sinister

The dread

As soon as Charlotte was pronounced dead, Vivian instructed everyone to leave the nursery. This was a crime scene now. She couldn't be certain without forensic testing but it was clear that the sudden way Charlotte died wasn't an accident. She had only just left work for the night but she knew she had to work on this case. She called her station and requested uniform officers, forensics and her partner DS Sara Cribs-Marmite.

The only problem was that now the nursery was closed, she had nobody to take care of Jamie while she worked. She didn't have any family, it was Vivian and Jamie against the world.

She knew she only had one option. “Shibs, I know this isn't ideal but can you please watch Jamie. Just for the time being? I don't have anyone else. I'll pay-” She was cut off by Siobhan grabbing onto her hand, “You don't need to pay, don't worry. Jamie will be safe with me.” Siobhan said as she kneeled down to be at eye level with Jamie. “Would you like to go and get ice cream?” She said as she offered her hand to him.

Autumn looked over at them during this interaction. She didn't know Siobhan had such a sweet side, she always presented herself as a cold and heartless woman. Clearly that wasn't true. She decided that Siobhan would probably need some help, she hadn't worked in the rooms for a long time. She walked over to Siobhan, “I'll help you Siobhan. It takes a village and he is going to be cranky soon.” Siobhan was taken aback by Autumn's offer. They had never had a good relationship so the fact she wanted to help her was a complete shock. “Thankyou Autumn.”

They both led Jamie towards Siobhan’s car. Autumn went and took his carseat from the back of Vivian's car, and put it in Siobhan's backseat. Thankfully Jamie was just in a booster seat so it wasn't too complicated for them to fit it in correctly. They got Jamie strapped into his carseat and before Autumn closed the door Jamie shouted “Bye Mummy!!” while waving at Vivian. Vivian waved back and blew him a kiss. Oh how she would miss him. She wouldn't stop thinking about him until she saw him again, she knew he was safe with Siobhan though. She trusted her.

As Siobhan's car pulled out of the carpark, everyone Vivian had called for began to arrive. Vivian instructed some of the uniform officers to tape the crime scene up, while the rest of them were asked to get statements from all the staff members.  Vivian gave Sara a run down of everything she knew so far and filled her in on who all the staff members were. The staff currently in the carpark were Marjorie, Mia, Sorscha, Carly, Winter, Jodie, Agatha and Chef.

Everyone else was standing around the nursery doors, they all looked confused and didn't really understand what was going on. They just knew that Charlotte had died. Mia however was sitting with her back to the wall of the nursery, hugging her knees to her chest with her head resting into her knees. She was trying to ignore everything going on around her and this was the best way she knew how. She had been doing this ever since she was a kid and her parents would fight. She was sobbing into her knees, slightly rocking herself as an attempt to self soothe.

Marjorie stood beside her the entire time. She didn't know how to comfort her though, they weren't even friends, let alone close enough for that. She did know someone who was though. Thankfully Reece, Marjorie's boyfriend, was Mia’s ex. They had spent over 20 years together so if anyone knew how to comfort her it was Reece. She had rung him as soon as they were escorted outside. He had to finish closing the nursery first but she knew he would be there soon.

Sorscha was freaking out, this reminded her way too much of Clodagh. Everything did. She was trying to keep her strong persona though, she didn't want to show that she was affected by this. Agatha could tell she was trying to keep herself calm, the two women had grown really close. Agatha really saw herself in Sorscha, she just wanted the best for her.

Agatha turned to face Sorscha, “It's okay to cry Sorscha.” With that Sorscha broke down, she didn't want to admit it to Agatha but she had never felt so alone. This was all reminding her of losing her wife, she was heartbroken. Agatha did her best to try and comfort Sorscha, she wasn't very maternal but she gave the kind of hugs that you just melt into.

Everyone was just in a state of shock. They didn't really know what to do, or what to say. Nobody knew it yet but this was all about to get worse. The killer is lurking, and nobody is safe.