When a woman moves into the sleepy town, it rouses everyone's tongues to start wagging. She is strange and distant in her manner. Tia Frost is blissfully unaware of the townsfolk's discomfort with her. With Burt at her side, she wonders about the wo...
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I listened to the argument happening on the driveway. I shook my head at the slammed door and engine over-revving, followed by the squeal of tyres. Maverick appeared in the doorway a moment later. He took a photo of the room. "Did you hear what he said?" He asked me quietly.
"I know he was shouting, I didn't hear what he was saying." He took more photos of the living room and kitchen. "I need to photograph upstairs... but I can't let you out of my sight."
Nodding I stood and walked towards the stairs. At the top was movement and a sound I turned on the bottom step to look up at the top of the stairs. I silenced Maverick who was about to speak. "Tobin?" A small squeak came from the shape in the dark. "Come here Tobin, your not in trouble." A small sound escaped him as he started coming down the stairs.
I could see his eyes were red and he was crying silently. I scoped him up into my arms taking him to the chair. I rocked him on my lap. "What's wrong?" I whispered in Tobin's ear. He shook his head and continued to cry. "I can't fix it if you don't tell me."
Maverick stood at the bottom of the stairs frowning at me. Tobin shook his head again and I whispered. "Tell me when you can. I won't force you."
He continued to cry as Maverick stood watching me. He seemed to be trying to work me out. "You mind sitting down, your hovering isn't helping."
He nodded moving to the table and sitting on the chair there. He didn't seem to know what to do with himself.
Tobin fell asleep in my arms. "Do you know why he was upset?"
"Probably the yelling." I stood and walked to the stairs.
I heard Maverick following me up. I walked to the small folding bed close to mine. I laid Tobin in the bed and covered him with the blanket.
"Tia... I must take photographs of this room... do you mind?"
I chuckled. "Carry on officer."
He frowned at me and then took the pictures he needed. I sat on the edge of the bed slowly rubbing Tobin's back to make sure he stayed asleep. When Maverick was finished he came closer. "Is he asleep now?"
"He was asleep before we came up here, but I'm not sure he will stay asleep."
Tobin stared. We both watched him settle again on his own. I stood and walked to the stairs. Maverick stopped me. "You going to leave him?"
"Not for long. We need to talk and can't do it here." I whispered.
He followed me downstairs and I sat in my armchair. "What do we need to talk about?"
"You're going to be here all night and I need to know what you need. Also, you will be here when he wakes up and that will distress him."
Maverick sighed. "I'm not meant to be sleeping tonight." I couldn't hide my smile. "Am I amusing you again?"
