DEAD INSIDE

(36)

"So Hugo told me you'd received threats..." The burly man started and I nodded. "When did it start?"

"I've already told everything to Officer Jenkins..." I answered blankly.

"Officer Jenkins?" He repeated with a frown. I nodded again and he must have felt my irritation because his voice grew softer. "No file has been opened in your name at the station, Alison..."

It was my turn to frown, now.

Why hadn't the policeman recorded my report in the station system?

"Her car was vandalized, first..." Mel said. "Somebody keyed in You're going to die, Bitch! It's your turn!"

"Then there was the note left in your locker..." Deedee said while he noted everything down. "What did that one say?" She asked.

"The countdown begins, fourteen days, be ready to die, Bitch!" Mel answered for me, her cute button nose scrunched up in disgust, and I shivered as the real threat behind those words sank in.

"Yeah, that's right." My blond friend acquiesced with the tip of her braid under her nose. "Tuesday she found a new note on her bed reminding her she had thirteen days left..." She paused.

"And Wednesday he left it in your mail box..." Mel went on. "Thursday night he came behind your window in his Killer clown costume holding a knife and the sign..." I closed my eyes at the memory and I was pulled back against a hard chest.

"I'm going to kill you... Ten days..." Deedee muttered, sounding as spooked as I'd been at the time.

"Can I see the notes?" The burly man's urgent tone worried me.

"I gave them to Officer Jenkins..." I muttered and his face looked even grimmer.

"Where are your parents?" He then asked.

"My father left us after my brother's..." My voice trailed and Gregory leaned his chin on my head in what was clearly meant to be a comforting gesture.

"Ali doesn't know where her mother is..." Mel once again came to my rescue.

"What do you mean?" His worried tone alarmed me so I explained what had happened on Tuesday and then told him about Charles' phone call the following evening. When I added that Officer Jenkins's plan this weekend was to locate her thanks to Charles' phone number, his eyes grew wide and he got his phone out.

"This is Officer Tanner, Maddy, could you do me a favor, please?" He paused. "Yeah, I'd like you to put Officer Jenkins on the phone for me..." He paused again. "He doesn't work today?" He furrowed his eyebrows. "On holidays? Since when?" He shook his head. "I want you to send a patrol to his house immediately... I'll explain later just do it, Maddy." The urgency in his tone made the blood freeze in my veins.

"What's going on?" Mel asked but he ignored her and turned to me instead.

"What did he look like?"

"Ugh?" I was confused.

"The man who pretended to be Officer Jenkins!" He shot back, getting annoyed now.

My ears started ringing and my stomach churned, and I had to grab Gregory's arms to keep my balance.

"H-he was of medium height, blond-haired, brown eyes, in his forties..." I was yet again grateful for Mel's intervention as I was finding it increasingly difficult to breathe.

"Shhh..." Goosebumps sprang as his warm breath caressed the sensitive skin of my neck. "Take a deep breath..." I let his voice guide me. "Exhale... That's good, again..."