STRAWBERRY VALLEY MYSTERIES: BOOK 1 - BAD PARTS

CHAPTER 2: UNSETTLING

The two cops, Barney and Gregory (sometimes known as Greg), stumbled across Max and Rose. Greg spoke with a deepened grimace.

"What seems to be the problem? And aren't you supposed to be home? It's midnight, for God's sake."

Breathing heavily, Rose took a few moments to calm herself before she said, "We... we saw something..."

"'Something?' Miss, is there something wrong?" Barney asked, taking a flashlight and shining the beam in the direction behind him, tilting his head.

Seeing nothing, he turned it off and looked at Greg.

"We... I... I swear we saw something. We saw a..."

"We found a body," Max piped up.

"A body? You didn't kill the person, did you?" Greg asked, suspicious.

"No, she was like that, Mr..."

"Gregory. Gregory Tucker. And this is Barney Donovan. You're avoiding my question. What are you two doing out here?"

"I... uh... we..."

"We were walking home from a date," Max started.

"What the hell is wrong with you!? It was just an outing, Max!" Rose went red.

"Leave the girl alone, Mr. Or I'm afraid we're gonna have to detain you," Barney said.

"For what, damn it?"

"Watch your language, boy. For harassing her into an answer she seems uncomfortable with. Go ahead, miss. Your... 'friend'... can sit in the car with Greg discussing manners. Did he put you up to this? Did he take you out here?"

"No?" Rose asked.

"What, you unsure of yourself? Can't you answer a single question confidently? Who are your parents?"

"I don't have to tell you anything," Rose replied hysterically.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked again, his voice low, as his hand inched toward his holster, the tension in the air almost palpable. "No. Please don't do that. I'm not... I'm not..."

"Insane?" he helped.

"Yeah, uh, no. I'm not. I'm just, uh, practically traumatized by what we saw."

"And what did you see?"

"The asylum..."

"Ah, yes. I know all about that place. Anything about it? You didn't go in there, did you, miss?"

"Uh, no. Of course not."

"You sound unconvincing. Do I have to detain you as well?"

"What!? No! Just call my parents!"

"And are they gonna tell me you're mentally deranged? You're acting weird. In all my years, I've never seen anyone act like you."

"Mentally deranged? What kind of cop are you, anyway? What cop asks a kid if they're insane!?"

Greg and Barney exchanged a look. They could tell that Rose was upset and on edge. Barney turned back to her and said, "Look, miss, we're just doing our job. We need to ask these questions, and we need you to be honest with us. Can you do that?"

Rose fidgeted  her Fingers nervously. She looked at Max, who shrugged his shoulders in response.
"Yes, I can be honest."
After a few moments of uneasy silence, Barney spoke up again.
"Good. Now, let's start from the beginning. Can you tell us what happened tonight?" Rose looks at the two cops that where in front of her and said "Well i- uhh. "