Forever theirs.

Sixteen

A month passed as Beatrice sat in the cafe with Cheryl as she went on about a guy she had been dating.
Beatrice just listened as she sipped her latte.
"He's sweet but overbearing I guess.
What do you think?" Cheryl asked.
"I'm not the best with relationships.
I don't know what to say" she said.
"How did you know you met the one or one's?" Cheryl asked.
"I just knew I guess," Beatrice said.
"You just knew.
How do you "just know"?" Cheryl said.
"I can't tell you," she said.
Ste then walked to the table with two muffins.
"Ste when did you know when Doig was the one for you?" Cheryl asked.
"I just knew," Ste said.
"Is everyone this useless?" Cheryl said.
"No, it's just that simple.
The minute you start developing things you'll just know" Beatrice said.
Suddenly Brendan busted into the cafe.
"Why are you here?
You were just here an hour ago" Doug asked.
"I'm her ride, Dougie," Brendan said before dragging a chair across the cafe to Beatrice.
"You don't need to come collect her like you her dad," Cheryl said.
"It's more fun.
Plus I get to see you annoyed which is the highlight of my morning" Brendan said.
"Hey," she said before kissing him.
She then looked at him.
"Get a room will you," Cheryl said.
"No," Brendan said before kissing her cheek.
"You ok?" she asked.
"Yeah just happy to see you" he said.
She could see something was bothering him but couldn't figure it out.
"Are you sure that's all?
We can go to the car and talk" she said.
"Maybe later," he said.
She looked at Cheryl.
"It's been fun.
Call me if you get any updates ok" she said.
"Don't say that.
I'll be on the phone with you for a whole twenty-four hours" Cheryl said.
"One of them would disconnect the phone after two" Beatrice said as she stood up.
"I know.
I grew up with this one" Cheryl said.
Beatrice laughed.
"I'll see you later," Beatrice said before walking to the car.
She sat in the passenger seat before watching Brendan get in next to her.
"It's just us.
What's bothering you?" she asked.
He looked at her "The police found out who killed that guy" he said.
She froze.
After all this time they finally did their job.
"Who is it?" she asked.
He didn't want to tell her as he didn't want her to cry.
He knew her too well.
"Brendan who is it?" she asked again.
"His wife," he said.
"Tracy?" she asked.
"She's been arrested," he said.
"What about the kids?" she asked.
"The police tore the house apart as their bodies were in the walls.
They're all dead" Brendan said.
"No.
No, no, no" she said.
"Simon is at the station waiting for you.
They need to question you" Brendan said.
"Question me?
I didn't kill him.
I wouldn't oh god" she said before sobbing.
He held her as she started to panic.
"I thought this was behind us," she said.
"I know.
I'm sorry" he said.
"Can't we just go home?
We can pack and move to Ireland.
They won't bother us there.
We can start fresh" she said.
"I can't have the police after you," he said before driving away from the cafe.
"I promise after this I'll get you away from this.
Just not yet" he said.
"It won't matter," she said.

They got to the station before walking in.
Brendan took her into a room where Simon was and a man she guessed was the detective set to interrogate her.
"Beatrice Marshall.
I'm Detective Harper.
If you would follow me" he said.
"Well be right outside love," Simon said.
She didn't look at either of them before walking into the room.
Detective Harper locked the door only scaring her more.
"Sit," he said.
She sat down at a table before watching him sit across from her.
"I don't need to start this off lightly.
You were the one that found the victim that correct?" he asked.
"Yes," she said.
"Were you the owner of the art studio before it was knocked down?" he asked.
"Yes.
I was the owner for a few months" she said.
"And did you know the victim personally" he asked.
"No.
We talked in the studio but that was it" she said.
"Is it true you were having an affair with the victim?" he asked.
"No," she said.
"Is there anyone that can prove that?" he asked.
"No," she said.
"Do you think I should believe you Beatrice?" he asked.
"I don't know," she said.
"Yes or no," he said.
"I don't know" she repeated.
"Where were you between four and five pm that night?" he asked.
"On a date," she said.
"Who could prove that?" he asked.
"Brendan Brady and Simon Walker," she said.
She could feel his eyes burning into her as she struggled to make eye contact.
She didn't want to do this.
"Did you speak to the victim that day?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"Verbal responses only," he said.
"No.
He had been missing for a while before that night" she said.
"I was told by a reliable source that you keep a switchblade with you.
The victim's wounds suggest he was killed by a switchblade" he said.
"I didn't kill him.
I don't think I could of even if I wanted to" she said.
"So you wanted to," he said.
"No.
I would never hurt anyone" she said.
"Can anyone prove that behaviour?" he asked.
"Brendan Brady and Simon Walker," she said.
"Getting back onto the topic of the switchblade you carry.
Get it out" he said.
"I don't have it," she said.
"Did you dispose of it after you killed the victim?" he asked.
"I didn't kill him.
I just left the switchblade in my old apartment" she said.
"The apartment we already searched," he said.
"What?" she asked.
"Is there something you would like to admit to Beatrice Marshall?" he asked.
"No," she said as tears ran down her face.
He then put her switchblade on the table.
It was covered in blood.
"No.
No, it wasn't me" she said.
"Beatrice Marshall we will be holding you here until we find proof that you did not kill the victim.
As you have no one that can be a witness to you I suggest you get comfortable" he said before two police officers dragged her out of the room.
"I didn't do it!
Why won't you fucking believe me?" she cried out.
Simon and Brendan never moved so fast as she was thrown into the room.
"What the fuck is this?" Brendan asked.
"We have mass evidence that your partner killed the victim.
We will be holding her here for a few weeks until we find something else" the detective said.
They handcuffed her.
They then dragged her out.
"She wouldn't hurt a fly.
I already told you his wife killed him" Simon said.
"You bastard," Brendan said.
"We are doing this for security purposes.
I suggest you go home and wait things out" the detective said.
Simon pushed the detective back as he went to leave.
"We both knew her days before this happened.
She was always with us so she didn't kill Trevor.
Someone that fucking kind doesn't do that.
Release her now" Simon said.
"I can't do that," the detective said.
"I think you can.
How much do you want?" Brendan asked.
"Her bail is still being calculated.
Wait a day or two and we'll contact you" he said.
"I don't think you understand.
We're not leaving without her because she is fucking innocent you loon" Brendan said.
"I can't do anything now," he said.
Brendan growled before punching the wall while she hid in the corner of a holding cell not knowing what to think.
Everything was ok and now she didn't know if anything was alright or if she was just ignoring it.