Beached

Five: Benci Ellsworth

The police officer started to question me.

"Mr. Ellsworth, can you tell me the events leading up to see Ms. Ivanov?" The police officer asked.

"Yes, I picked my brother up from a friend's house. He had a mild panic attack, so we went down to the beach. We were talking, then Ellison ran towards us. He was freaking out asking where Mara was. Cecil looked down one end, then he ran off-"

"Where did your brother go?"

"I don't know. The way he ran, it looked like back to his friend's house."

"Where does your friend live?"

"620 Prince Street. The Bloodworths. There's Caryn Bloodworth, Teagan Bloodworth, and Aaliyah Bloodworth."
The police officer signaled another officer.

"Go to 620 Prince Street. The family there is the Bloodworths. Caryn, Teagan, and Aaliyah. Cecil Ellsworth is the last witness. We need to question him as well." The main police officer said. The second one nodded and signaled others to go with him.

"Tell me anything else." The officer turned back to me.

"I froze when I saw her. It was awful. Ellison was on his knees just sobbing. The smell was the worse. The weird thing is Ellison said she texted, I didn't see her phone on her though. She's was supposed to be in Russia with her family."

"Okay, anyone who would do this to her?"

"Maybe her father."

"Mr. Reed said a new family moved in today."

"Oh, that's the Linwoods. I talked to Fitz Linwood. Poor kid is a junior and his father is forcing him to take law school when he's out of school. How he talked about his father wants to lead me clues to him as well. There was something though. There was a sketchy boat in the harbor when I walked past it this morning. Then, later, the same boat was in the Linwoods driveway. The father pulled in with the boat connected to his car."

"Why was it sketchy?"

"It threw something overboard."

"You did not even think to call coast guard?"

"I thought it was another net."

"Where do the Linwoods live?"

"979 Story Avenue."

The officer handed me a card:

ESSEX COUNTY POLICE STATION

978-785-0092

They found Cecil and brought him home after questioning him. My mom took off work and her boss understood what happened. Fitz texted me a little after twelve.

Fitz: So, I just got questioned by the police.

Benci: About?

Fitz: Apparently, there was a murder and someone mentioned a sketchy boat. Our boat.

Benci: What happened?

Fitz: Ah, they questioned my father. But, it's okay.

Benci: Well, that murder was my friend Mara. I had to mention the boat because they said everything, I'm sorry Fitz, I know you would never do that, but how you talked about your father made me question it.

Fitz: It's okay. Honestly, I would not surprised if he did murder her.

Benci: That's sad

I sighed as my mom switched it to the news.

"I'm Chara Hartwood, with breaking news tonight on WHDH 7 news, your reliable news source." Chara said.

"And I'm Harry Urquhart. We have Becca Lop on the scene." Harry said.

"I am here where a tragic murder just happened tonight. The victim was Mara Ivanov, a local Russian resident, who was supposed to be in Russia with her mother and father visiting family. She was found pronounced dead at the scene. She suffered from major injuries. Including severing of the throat and major bruising. Her friends and boyfriend both found her. We do not know the official cause of death." Becca announced.

Mom whispered a few, "God bless," and, "oh, God."

Benci: How are you?

Ellison: Okay.

Benci: Are you sure?

Ellison: Yes.

Benci: You can come over if you want

Ellison: It's okay, Paxton is staying in my room tonight

He's not okay. I know it.

My phone chimed, It was from Fitz.

Fitz: Do you want to talk about it tomorrow? 280b, Cabot Street.

That's the Gusto Coffee. It's a nice one. They have live performances sometimes.

Benci: Yes. Is 9:30 okay?

Fitz: Sure

I threw my phone on the other end of the couch. Cecil was asleep. Mom was watching the T.V. intently. I sighed and walked upstairs to go to bed. My auburn hair was now a mess from the wind.

I think I just got asked to a date.