The Storm Herald Series {#Wattys2018}

1.5

"Clark, Mackenzie, I brought pizza!" I hear Martha call out. I set my laptop on my bed, then hurry down the stairs. Clark comes in through the back door, and I see Jonathan has already sat down at the table.

I have been in Smallville for two days, but I haven't gotten any leads on who Queenie's killer is. It makes me frustrated. To top things off, with my frustration and anger getting the best of me, I have started a couple of grassfires. Just my luck.

"Mackenzie, you ok?" Clark asks me. I look up at him,"I'm fine. Why?"

"You were just staring off into space," he tells me. I chuckle,"no, I'm just... Stressed. Highly stressed." I wash my hands in the sink, then hand Martha a plate with a piece of pizza. She accepts it with thanks, so I smile at her. After I make sure to get everyone, I get myself a piece of pizza, then sit at the table. I daze off again, thinking to myself.

"Who's the sheriff that's working the case?" I suddenly ask, sitting up straight.

"I'm pretty sure Officer Fennel and Officer Mars are," Jonathan informs me, looking up.

"Wait, Winnie and Duncan?" I ask, a grin growing on my face. Clark nods,"yeah, Winnie and Duncan." I don't answer, but just sorta grin to myself.

***

"Hey, Kenzie, I'll drive you," Clark says, catching up with me. I glance at him,"alright." I climb into his truck, and he starts it up.

"Thanks so much for helping me," I look at him. He shrugs,"it's no problem. I have to go into town, anyways." I smile at him, then open my phone, unlocking the secure browser. My screen name, Wright_Sister, pops up, and I type in my password.

Wright_Sister: Hey, Lois, I have a lead.

Skeptic_Girl1: really? Spill

I chuckle, when Lois' screen name pops up in reply, almost instantly. We've been talking about leads, and who could possibly be responsible for what happened.

Wright_Sister: Clark is taking me to the sheriff's station, and I'll ask the officers on the case.

Skeptic_Girl1: that hardly seems like a lead at all...

Wright_Sister: I'm taking what I can get, Lois. It's the closest I've come.

Lois' text box appears, with the typing symbol in it, but she takes forever. Seriously, how long can one person take to type?

Skeptic_Girl1: alright. Be safe out there, Mackenzie.

And that ends our conversation. I log out of the chat, and exit the browser. I look up, and see that we have made it to the sheriff's station.

"Thanks, Clark," I say, climbing out of the truck. He smiles at me,"yeah, no problem. What time do you think you'll need to be picked up?" I shrug,"I don't how long this will take. I can just walk back, when I'm done."

"Alright, be safe out there, Mackenzie," Clark tells me, pulling away. For a second, I stand there, blinking. Did he just say goodbye the same way Lois does? Coincidence? Perhaps. I shake out my head, ignoring the strange feeling rushing into my chest. That's a mystery I will figure out for another time.

Going into the sheriff's station, I look around, first at the front desk, then down the hallway, that no doubt leads to interrogation rooms and jail cells.

"How may I help you, Ma'am?" the Man at the front desk asks me. I look up at him,"I'm here to see Officers Fennel and Mars."

"Just down that hall," he informs me, pointing to a hallway behind him. I go that way, shoving my phone into my messenger bag, after I put it on silent.

"Duncan, I don't think that's very much of a good lead!" I hear a voice yell from an open I door. I go to it, then knock on the frame. Two people look up at me, both with wide eyes.

"Mackenzie?" Winnie asks. I nod,"can I come in?" Winnie quickly nods, standing up to hug me.

"What brings you here?" Duncan asks, from his chair.

"I'm looking for leads on Queenie's murder," I explain. "I was hoping you guys could give me some." Duncan takes in a deep breath,"Ms. Wright, I'm sorry, but we can't give you any information."

"Well, why not?" I ask, shock.

"We're not allowed to release any information to the public, unless, of course, it's for a press release," Winnie explains. I give a huff of frustration.

"Are you guys serious right now?" I yell. "I am trying to find my sister's murderer, and I need your guys' help!" Duncan folds his hands,"Ms. Wright, I assure you, we are doing everything in our power."

"Well, try harder!" I shout. "You have a killer on the loose, and who knows!? Maybe he'll kill again!" Winnie comes over to me,"Mackenzie please calm down, and I'll walk you out front." I huff, but let Winnie lead me out of the room.

"I'm going to give a photocopy of the murder file," she whispers to me. I raise an eyebrow,"you are?" Winnie nods,"yeah. Eyewitness reports, photos of the scene, everything." I smile,"oh, thank you, Winnie, thank you!"

"Hey, don't tell Duncan, you hear, or he'll have my head," she hisses, leading me over to the photocopier. She makes me wait there, then goes to a filing cabinet. Searching through a drawer, she quickly comes back with a folder, and a Manila envelope. Winnie makes me copies, then quickly puts them in the Manila envelope.

"Do not open these until you are alone, you got that?" she says to me, her face serious. I nod,"yes, I understand. Thanks again, Winnie."

"You're welcome. Now go, before Duncan finds out I gave you copies."

I smile, then put the envelope in my bag. Going back outside, I notice some clouds have started to move in on the horizon. Once I'm far enough from the station, I grab my phone from my bag. Strangely, I have three missed calls from Cato. I call him back, worried.

"Hey, Mackenzie," comes his voice from the other end.

"Cato, what's wrong?" I ask right off the bat. "You called me three times." A sigh, then his answer,"yeah... Kenzie, I wanted to talk about us. Like us as a couple."

"What? Why?"

"Because I want to break up with you."

I stop in my tracks,"what!? Cato!?"

"I'm sorry, Mackenzie," he says, then hangs up the phone. I stuff my phone into my back pocket, then start walking again. As I walk, I feel a strange sensation run through my body. It makes me feel cold, so I wrap my jacket around me, tighter. But it's not the air that's making me cold.

I stop, just in time to black out, and collapse to the sidewalk.