THE NARCOLEPTIC GENIUS

CHAPTER 16

Debby was lying on her bed looking at the ceiling. She was so bored. After school had ended, she expected to be living her best life and while she practically was, she couldn't help but feel empty. As though something was missing. She switched on the screen of her phone and sighed at her screensaver. It was a picture of her and Marybeth while they were on good terms. She loved Marybeth and missed her a lot but Marybeth was too blind and proud sometimes. And now they weren't talking. Debby too had her pride. She was expecting Marybeth to come crawling back but that seemed impossible. Did Marybeth really give up on them? Debby couldn't take it anymore. She got up and left for Marybeth's house. She had to make things right. Even if it meant she'd always be the bigger person.

After a thirty minute's walk, she arrived in Marybeth's street. When she finally reached the house, she saw that the place was locked. A woman with long blonde hair walked out of the gate. She was wearing blue jeans and a black top. On her belt, a badge was attached on her right front with a gun strapped on the left side. She looked up at the woman. She had beautiful brown doll eyes and fairly young skin.

Seeing that Debby kept looking at her, the woman said, "Hey, can I help you? " Debby came back to reality, "Ahh, are you an officer? " "Detective but yeah you could go with that. I'm Detective Ronalds. Where you perhaps heading for this house? " Detective Ronalds asked. "Yeah, my friend lives here. I came to see her but I've never seen you around, " Debby said. "What's your friends name? " Detective Ronalds asked. "Ahh, Marybeth, " Debby said. "Oh, so you must be the best friend Mr Williams told me about. I'm guessing you still don't know what happened, " Detective Ronalds said. "What? What happened? Is something wrong? " Debby asked. "Well, do you trust me? " Detective Ronalds asked. "I just met you. How..., "Debby said. "Smart answer. You should never trust strangers. But I meant do you trust me as a Detective? " Detective Ronalds asked. "Well, yeah I guess, " Debby said. "Good then come with me, " Detective Ronalds said and headed for her car. Debby was hesitant but something convinced her to follow and she did.

They had been driving for about thirty minutes when Debby said, "Listen ma'am, if you're kidnapping me.... " Detective Ronalds scoffed. "Relax, I'm not kidnapping you and even if I was, it's too late for you to turn back now. You should've decided to stay when I asked you the first time. Though, as a Detective, I will advise you not to trust strangers, " the woman said. "You think I don't know that? I only followed you becau..., " Debby said. "I have a badge so I'm probably not lying. I know, I'm just saying. Anyway, we're here now and after this you'll be sure you can trust me, " Detective Ronalds said parking infront of a car in a totally different neighbourhood. She got out of the car saying, "Come on. "

Debby followed Detective Ronalds to the front door. She knocked and to Debby's surprise, Mrs Williams opened the door. And the stranger thing was that they seemed to know each other. Judging by Mrs Williams pale and stern expression, it wasn't in a good way.

"You? " Mrs Williams said. "Hey, old friend,  " Detective Ronalds responded. "What do you want? How did you know we're here? " Mrs Williams asked. The Detective touched her badge and Mrs Williams noticed it and said, "No, why would...? Philip! Philip Williams! Phil! " Mr Williams came rushing down saying, "Yes, is there a pro...." He stopped in his words seeing who was at the door. Mr Williams and the woman stared at each other for a few unnoticeable seconds which where interrupted by Mrs Williams' complaints.

"How could you allow this witch back into our lives? Why didn't you tell me she's the private detective you were talking about? And why her? Don't you know better than to...? " Mrs Williams said. "Relax, she's only here for her job. She's really good and I thought who could do this job better than..., " Mr Williams said but suddenly kept quiet when he noticed that Debby was there too. "Okay. Let's talk later, " Mr Williams said and turned to the Detective and Debby, "Please, come in. Both of you. Do what's needed. Marybeth is upstairs in the first room to your right. " Debby and the Detective got in and went to Marybeth's room.

Debby was confused as to what was going on but she was in shock when she finally set her eyes on Marybeth. Marybeth was sitting on the corner of her bed leaning on the headrest. She folded herself as though in fear or depression or something. What really shocked Debby was the bruises on her body and the weakness in her eyes. "Marybeth, " Debby said and went close. Before she could even lay a finger on Marybeth, the  woman said, "Don't touch her yet. Right now she's a piece of evidence herself. Just talk to her. See what she says. "

Debby sat on a chair near the bed and asked with concern, "Marybeth, what's going on? What happened to you? " Marybeth didn't respond. "Marybeth, please talk to me, " Debby pleaded. There was still no response. "Marybeth, " Debby said. "It says here that her jaw was hurt in the attack and it may take time for her to be able to move it without so much pain. Plus, with all that trauma, she must be too shaken to speak, " Detective Ronalds said. "What trauma? " Debby asked. "I've said too much already. I'm not sure if her family wants anyone else to know yet and even if they do, I'd prefer it if you heard it from them. Ask her parents, they'll tell you what happened and if you can help, " Detective Ronalds said and walked out.

Debby took one last look at Marybeth then followed the Detective. When they were on the bottom quarter of the staircase, Debby saw that Mr and Mrs Williams were in the living room. Mrs Williams glared at the Detective and Debby could tell something was up with those two. Maybe the Detective was an old girlfriend of Mr Williams or Mrs Williams' best friend, or ex best friend from what she saw. Whatever it was, Debby decided to focus on what was more important and asked. "What happened to Marybeth? Why is she so injured and what trauma is everyone talking about? " Debby asked. "Come here, take a seat, " Mr Williams said to Debby. Then he turned to Detective Ronalds and said, "Well Detective, if your job here is done for the day... " "Yeah, I was just leaving but what about the girl? " Detective Ronalds asked. "I'll take her back home, " he said. Mrs Williams and the Detective locked eyes again then she left.

"So, what's going on? " Debby asked. "Well, something terrible happed to Marybeth. On Friday night, we decided to go on a date night because it had been a while having some alone time. Since you kids completed school, we had extra time on our hands and decided to take it. So, we left Marybeth home alone not knowing that that night, someone would break in and well..., " Mrs Williams said but paused and tears came rushing out. "Whoever broke in, raped her, " Mr Williams continued.

In shock, Debby's eyes wided and her pitch hightened as she said, "What?! No! Why? How? Why didn't you call me to be with her. " "Trust me when I say, I wanted to but she told me you weren't on good terms so you probably wouldn't come and she was so sure she'd manage and she would've if her attacker didn't break in but..., " Mrs Williams said and broke into tears. Debby just stayed quiet in shock. She shouldn't have delayed. She should've called Marybeth. She should've been the bigger person.

"Then she said she wasn't on good terms with Joseph either and we weren't stupid enough to call Cameron. I don't trust that boy. Speaking of him, he's my number one suspect and if I find out it's him, I'll make sure he rots in jail. For now, we investigate. See what we can find and take it to court. But Debby, you can't tell anyone about this. You can't tell them where we are now or what's happening. If anyone asks, we're on holiday for a few weeks just giving Marybeth the life she didn't get to enjoy because of her condition, " Mr Williams said. Debby nodded, at this point, she had no words.