Beached

Four: Ellison Reed

CAUTION

I yelled at Benci. I didn't mean to. It's just, Mara has been murdered, and we don't know who killed her.

Where the hell did Cecil go to?

Why did Mara text me?

Why did any of this happen?

Benci ended the call. Soon bright flashing blue and red lights. They pulled me away from Mara. They put a linen towel over her distorted face.

My father and Paxton arrived soon. The police then questioned me. I was numb, shocked, paralyzed, or something else. I really don't know what I was. I was barely even paying attention.

"Mr. Reed. Mr. Reed, please, stay with us. I know you went through a traumatic night, but please answer the question. Can you walk me through your night leading up to finding Ms. Ivanov?" The police officer asked.

"She texted me. I'm at the beach, please hurry. I need help. So, I don't know what else. I ran. I ran towards the beach. Cecil and Benci Ellsworth were there. They tried to calm me down, but I don't know, something pulled me back. Then, Cecil froze looking like my white silk sheets. Then-then, I just saw something moving on that side of the beach. I don't know, I guess instincts took over or it was adrenaline, I just ran. Then-ah-she-she was there. Lifeless, throat torn, and black bruises covering her body. I started to-nothing, it's unimportant on what I did. Then, Benci froze until I told him to call someone. I don't know really what happened in that time frame. But, I know for sure that Mara was supposed to be in Russia visiting family. Why was she here? Can you run through plane tickets to see if any tickets were sold to her?" I just wanted an answer that gave me an answer. I did not want a vague answer, I just want an answer.

"What did you do when you saw her?" The police officer pushed on the question.

"I gagged. What else was I supposed to do? Jesus, my girlfriend just died!"

"Is there anyone who would want to do this to her?"

"Not that I kn-well, her father was always mean to her, but no, he would never do this. That's silly to even think about."

"Mr. Reed, any information you can provide is vile. You need to understand, an innocent woman died today."

"I understand! I saw her die in front of me! She-she-nevermind! You know what, this is-this is useless. I didn't kill her! Her father might've, I don't know. There's a new family that moved into town just today. You can probably get more information from Benci."

The police officer sighed and handed me a card that read:

ESSEX COUNTY POLICE STATION

978-785-0092

He left me be and went to talk to Benci.

Paxton ran over to me and embraced.

"Elli! What happened?" Paxton exclaimed. I could see tears welling up in his eyes.

"Thank God, you did not see her body." I shuddered. My father just looked at with condolence.

At first, I'm surprised he didn't do anything else. But, what can you do? Your son just lost someone else that they love. On the sixth month anniversary of your wife and mother of your children dying, your second oldest son's best friend and girlfriend dies.

"Ellison, I'm so sorry. It's so-" Paxton started to cry into my arm.