Friends To Die For (CURRENTLY BEING REWORKED)

nr. 5 - a sheriff's job

Sherrif Matthews was on his way up to Naomi's apartment. His daughter was a trustworthy person. If she was afraid something was wrong with one of her friends, there probably was. Altough, Naomi was a Party Girl and often changed her mind about things she wouldn't ditch a two week vacation with her friends.

He arrived at her door, with an unusual bad feeling in his gut. He knocked on the door. Nothing. He waited a couple seconds. Nothing. He knocked once more. It went on for a few minutes. He couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong. But he couldn't just kick down the door. What if she was just out, or sleeping or showering for that matter? The Sherrif had to let it go and maybe come back later.

He was almost back at the Elevator when he heard something fall inside Naomi's apartment. He knocked once more, this time a lot harder. "Naomi! This is Sherrif Matthews! Please open up if you're in there. Nellie is worried about you!" he yelled.

Sherrif Matthews heard a wince inside and then another thing falling and took that as his cue to make his way into the apartment. He, much to his surprise, didn't have to kick down the door. It wasn't even locked. Yet something was in the way of it. He had to put in all of his strength in order to get it to open.

The image that presented itself inside the apartment was, even for his trained eye, a sight of pure horror. Blocking the door was the body of a young man, his guts spilled sround him. And in the middle of it was Naomi - crawling around in a puddle of blood. Looking for help. She winced once more. It was the faintest and most silent sound Sherrif Matthews had ever heard from anyone.

"Oh my God! Naomi!" he yelled as he dropped down next to her. Matthews fished his phone out of his pocket, dialling 911. "Yeah, this is the Sherrif. I need an ambulence to Kings Lane 9, Apartment 26. The Occupant was attacked and is dying. Yes, please send someone immediatly!" he said, then hung up the phone.

"Naomi, what happened? Tell me who did this!" Sherrif Matthews demanded. Naomi brought out nothing but unexplainable babbling. The Sherrif didn't want to believe it, but it was obvious that Naomi wouldn't make it to see the next day. "I t's okay, just rest. You don't have to say anything." as much as the Sherrif wanted, no actually - needed, to know what happened. Who did this. But Naomi had lost way to much blood. It was a mirracle she even made it 'til this evening.

"Have you guys seen Mae?" Lyla asked Ryder and Seth. They were her last hope. No one else had seen her in two hours. "No, sorry." Seth said. "Maybe her boyfriend picked her up." Ryder shrugged. "And left her bags here? And didn't say good-bye? I don't think so." Lyla said, lightly hitting Ryder in the head. "Hey! Maybe she's coming back later." Ryder offered.

Lyla sighed. She was scared. She had promised her parents that Mae would be okay and kept out of trouble. If she had really driven off with her boyfriend and wouldn't come back her parents would give her hell. Mae had a tendency to run off when there were problems at home - and currently, there were enough!

"I hope she just comes back before tomorrow." Lyla said, sinking down on the couch in between the boys. "She will. Mae's a big girl, she knows how to handle herself." Ryder assured his friend. Lyla nodded, altough knowing she might not see Mae again so soon. It was probably too much to handle for her at home.

"She really wasn't able to give you any information, Sherrif?" Deputy James asked. "No, Deputy. Who knows how long she's been laying here." Sherrif Matthews said as the paramedics were preparing Naomi for transportation and bagged up the dead boy's body.

"Sheriff...Sherrif Matthews." Naomi suddenly whispered. "Yes, Naomi. What is it?!" Matthews asked. "Sherrif, we really have to go!" one of the paramedics told him. "Just a second." Sherrif Matthews said. He leaned towards Naomi. "Fr-Frie-Friends." she stuttered. The Sherrif looked at her confused. "What?" he asked. "I'm sorry, Sherrif Matthews. But we really have to go now!" the paramedic said, then wheeled Naomi out on the gurney she was laying on.

"What does that mean, 'Friends'?" Deputy James asked. "I don't know exactly, Danny. But I gotta go now. You know what to do from here on out?" Sheriff Matthews asked, despite knowing that Deputy James was more than familiar with the drill when there was a murder. "Of course. Contact the familys and send two officers to the hospital for Miss Jenssen's protection." Deputy James recided. "Exactly, thank you." Sheriff Matthews said, giving him a pat on the back.

He then slipped out of the apartment. Sherrif Matthews didn't want to show it, but he was in a state of panic. He knew exactly what "Friends." meant and he had to act fast. Matthews took his phone out once more, dialing an all-too-familiar number. "Lillian, we gotta go get the kids - now!" Sheriff Matthews demanded. "He's back!" he added.