Chapter 1
chapter 1
Willow
I jumped up, startled by my phone buzzing on the nightstand.
Screaming internally, I reached over to answer my phone,
“Hello” I mumbled still half-asleep wondering who dared to ruin my beauty sleep. “Hi, is this miss harper?” they ask curiously
I rubbed at my eyes trying to urge them to stay open.
“Yes, how may I help you?” I answered
“We have a job opening at our precinct that we’d like to offer you, no interview needed as we’ve read your file.” She offered
“Yes! When do you need me?” I practically yell
“How does tomorrow at 9am sound?” she asks
“Perfect” I reply doing a little happy dance
“Okay, we’ll see you then” she chimes hanging up
I have been undercover for months now and I feel like this is my first real gig. If I find out who killed detective Gallahan I get put up into the big leagues, my dream since I was a little girl.
My father, Harold Richards was a lead detective, A great one too.
He solved a missing persons case that was thirty years old,
Ended up finding them buried underneath the suspect's house.
But one Tuesday night,
Someone decided that my father was too deep into a case.
He knew too much, and they didn’t like it. Two bullets to the chest later and he bled out in the middle of the road in my arms, we were driving home from ash’s café after a late dessert run. I had to pee, so dad told me to just go on the side of the road, I remember him seeing the headlights. He grew suspicious and told me to hide behind a tree a little back from the side of the road. The car came to a halt and a hooded figure walked to my father’s car, “You picked the wrong fight” they sneered as they shot him twice. I remembered my father’s training and pushed a hand over my mouth to silence the scream that threatened to spill, they done a quick sweep of the area and sped away into the distance. I ran over to my father’s car worry written all over my face, “daddy” I sobbed peering through the driver side window. Blood was seeping out all over the seat and coating his white suit jacket, I grabbed his radio and bought it to my mouth. “Officer down, I REPEAT OFFICER DOWN” I cried into the two-way radio. Each police car had a tracker in it so an ambulance would already be on their way.
I ran around and opened the driver side door and tried putting pressure on my father’s wound, he reached for me and fell out onto the road. I collapsed under my father’s weight and held him while we laid in the middle of the road. “Daddy, you’re going to be okay” I cried kissing his head “A-Angel I’m not going to make it” He stuttered reaching his hand up and stroking my cheek with his thumb, “Don’t say that dad I need you” I cried wondering where that damn ambulance was.
A tear cascaded down his cheek. “You’ll be okay my baby” He whispered. All the light faded from his eyes as he went limp, “Dad, wake up” I shook him with all my strength.
I heard the sirens in the distance and saw the flashing lights reflecting off the trees, “Dad, come on they’re almost here” I pleaded as I shook him, tears now running freely down my face.
The ambulance come to a stop, doors opening paramedics rushing out. But it was too late, my dad was gone and a piece of me was too. That was ten years ago I am now investigating the same case that killed my father and town’s former sheriff.
Deciding it was time to start the day I trotted down to the local coffee stop Ash’s Cafe,’ Ash was a good friend of my fathers and always makes sure to look after me. He is so kind and thoughtful that it makes me wonder why such a man is single,
“Usual cappuccino with extra foam?” he questioned as I walked in the door. “You know it Ash” I answer pointing at him as I threw myself into one of the many booths.
“Trixie has just gone on maternity leave so there’s a spot on the team if you want to take it” ash offered as he placed my drink on the table in front of me.
Trixie was the town’s man-eater, she hopped from one guy to Another each week. I felt sorry for them because she’d always leave them with something, something that made them itch, scratch and take medication for long time periods.
So, no one was surprised when she announced she was pregnant, in her case it was only a matter of time. The father of her child ran for the hills as soon as he seen the test, can't blame him I would’ve too. “If you offered yesterday, I would’ve gladly accepted, but I just got Hired at Foxworth state” I Answered
“Foxworth state huh? Big gig?” he asked raising his eyebrows so far it went up to his hairline.
“Can’t really tell much, classified information and all” I shrugged.
“Well, you be careful cases that take you in that direction are cursed” he shuddered.
“I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again ash, I’m not my father” I reminded him rolling my eyes.
Long story short, people think that I’m going to end up dead like my father.
Once I finished my coffee, I tossed the paper cup into the trashcan and headed home I had a mountain of housework to do.
A whole lot of dusting, sweeping, and vacuuming later the place was starting to look half decent, except for the Mould on the walls and the occasional roach.
But I couldn't complain this is all my payments could afford,
It could be worse I could be on the streets or in a shelter.
I laid down on my raggedy stained beige colored couch and stretched out my arms knocking something over in the process.
I picked up a photo frame containing a photo of my parents, my twin brother and me.
My mother looked so happy, so full of life.
Once my dad died my mother fell into an endless pit of depression,
She started abusing drugs and that’s when it all started.
“You! You killed your father” she spat slapping me across the face. Her eyes were glazed over and pupils huge, I could easily tell when she was using. Every time I would forgive her and tell myself it was the drugs but every day, she’d do it repeatedly.
Once she smashed my head into a wall rendering me unconscious my brother reported her to the police, that day she disappeared, and no one has seen her since.
We were thrown into foster homes all over the country until we turned eighteen. I had to return to my hometown I knew I needed to fulfill my destiny and find who really killed the sheriff and my dad. They currently have killian black on death row they blame him for killing the sheriff and my father.
The sheriff’s body was never located and that is why they sent me to uncover the truth.
Dreading the early morning wake up I was getting ready to turn in for the night, when my phone rang flashing my brother's name across the screen.
“Yes Alex, what do you have a problem with now?” I asked sarcastically.
“You are working at Foxworth, are you really that stupid?” he seethed through the phone.
“YOU ARE GOING TO GET YOURSELF KILLED!” he continued.
“Thanks for caring big brother, but this is my case I’ll be fine” I answered reassuringly.
“Sometimes I swear you ask to get killed” he grunted hanging up the phone.
Since my father died my brother Alex made it his mission to protect me, sometimes he goes a little overboard.
He chased away all the boys in high school,
I had 9pm curfews and he called every hour.
As annoying as it was, I knew my brother loved me in his own way.
But being a 24-year-old virgin is getting old I wanted to be reckless, I wanted to have one-night stands and feel dirty.
But every man in this town Is either over the age of forty or gay.
getting into bed I was almost excited thinking of what tomorrow would hold. Closing my eyes I hoped I would find the piece of myself that I lost all those years ago,
opening my eyes, I peered at the alarm clock on the dresser.
It read 6:58AM not wanting to lay in bed any longer, I turned off my alarm and went to take a shower.
Half an hour later I was putting my hair into a slick back bun, throwing on my blazer and black skinny jeans feeling ready to dominate what the day is ready to throw at me.
Stepping into Foxworth penitentiary I was told to take off my shoes and socks, throw my valuables in a tray, walk through metal detectors, and get sniffed by trained drug detection dogs.
Once they determined I was not some crazy criminal mastermind I made my way to the front reception, “Boss is in there” a brunette lady spoke as she pointed to a heavy metal door.
Opening the door, I made my way to the desk where my new “boss” was sitting.
He stood from the desk to shake my hand.
“Miss harper nice to meet you, this job requires you to comfort death row inmates before their last day” he explained.
“Make the wait more bearable you know?” he continued with a shrug.
How could I make the wait more bearable?
Imagine just sitting around knowing you are going to be Injected, electrocuted, or hung one of these days.
“How exactly do I comfort people waiting to die” I inquired looking at him like he had grown two heads.
“Company always helps, gets them out of their own heads” he answered.
“uh-huh” I spoke.
“Through that door is your office” he explained pointing to a wooden door on the far side of the room.
“Cuffed or uncuffed it’s your choice, whatever you feel would make the inmates more comfortable” He continued.
“Thank you for this opportunity” I nodded.
“You’re most welcome miss harper I’ll let you get to work” he replied patting me on my shoulder as he made his way out the door.
Making my way into my office I got spooked by the big bulky Viking of a man waiting for me.
“AAH” I screamed putting my hand over my heart.
He turned around with a shocked expression.
“I’m so sorry for scaring you miss harper I’m your bodyguard, nicks” he extended a hand.
“You don’t do that to a girl nicks” I panted shaking his hand.
“Awfully sorry ma’am” he snickered.
Nicks looked like one of those big men that had the plushest interior, big and bulky on the outside but marshmallow texture on the inside. He had messy brown hair, blue eyes and a scruffy beard on his chin.
“Would you like me to retrieve the first inmate?” he asked politely.
“Yes, please Nicks” I responded organizing the cluttered mess all over my desk.
