Without Me

Numb

"What have you done now?" Ashley questioned raising an eyebrow up at Marshall. She was still knelt on the floor by his chair when the loudness of the police knocking at the door started again.

"I ain't done anything. It's probably about Alonzo or something," Marshall stood up shrugging his shoulders. Ashley stood up with him and followed him out of the kitchen and into the hallway.

Two figures could quite clearly be seen standing outside the front door, despite the cloudy distorted way the glass in the door made them look. Marshall was in front of her so he was the one that pulled the handle down and was the first person the police came face to face with. Well, the police and Jamie with Lizzy snuggled up in his arms.

"Good evening Mr Mathers, Mrs Calderon, I..."

"Jackson it's Ashley Jackson," Marshall gritted out, not caring that he was being glared at by two serious looking cops and Ashley's unsatisfied gaze burrowing into the back of his head.

"I'm sure there more important things at the moment Marshall. What can we do for you?" Ashley nudged Marshall out of the way so she was now stood directly in the doorway in front of the two officers.

"Alonzo Riva was found dead in the interrogation room back at the station," Ashley's eyes widened and her heart beat faster. If the news got out about his death in the media than it would be a disaster, no matter what the cause of his death was.

"Was it suicide?" Marshall asked from his new position behind Ashley. He stepped closer to her so that he could rest his hand on her shoulder. Alonzo was an asshole, but his sudden death rocked Marshall to the core, he wouldn't wish death on anybody even if they were one of Ash's ex-boyfriends. Once he'd asked the question he wished he hadn't because he was afraid he already knew the answer to his question and he hoped he was wrong.

"No, we are at the moment treating it as murder. He was found with a gunshot wound to the back of his head and in the centre of his back. It was very clear that suicide had not been something we needed to investigate," Ashley nodded, a dead weight laying itself across her heart and chest, all of a sudden she was left gasping for air. The shock and fear left her numb and the news had become all too much and she felt very much sick to her stomach.

"We believe that it is best we put you and the Mathers family into protective custody as we believe that this incident is directly linked to the evidence Mr Riva uncovered about Arthur Calderon, which was then passed onto you, which you then passed onto Detective Gills," the second officer explained and Ashley nodded her head slowly, her ability to form words was incompatible with her brain at that moment.

"When you say protective custody does that mean a safe house or do we have to stay down at the station?" Marshall asked because he was sure as hell knew that Ashley was not in a fit state to be asking questions because of the way her skin had morphed into that of a ghost.

"A secret location had been set up for you to travel to. It had room for everybody I can assure you that," the first officer answered the question, letting out a deep heavy sigh afterwards as if it was something he had not of wanted to say.

"When...When do we leave?" Ashley had finally found the courage to speak and she felt as if she should have thanked Jamie for allowing her to because even though had been quite the whole interaction the brave face he had on had given her the courage.

"Once you've packed essentials and clothing for a few days at least. If it turns out you are staying longer someone will be sent back to your houses to collect anything you may need. We hope it will not be for too long," the second officer was the one to speak this time, he voice holding an air of confidence that what he said would be true, 'hope it will not be for long.' It was his confidence in the statement that helped Ashley, Marshall and Jamie to pray that everything will be over and sorted soon.

"My colleague officer Jenson will escort you and your son back to your residence to gather your belongings. Mr Mathers, I will stay here with you and then we will take the car back to your house Miss," nobody argued with the plan, silence engulfed them as Ashley made the trek back to her home with Officer Jenson leading the way and Jamie tucked as close to her as he could possibly get.

We're going to be ok," she whispered for not just Jamie's benefit but for hers also.

***

"Kim. Kim. I know I'm sorry but there isn't anything I can do. Are the girls ok?" Marshall sighed into the phone as Kim continued to shout at him about how it was all his and Ashley's fault that everyone had to move to an unknown location until whoever had killed Alonzo was found.

He was a little more at ease when Kim had said they were all packed and ready to go including Hailie's boyfriend who she had refused to leave behind in case he was in danger too. Marshall understood the reason behind it so didn't argue with anybody on that matter. Then Kim asked a question that he had absolutely no definite answer to, he had just zipped up his suitcase when she popped the question that left him bemused that she'd even asked and confused that she even cared.

"Marshall, did you hear what I said?" Her voice filtered through the phone puncturing his ear again.

"Yeah," he replied with a groan as he heaved the suitcase off of his bed and onto the floor.

"You gonna answer me or not?" Marshall huffed in frustration partly because of her insistence and partly because of how heavy his suitcase was as he tried to drag it down the stairs.

"Kim I have no idea if  Nate's going to be there or my Mom ok. Look I gotta go I'm about to get in the car we'll talk when we're both there ok," his next sigh was in relief as the called ended. Although that relief was short lived as he remembered that everyone he cared about, his whole family were all in danger and he bet his entire career the danger was from the same person or people that had murder Arthur all those years ago.