Murder on Mallydale Street
The rubbish bin rattled along the hard concrete driveway. Avery was humming a little tune to herself as she pushed the bin in front of her.
There were three houses on the driveway on Mallydale street and she owned the last house, which meant she always had to walk the most.
Philip, the owner of the first house in the driveway, was standing by his car looking into the distance.
‘Hey Phillip,’ said Avery. ‘Good morning.’
‘I’m good. There’s something happening on the street.’ His eyes didn’t leave what he was staring at.
‘Oh really. I’m just about to put my bin out.’
‘Watch out. I can see police lights.’
Avery’s heart sped up as she registered what Phillip had just said. Nothing exciting ever happened on this street. At most, Mrs Trish, an old lady who lived on the street, had lost her cat and had called the police to help her.
Something must be happening.
Avery pushed her rubbish bin forward, adrenaline pounding in her veins.
Phillip was right. Waiting by the other bins to be collected were three police cars flashing their blue and red lights. Mrs Trish was already there, no doubt contributing all the neighbourhood gossip to the police.
A young man in his twenties was trying to listen but obviously, eager to escape.
The bin hit a corner with a scrape and Avery nearly rammed into it. She could feel eyes on her.
‘And who are you?’ asked the policeman who had been enduring Mrs Trish, obviously happy for an interruption.
‘I’m Avery. I live at the back of this driveway. May I ask why there are all these police cars?’
‘Bad things have happened here.’ said the policeman darkly. ‘There were reports of screams and then the sound of a gunshot. This happened around fifteen minutes ago. Did you hear anything?’
Avery gripped the handle of the rubbish bin so hard that her knuckles were going white.
‘Oh no. I must have been asleep, I just woke up now.’ she said quickly. ‘I really hope this is all a mistake. I don’t know if I’ll be able to think if there’s a killer roaming the neighborhood.’
‘Don’t worry. We’re just going to do a quick search of every house and all around the street.’ he pointed at a few other policemen getting out of their cars. ‘By the way, I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Hugo Walters.’
Avery was still staring at the policemen who were already knocking on peoples houses, looking through the bins and peering into cars.
‘If we find a murder weapon then we’ll be able to use fingerprints to find the person. If there’s been a murder, or course.’
Avery’s heart was pounding and all she could hear was the sound of sirens.
‘There’s a gun in my house.’ she blurted out. ‘I have it in my room.’
Instantly Hugo pinned her down onto the ground, her face against the hard concrete.
‘Go search this ladies room!’ Hugo shouted to the policemen. ‘She says she has the gun. She’s the murderer.’
All at once all the policemen rushed to the house, disappearing up the long driveway.
‘You killed her, didn’t you?’ asked Hugo coldly.
Avery started sobbing. ‘Please, let me go. I need to do something.’
‘No. You’re staying right where you are. Once we find the gun, the only place you’ll be going is prison.’
Through her tears, Avery could just make out the large shape of a rubbish truck coming onto Mallydale street. This was her chance.
She pulled sharply on her hands, breaking free from Hugo’s grip.
‘Help me, this policeman is trying to kill me, he-’
Pain coursed through Avery’s body as Hugo slammed down on her.
‘Is everything alright?’ asked the rubbish truck driver.
‘Yes of course.’ said Hugo. ‘This one’s giving me a bit of trouble. Don’t mind us.’
The rubbish truck driver nodded and started picking up the rubbish bins one by one.
The pounding sound of feet came from behind.
‘We didn’t find anything.’ said a deep voice.
‘She’s probably hiding the gun in one of the other rooms. Someone call reinforcements.’
‘I already have.’
‘Great. I’ll also go look at the house once I lock this one in my car.’
Hugo pulled Avery up, not at all gently. He guided her to the car, her hands behind her back. He opened the door, pushed her in and slammed it shut. ‘You’re going to stay there and think about this and if there’s any information you think will be useful, you’ll have to tell us.’
Hugo pressed a button on his car keys and the locks slid closed. He joined the policemen as they went back up to Avery’s house.
As soon as they were out of sight Avery began cackling. The rubbish truck had taken the last bin, hers, and was now gone. They would never find her husband’s body. Even if they did, they wouldn’t be able to connect it to her. Everything had worked out. But it almost hadn’t.
Avery cackled maniacally, feeling her throat going hoarse.
‘I saw you with your husband,’ said a voice. Avery stopped laughing. It was Mrs Trish. ‘A light in your room was on. I know you were awake. I also know that you never take out your rubbish bin. Why did you take it out today?’
Mrs Trish had a big smile on her face. Avery was done for. She had been so close to getting away with it and now she had a witness. But witnesses could be taken care of, couldn’t they?
