no," I laughed. "I never told my Grandma but when she found out what he did she and a few of her friends egged both their cars, punctured they tires and put sugar in the gas tank."

"Is your Grandma's name Caroline?" He asked.

"Yes," I said. "Why? Wait how did you know?"

"This is going to shock you but my Grandma is Sharon," He said. "I guess we are more connected than we thought."

"Should I even ask how you knew about what they did," I said. "I found out as I had to pick them up at 2 in the morning after they did it as Grams car broke down a few blocks away. I get a call she told me they went to a late movie and to a diner after for food like the old days. Then when I picked them up they were way to giddy. When I was driving Mrs. Becca to her house a block away I was pulled over because my ex went to leave and he discovered the damage. The Grandma's were quite convincing at being scared and the cop had me sit on the side of the road to check on Grandma's car. She actually had loosened the battery so it would not start as a cover. I had to show the officers the video feed from my house that showed me leaving at 130am to go get them in my pajama's."

"I get it you know," He said. "I was also engaged when I had the first dream. The first dream was a rather sexual dream for me. My ex woke up to me mumbling in my sleep and me saying things that were normally related to what was said in bed. She joked about it and asked who I was dreaming about. I said I did not know. She got mad at me when I couldn't put a name to the face. In all honesty I never have been to your Grandma's place, so I would never had even seen a picture of you."

"Same," I said. "When they would invite me in I would always have an excuse."

"So what do you think is happening?" He said.

"I don't know," I said. "But let me ask you something do you remember your dreams after you wake up?"

"Yes I do," He said. "The day of the first dream I started a journal. Do you remember?"

"Yes," I said. "It's the basis of a book I am writing called The Sleep Visitor."

"I would like to read it when its finished," He said. 

"To the the website Mycrazylifeagain.com," I said. "All my books I write slowly are on there. You can read my horrible rough draft version."

"Hold on I want to find it," He said. "Nice website. You should be proud of your writing I respect you for working from home and writing. As long as you can pay your bills there should not be a problem."

"That's the way I look at it," I said. "But thank you Sam. Hearing it from someone does make me feel better. I have been struggling lately with everything that has happened."

"Well I am glad that you understand that," He said. "So you know my girlfriend left me because of the dreams. The journal was kept in my bedside table and one day she went snooping thinking I was cheating on her. She read bits and pieces and accused me of cheating on her. I told her I had no clue who you were and she did not believe me. A week before she walked out with her things she started a relationship with a friend. She admitted to me later that they had been talking because of the dreams but she still cheated on me."

"I'm sorry Sam," I said. "Listen maybe things on our dreams will be different now that we know each other."

"Maybe," He said. "So what are you doing this weekend?"

Laughing I said, "I just got back from buying enough food to last two weeks," I said. "I am hoping to get more editing my next book finished. Why do you ask?"

"I was going to ask if you would like to look through the journal," He said.

"Sam I would love to," I said. "Why don't you come here tomorrow for lunch I have a ton of take out we can eat and compare notes day per day."

"I would love that Maggie," He said. "Text me your address and add my phone number to your phone. Would you like me to bring anything?"

"Your appetite I bought so much food," I said.

"Well I am going to the gym first so I will be hungry," He said. "See you tomorrow."

Maggie - caroline

Max- sharon

Grandma's friend- Mrs. Becca

When She Disappeared!

She sat there listening to all her family around her. Her perfect parents and siblings making excuses for her because she had what they considered a mediocre job and life.  If only they knew what she really did for a living, if they did no one would say she was mediocre then!  Her Grandmother came next to her and sat on the couch holding her hand. She leaned over and whispered in her ear, "A bunch of selfish twats aren't they now."

I leaned my head down on Grams' shoulder and whispered back, "If only they knew the truth."

See my job was difficult to explain to normal people! I was given permission to tell only one person and one person only and that person was my grandmother.  She is the only person who visits me at work which everyone else assumes is as a librarian of our local historic library. The truth is I am the records keeper and go to gal for all the mystical creatures located in our town and state. I am their sheriff, I am their get our person, without me they would not be able to live or in some cases survive in the area. My title officially is the peacekeeper. They all love my Grams as she will visit me and in some cases would help in our medical wing because unknown to everyone in my family including my grandfather my grams was bought up by a shaman when her parents were killed when she was two.

My cell phone started beeping which drew everyone's attention to me. The message stated 'Come fast there is a problem'.  My Grandmother leaned over kissed my cheek and said, "Go you know these emergencies can't be handled without you."

I stood up and gave her a hug, "I will call you later on."

I went to the door and my father grabbed my arm, "This is a family event that stupid library can wait."

"Why Dad," I asked. "So you and Mom can insult me. I have to go work needs me and I will see you soon."

"Cait if you leave this house now don't ever come back." He bellowed looking at me. 

I turned to my Grandmother and said again, "I will call you later Meemaw."

With that, I turned and walked into the rain. That was the last time they ever saw anything of me again, or so they thought!

No one in my family saw me again after that night with the exception of my Grandmother.  I still worked at the library, but no one in my family ever reached out to me. Well, except my Grandma that is.  I was at work one day when Steve one of the centuries came to my office.

"Cait I am sorry to bother you but there is an officer here from the local police station and he needs to see you," He said.

I followed him out and saw a local detective standing by the help desk. I walked up with my hand outstretched, "Hello officer, I am Cait McClew I am sorry to keep you waiting. How can I help you today?"

"Hello Cait I am Detective McNeil, I am so sorry to be the one to bring bad news but your presence is requested at St Mary's Hospital. I am under the impression your family did not know how to contact you and your Grandma is in ICU after a car accident."

I grabbed onto the nearest table and had to regain my balance. "Why is she at St Mary's she hates that hospital.  She should have gone to Bridgehaven."

"I am sorry Cait," Detective McNeil said. "Your mother said that was the hospital she would want."

"Detective McNeil my Grandma has a restraining order against her and a few other family members," I said.  "If my mother was there I can guarantee you she did something to cause the accident. I would suggest you pull area cameras."

Steve handed me my coat and said, "Marcy is on her way up from the archives lets go to see Grams and get her moved to Bridgehaven. I called the hospital and they are initiating the transfer."

"Thank You Detective McNeil please have security remove everyone from my grandmother's room. If she wakes up and sees my mom there you will have to arrest her for murder."

We headed out to my SUV and started the path to St Marys. When we pulled up to emergency parking there was a officer waiting for us. He walked up to me with his hand outstretched and said, "Cait I am officer omally, Detective Mcneil filled me in on the situation and we have secured your grandmother. The staff from Bridgehaven are en route to help move your Grandmother. Just pleast be prepared your mother is pissed and said you ran away years ago. But we did get a copy of the restarining order and have advised your mother of what will happen if she does not back down."

I smiled, "Thank you officer. I promise I will not touch her unless I have to defend myself. Be prepared though the woman is batshit crazy. Especially since she thinks I skipped town."

Steve opened the door and I walked in. I hear my mother screaming, "She has not been near her Grandmother in years why do you think she has the right to be here."

I looked at the very stressed Dr and said, "Dr I am Cait McClew I am my Grandmothers medical proxy. Here are the papers you need and please be aware although I have no contact with the people out here I see my Grandmother four times a week. Also no offense to you but my Grandmother hates this hospital."

"Cait thank you I have spoken with Bridgehaven and Dr. Montgomery will be awaiting your Grandmothers transfer. I understand the situation after speaking with Detective McNeil."

"So please can you tell me her situation. What is her physical condition?" I asked.

We heard running up the hall as my Mother flew at me, "Cait why are you here you abandoned this family years ago."

"No mother I left the family not Grandma. After all the chaos you caused her she even got a restraining order on you. You know her preference why would you choose this hospital over Bridgehaven." I said. "Officer would you be so kind to see what caused the accident with security cameras?"

"What are you insinuating Cait," The officer asked.

"My Grandmother would not be going to the bank in that part of town. My grandmother is a creature of habit and she was on her way to see me this afternoon," I said. "I believe someone set her up."

My mother swung at me and Steve caught her hand, "Maam I would suggest that you watch what you are doing."

Officer Omally said, "Maam I would suggest you stop this now or I will be forced to arrest you."

"For what," She cried.

"Assault," He said.

My mother took a few steps back and said, "Your going to regret looking into things and causing trouble Cait."

The Dr came into the hall and said, "Cait we are ready to transfer your Grandmother. Will you be riding with her or following the ambulance."

"I will be riding with her," I said. Then turning to my mother I said, "Remember mother your banned from Bridgehaven. That and be lucky you are not being arrested for violating the restraining order again."

They wheeled my Grandmother out of the room and she was awake and pissed, "Cait your never going to believe what your bitch of a mom did. That fucking bitch hit me with her car when I was tricked into going into that bank after she pretended to be me trying to get money from my account."

She looked past me and said, "Officer that woman hit me with ehr car to stop me from identifying her for fraud."

My mother tried to look innocent and said, "Officer she is obviously confused."

Two more officers came up behind my mother and said, "Carly Martin you are under arrest for attempted murder. We were able to view the security feed and heard the exchange between you two."

The staff wheeled my Grandmother to the awaiting ambulance as I followed with Steve. Steve poked his head in and said "Mrs Eddy I am glad to see your awake and pissed. Cait we will meet you there."

Grams looked at me and said, "I think your right about our family trying to kill me. We will need to work on a way to fix that."

I climbed in and the EMT started looking over my Grandmother, "Eddy do you believe that someone in your family is trying to harm you?"

My Grandma sighed and said, "Yes I do. I would not have even been at that location unless I received a call from there. I googled the phone number after and the number matches that of the location. The caller had said that someone tried getting into my account and I needed to come to that specific branch."

The EMT put her hand on my Grandmas and said, "My name is Chloe and I will mention to the staff only the people you and your Granddaughter want can come in. No one at all will be allowed back unless you give them permission to."

Grams squeezed her hand and said, "Thank you Chloe. I guess they are waiting around for their inheritance. Wait till they find out everything goes to my girl Cait here. Oh Cait speaking of I met with the judge and lawyer this morning. The will cannot be contested now. I know you hate talking about things like this but I want to have everything covered just in case."

I nodded when Grams phone wrang and she handed it to me and said, "Be a dear and answer it, it is your father."

I took a deep breath and answered, "Hello?"

"Put Eddy on now young lady," He said.

"She does not want to talk to anyone right now," I said. "We are in the transport and on our way to the hospital she wants to go to. Maybe you should be trying to get a lawyer for mom as she was arrested for attempted murder."

"You have got to be shitting me," He yelled. "Who the fuck did she try to murder?"

"Grandma," I said. "They have security footage and the call logs. They also have video footage of Mom calling Grandma from the bank and insisting she could only come to that location. She is screwed Dad. I hope you were not involved or my sister and brother will be in foster care or with family after this."

"What did you do Cait," He said. "You left town without a word and then all this happens?"

"I never left town," I said. "You remember the last words you said to me? Cait if you leave this house now don't ever come back. Well I never came back. I have been at the same job all these years and you never even bothered to try calling or look for me. But we are almost to the hospital, good luck with mom."

I hung up the phone and rubbed my temple. Grams took my hand and said, "I told them you didn't leave and your mother did not believe me."

Laughing I said, "For Dads sake I hope he was not involved or Sammie and Ben will be going to family or foster."

We pulled up to the hospital and when we did the police were waiting to talk with us. Detective McNeil looked at me and asked, "Can we ask you a few questions?"

Cait McClew- Main Character

Eddy- Grandmother

Steve- Centuries

Dr Montgomery

Detective McNeil

Marcy- Archives worker

officer omally

Bridgehaven

Carly Martin- Mom Dad