Glitter and gold

*Chapter 11*

The officers regrouped and the meeting continued at a fast rate presumably to get it over and done with. There was clear evidence and a strong alibi that proved Natasha couldn't have been involved in the murders. She was informed that the top detectives were being put in this case and officers from different departments told her how to handle the obstacles in her way . After 2 hours in the stuffy room Natasha finally emerged and walked over to the receptionist to sign out. "Hello I'm here to sign out. I'm was just in a meeting" the receptionist's eyes lit up.

"Yes, your Miss Bloom aren't you?"  He asked handing her a clipboard with various columns.

"Yep, that's me." Natasha muttered under her breath and she started to write her full name and the time. The receptionist couldn't contain his curiosity any longer and when she handed back the board he began to question her.

"What's it like having 2 of your ex-boyfriends dead" Natasha was going to correct him but remembered that no one knew about the most recent 'delivery'.

"I can't talk about it sorry" she answered but the receptionist insisted on getting a response.

"So I'm guessing your not talking to reporters then." He said looking away while fiddling with paper and folders.

"No I'm not but I don't know why you would care." The man shuffled uncomfortably in his seat and Natasha walked away triumphantly. Clara met up with her at the door and they walked slowly to the car together. Natasha wanted to appreciate the moment of quite and peace before big time news reporters would want to interview the star of the case herself. They sat in the car for a couple of minutes in silence until Clara's phone went off and she pulled over to answer it. "Hello Lucas what's up?" Clara asked   giving a reassuring smile to Natasha. "Oh ok yeh sure" she passed the phone over to Natasha and whispered about Heather. Natasha held the phone to her ear suprised by the sobbing and burst of crying from Heather.

"Heather, Heather listen to me" Natasha tried to calm her sister down by counting to 8 and back down. When Heather would cry at the orphanage, Natasha always used the same method to calm her down so the warden wouldn't find and punish them. "Say it with me 1,2,3,4"

"I can't do that. I just need to know that your ok" heather interrupted but Natasha continued to count.

"1,2,3,4,5." Natasha made it to 5 until Heather yelled over her counting.

"That's not going to work on me now. I'm not 5 any more!" This time Heather was yelling so Natasha stoped counting and ignored Clara's worried face. The line went quite.

"I've watched the news. I just-just want to make sure your all right" heathers voice was now defeated but she had stoped crying.

"I'm fine"

"Don't lie to me"

"Ok, I could be better" they both laughed. "Why did you call Clara's phone?" Natasha asked looking out the window watching the cars and buildings go by.

"I tried to call your phone but you weren't answering." Natasha sat up and felt her pockets. She sighed out and banged her hand on the window.

"Can I call you back?" Natasha asked

"Yeh sure" Heather hung up leaving Natasha holding the phone to her ear.

"I've just remembered that I left it at the police station" Clara gave a sarcastic shake of the head and turned the car around nearly driving into a parked car. She looked the other way and started singing

"I didn't see that . I didn't see that!" After a few minutes back tracking where Natasha had walked, they ended up at the receptionists desk and looked at the empty space. She glanced over and saw him standing over at the water dispenser so she turned back to the desk and saw her blue phone case. It was sitting next to the computer so Natasha lent over the desk and reached out for it.

They arrived back home and Clara drove of leaving Natasha on the doorstep. It only took one knock for the door to open and she was embraced into a warm hug by her sister. They sat down at the table and Natasha explained everything from the first murder all the way to the last .

"Why didn't you tell me?" Heather asked holding onto Natasha's hands.

"I wasn't aloud to but trust me I would if I could." She replied and they both stayed quite staring at the kitchen table cloth. Suddenly Heather stood up and smiled like a small child receiving candy.

"I got you an advent calendar!" Heather said looking at the clock behind her. "It's the 20th so you have loads of chocolate to eat." Natasha followed her into the living room and gasped at the tree standing in the corner. After eating her chocolate, Natasha started to look through the decoration box and untangle the lights. For the rest of the night they decorated the tree, danced to Christmas songs and Heather was close to slapping Natasha because of her terrible puns.
It was peaceful, calm, serene.

Ring, ring. Ring, ring