A single bullet // M.C

03

Silence as far as the ear could hear, unbearable silence.

"Mom, did you know?" I broke it, cut through it with a knife (slightly harsher than wanted)

"What? That your dad was apart of whatever craps happening around us and you've made yourself a target."  Tension raised again at the end of her sentence.

"I didn't do anything mom. I-," how could I defend this. My own dad was killed at the hands of four stone cold hearted killers, one of whom has never been sighted before.

"It was targeted at you. I don't know why you don't just quit that job Nicola." I cringed inside at the use of my full name looking down at the cream coloured carpeted floors. "Does Kensie know?"

"I haven't been home." I admitted finally locking matching eyes of my own. "I came here as soon as Morgan ended the call with you. He did wish he could have told you in person though but he's got to go inform Alex." Oh sweet Alex.

"Your brother's going to be heartbroken." Mom whispered shaking her head "he was the reason he went into the police force."

Alex Smith, previously mentioned, my dear younger brother. The happier of the two of us with a darling wife and kid named Austin. Also a fellow police officer and a part of our uncles team.

"We both know Morgan was the reason." I joked standing up and walking over to mom sitting next to her, my arm falling over her shoulders.

"But he did love telling dad all the stories before it got published." She sighed. "I just can't believe it." I rubbed her shoulder trying to comfort her before she slightly moved away. Understandable, I did basically cause this.

"Mama you ok if I go?" I stood up without letting her answer me grabbing my bag as she nodded.

" I think that's the best thing." Ok ouch that hurt. I waved goodbye before walking to the door not saying a single word before shutting the door behind me.

Music blasted through my ears as soon as I placed black headphones over my head and connected them to my phone. I just walked. Walked to wherever my feet wanted to take me occasionally looking down at my phone hoping for a message from mom saying come back I didn't mean it. I knew she blamed me for this. It was always a fear of hers that I would report something and drag the family into it. The exact thing I've done.

"Excuse me miss? This is an active crime scene you can't be here," on their own my eyes rolled as I removed my headphones and faced the origin of the voice.

"Morgan- sorry officer Morgan said I can come here until it's cleaned up. I'm the reporter reporting this murder."

"Oh the woman who gave my partner attitude earlier when he was just doing his job. You were here a few hours ago. Nothings changed you don't have to be here again."

"Listen here-." I started before remembering this is a police officer and Morgan isn't here to keep me out of trouble. "Look Morgan is my uncle, and he trusts me. I've also grown up around and been around 90% of the scenes since the department came to life. He trusts me to look around when there aren't a ton of officers incase something's been missed. He also lets me do my job."

"I'll have to have it confirmed by him-."

"There's no need," my phone was already in my manicured hand as I was typing a message to Morgan awaiting his reply that came instantly before the officers phone rang. Corners of my lips turned upwards as his went down, the smug look coming off his face as he hung up the phone.

"Sorry Miss Smith, please proceed with what you were doing." He scurried away as I pulled my headphones back onto my ears walking back over to where my father was found. Hazel fluttered around as my eyes scanned the scene sighing out loud when seeing nothing new.

There has to be a reason. A motive. Was he involved? Suddenly something caught my eye a corner of a bloody paper hidden under the bin nearby. Slowly I reached out and grabbed it wiping off the excess dirt and grime covering it.

Colour drained from my face as I reread the few words littered on the paper. This was 100% made for me to see and spot. Only for my eyes.

Your article isn't a lie anymore. Shame your dad had to be the one to finally meet C
M

What a dick.

Questions still ran through my mind of how they got to my dad so quickly. The article was published mere hours before this was seen and happened which meant they would have found him almost instantly. Did they have connections nearby?

"Hello?" A single noise pierced through my headphones breaking me from the music playing. My hand pulled my headphones down to my neck as I turned, fear filling me. "Hello?" I yelled out again about to slap an officer if it was the one who stopped me earlier. However I didn't see anyone, not even him.

I pocketed the note deep in my blazer pocket standing fully up and heading away from the bin, more out in the open.

"This isn't funny!" I almost had to stop myself from stomping my foot in frustration as no one was near me anymore. Whatever the noise was has gone. "Twats." I muttered shaking my head leaving the scene not caring anymore to find anymore information, I had to get home. "You're just freaking yourself out Nicky. Everything is fine."

After what felt like forever I arrived home unlocking the door and walking in.

"Nicky! I heard."

"Happy to see you to Kensie." I smiled softly pulling my headphones off and chucking them on the sofa. "You heard my dad was killed?"

"Amelia told me, granted after Morgan did."

"Of course she did. He was killed by the gang Ken's. And this was only article one. What if every report, every articles equals one death family member or friend." Sofa looked homely as I sat down sinking into the plush cushions.

"This has nothing to do with your article Nic. Morgan thinks he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time." I looked confused at her. Did he not mention the X.

"Of course." I ended the conversation there making it clear I didn't want to talk about it. I didn't want to voice anything, this is all for an article. If I even make another one, what if mom's next. Or Kensie. Even Alex or Morgan, there's nothing stopping them from going against police officers.

All I know is I'm now fucked with whatever I do. Especially with the note buried deep within my pocket.

——