you're the only thing that's keeping me alive

chapter 13

Tony holds the door of the police station open for me and we both walk into a reception area. He asks to speak to someone about an unsolved murder and a detective comes out to us a little while later. I'm shaking with nerves so Tony explains the situation as best as he can.

The detective takes some notes while I sit there, looking at the floor. I know he's going to think I'm crazy.

"Annie is it?" he asks. I jump slightly at his voice before nodding.

"Can you give me your date of birth please."

"August 8th, 1900" I mumble.

"And your full name?"

"Annie May O'Reilly" I whisper.

Tony reaches for my hand but I move it at the last second. I don't want to get the exhausting feeling here. I wrap my arms around myself to cover my movement.

"We have asked an officer to see if there is anything on file about William Richards. He should be through shortly" the detective tells us. He offers us a drink - he must be able to see how upset I am. I decline - I just want to get this over with and having a drink is the last thing on my mind.

About twenty minutes later, there is a knock on the door. Another police man walks in, carrying something - I'm not sure what so Tony explains it's a laptop - a computer that holds lots of information. The second man switches it on and shows me that he's found William's files and the initial missing persons report on me. There is a description of me, including the birth mark I have on my left side, just above my hip. It's sort of half moon shaped. I haven't told anyone about it so when I pull my blouse up slightly and show them, they look confused. I also show them a scar I have on my upper left arm from when I fell in the garden at the big house and cut myself. That is also in the report. Tony takes out the photo and shows them where I am on it. They use some sort of device to make the picture bigger and clearer and look at me in shock.

"Do you believe me?" I whisper, almost desperately. The first detective looks me in the eye.

"I shouldn't but the evidence is there, and like you said, back then, no body was ever found. I will have to speak to someone higher in authority than me so I'll phone you later on with an update, ok."

"I don't have a phone" I mumble.

"I'll give them my number and Vic's" Tony says. I nod.

We make our way back to the car and then on to Vic's place. I sit in silence, a huge feeling of relief washing over me. We're there before I know it and we walk up to the door, Tony knocking lightly. Danielle opens up and immediately wants to know how we got on. Tony starts explaining while grabbing my hand. I forget to move and within minutes I'm out cold.