Burning For You - Evan Buckley

Chapter Six - Lingering Guilt

"911, what is your emergency?"

Jean gripped the phone tightly, trying to control her breathing as she watched a shadow walk past the living room window. The bushes rustling, reassuring that she wasn't crazy.

"I-I'm at 726 Willow Bend Ave. I think someone is trying to break into my house.."

"Jean? What's wrong? Did something happen?" Beau asked frantically.

"It's Sherri, she— she followed me. She's here, in LA." Jean cried softly into the receiver.

"What? No, no, she's supposed to still be in prison."

"I don't know.. but, she was here, at the house. She was trying to break in. And she did, but the cops showed up and she took off."

Beau pulled out of the parking lot and started her drive home, trying to get there as soon as possible. "Jesus. Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine. The police said they'd stay with me until you got here.."

"Okay, I'm on my way. We're gonna figure this out together."

Five minutes later, Beau was pulling into the drive way. Not wasting anytime getting out of her car, and rushing over to her sister who was being consoled by a policewoman who couldn't have been a day over 25. She instantly engulfed her baby sister in a hug before looking at the young cop, "What happened?"

After explaining how Jean called 911 in distress about an home intruder, she and another unit showed up. She then explained how the suspect had broken into the house, but fled the scene upon there arrival. Jean pulled away from her sister, "It was her, Marće. I know it was."

Beau just nodded her head, before looking back at the cop, "Two years ago, my sister had a stalker. Sherri Bradley. She had been arrested for attempted murder, and was in prison when we moved. So, I thought Jean would be safe."

The policewoman nodded, pulling out her notepad, opening to a fresh page. She wrote down the woman's name before asking, "Is there anything else about her that you could tell me?"

Beau recited as many details that she could remember, from the restraining orders to how she tried to kill her sister. A brief description of what she looked like, leading Jean to chime in saying that her hair is cut short now. They wrapped up the report and told them to call again if anything happens.

After they left, Beau led her sister into the house. Leaving her in the living room to check all the rooms and locks. She walked back into the living room, taking her jacket off, "Alright, the house is clear."

Beau walked over to where her sister was seated on the couch. She sat next to her, Jean letting her nerves get the best of her, "What do I do, Marće? I can't go through that again.."

"I won't let that happen," Beau wrapped her arm around her sister's shoulders, "I promise."

"I think I'm gonna wait until the fall to start school. It's still early enough to pull out of summer classes." Jean sighed softly.

Beau hated the fact that her sister was having to put her life on hold all because of that crazy bitch Sherri. But, she definitely agreed that it was best to wait, there was just no way she'd feel safe sending her baby sister to college by herself right now, "Okay.. Also, for now, I really don't want you home alone either."

Jean moved away from her sister's comforting embrace, "I don't want to be home alone—believe me. But, where am I gonna go? It's not like I've really made any friends yet."

A few moments passed as Beau thought to herself, "I'm bringing you to work with me. I don't know what else to do. At least there, I know you'll be safe."