In this story of chaos and mystery, watch as the pieces of the story unfold by each character as they tell there side of the events in the town of Highland.
I wait until Carter shuts the door to panic, "What are we going to do!" I yell in worry at my husband Wade. "Shelby, honey. You need to calm down. Everything is going to be alright, I'm sure the mayor has every under control. I'll see what's going on at the station." I stir on that thought but then worry fills my head again. "You don't know that, What if they fail? What if it's worse then they think or say it is? I don't wanna have to leave here.
Wade walks over to me and puts his hands on my shoulders. "You know what happens if you leave. We can't have that now." I take deep breathes cause he's right. Also, We are the Lambers. I'm Shelby Lamber and my family is my husband Wade Lamber and my son Carter Lamber. We have lived here, at least Carter and I, all our lives. Wade came here about 3 years ago and we were dating shortly after.
We got married a little over 6 months ago, and Carter doesn't like Wade I can tell. He gives me a kiss and I'm off to work. I work at a bakery in town and Wade is a Police Officer. I get to the bakery and some of the worker have already started making pastries and bread to sell. I'm too close with my co-workers, I just do what I'm told and keep my head down. I'm not a confrontational person so I often back down if my co-workers come up against me.
I do my job and at my age of 44 I don't really need to challenge my co-worker or manager. Just do my job, get paid and keep my head down. Wade is the brave one out of the two of us. Carter is getting there but he's not a man yet, which I don't mind. The slower he grows up, the better. Carter's birth father, Glenn, was a deputy but now is a private investigator. We talk every now and then, for Carter's sake, we try to get along. Glenn and I just never saw eye to eye on things. He was never abusive or anything. We just had different ways of doing things and when we got together we thought we had everything in common and agreed but when it came to marriage and parenting. We couldn't be more opposite, and we argued consistently.
We mutually agreed to divorce and Carter was devastated when Glenn left but I had to protect Carter. He doesn't understand anything yet but he will and why he couldn't go live with his dad. It's sad but it's best for Carter. Wade and I need to protect Carter for as long as we can cause...cause..I.."Shelby, Are you alright?" I get asked by one of my co-workers as I'm kinda tearing up. "Yes Dear, I'm quite alright. Just in my thoughts." Oh God, Carter please be safe.
***
MARCUS AKA DERRICK'S DAD
Derrick heads out the door and he's a smart kid, so he knew I was hiding something. Lord Jesus, Forgive Me. I shouldn't lie to Derrick I know that but he doesn't need to know how this town is, not now. I don't know what's worse, the people or the secrets.
As the pastor of the town church, I've heard and seen a lot of secrets and prayed with a lot people, both sincere and insincere. I'm at home getting ready to head to the church when my daughter Ashley comes up to me. "Dad, can I go out with friends today after school?" I immediately feel concern but I know I have to trust her. "Yes, what are you gonna do?" I ask hoping the she has good intentions. "Just to the mall and movies. Stacy's Mom will be driving us."
I was relieved when I learned a parent was gonna be with them. "Are you going right after school?" I ask in wondering when she gonna be away. "Yea, we'll be home at around 7 or 8 tonight" She says and I nod then I get up and we leave for me to take her to school. I drop her off, and Ashley goes to a different school then Derrick cause she had to repeat a year of school. So she is still in 8th grade even though 14 years old.
I drive to the church, and once I get there I walk into a meeting. I go to my office after the meeting and handle business when the lead pastor Pastor Jim Kirby comes into my office. "Hey Marcus, How are you doing?" I smile as he asked. "I'm doing alright Jim. I'm a bit concerned with what's going on recently but not much I can do but pray and help where I can."
He nods his head, "There's a lot we can do to pull the community together." I shake my head, "And what if it doesn't? What if we do the opposite and do more harm than good. There's a problem going on in this town and soon the people are gonna realize." Jim smacks the table, "Hey! It's on us, the people who protect, to make sure things look like they are going okay! Did you learn noting at the meeting just now!?" I shake my head, "I learned that this town is doing down and it's our job to try and change it-" he cuts me off. "Your job is to do as your told and keep your eyes and nose where they belong. Do I make myself clear?"
I look at Jim in disgust, "Crystal, Sir." He leaves my office and I sigh as I sit in my chair and look out the window. This is gonna get worse before it gets better and it's all they're fault. Let me introduce myself, I'm Marcus Bern, and my children are Derrick and Ashley Bern. I'm a Pastor at the church in town, if you couldn't tell. This town has a lot of problems and I think it lead to my wife being killed.
What was the meeting about? What do Jim and Marcus know? What do Shelby and Wade know? Will Derrick and Carter find out?
FIND OUT IN THE UPCOMING CHAPTERS!!
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