Arsonist's Lullabye

Chapter Eight: Blackmail

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Blackmail

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I wasn't sure what to wear today as I woke up and got dressed. The creep next door kept haunting my thoughts as I walked around my house in a strange trance. I could always just kill Josh I thought deeply as I looked into the bathroom mirror. I brushed my teeth and fixed my hair quickly. Today was the day that I was going to have to be an amazing actor. I forcefully tried to squeeze out tears so it would look as if I was crying all morning. The tears ran down my face and I couldn't help but grin. I managed to get ready and eat toast this morning, I felt accomplished! I left my townhome and headed to the local police station. The drive seemed long and the weather was gloomy and cold. I parked my old car in a nearby parking space and headed into the stern building. I didn't even get to talk to the lady at the counter, A tall black haired women approached me quickly and asked: "Are you, Tabitha?". I nodded my head and followed her curvy body to the back room office. 

We sat and she discussed the fire and how they think Grandma tripped over a rug in the attic and must have knocked over an oil lamp. I smirked in my head, "Yeah that's what happened". I sat there sadly sobbing while inviting her to feel my compassion. She asked me if I felt there could have been foul play involved, I shook my head and cried out, "Why would anyone hurt my Grandma?" The detective seemed ok with my answers and gave me some advice about who to contact next. We sat for a minute and the nice lady gave me some tissues as she asked about the mysterious boy that was reported at the scene before the fire. I quickly said, "I don't know anything about a boy". 

She leaned in closer towards me and asked, "One more thing" The attic had a huge gaping hole in the floor, Was that hole previously there before the fire? I looked at her with tears in my eyes and said: "I'm not sure". I quickly thought about Amber and how I just realized the lady was only talking about my Grandmothers death. I sniffled and asked the lady "Was my Grandmother alone in the house?" The lady stood up from her chair to declare she was done with our little meeting. She walked around the side of the desk and said: "As far as we know, Yes". She motioned for me to leave as politely as she could. I stood up from the chair and sobbed some more as I left the small office.

My mind couldn't stop racing, I almost tripped over a nearby metal trash can. I tried to keep my emotional act up as I was dying inside with rage. "Was she still alive" Those words pounded in my head as I began to see Red. I managed to get out of the police building without falling over. The sky was darkening and tiny raindrops began to sprinkle down. I could feel the water on my face as I made my way back to my old car. I noticed something was on my windshield, It was tucked under my windshield wiper. It was a small piece of paper. Adrenaline rushed through me as I jolted for the mysterious note. I quickly unfolded it and brought the note closer to my face as I read:

"Revenge is the only thing left we have in common"

Was this a note from Amber? Or perhaps Josh? I quickly shoved the note into my pocket and got into my car. The rain seemed to finally drop down harder. I sat there inside my car, The pounding thumping sounds beating against my hood, I pulled the note out from my pocket and tried to analyze the handwriting. It was basic, Nothing stood out to me. Whoever this is, I wasn't going to let them scare me off this easily, I thought as I started the car. I decided to go have a look around the freshly new burnt house. I made my way back to the house that once was beautiful. The house was semi unrecognizable and seemed shallow as I approached it. 

The ground was burned outside the front door and the back half of the house was completely charred, The house seemed to be collapsed in the middle. I walked over to the garden and peered up at the roof that was still there. I could see through the wall that in fact, The floor of the attic did indeed have a large gaping hole in it. It looked like the floor had given out. I sat there wondering how the floor could have broken apart like that? This definitely led me to believe Amber was still alive. I quickly thought about Amber's belongings at my house and decided to head back home and retrieve them.

I knew if she was still "Alive" She would want her cell phone and money.

I made my way back to my townhouse, I also needed to come up with a plan before my meeting with Josh later tonight. I frantically ran into the house and stumbled up the stairs, I entered my guest bedroom and searched for Amber's belongings. The room was cold and uninviting. I found Amber's purse sitting next to the foot of the bed. I snatched the purse and opened it up quickly. It seemed her wallet and phone were indeed missing, I rummaged through the contents of the purse and found what I wanted to find, The answer I couldn't stop thinking about since the police station earlier. She was here! Unless Josh stole the items, He has been known to steal from my house. I was in doubt yet again over who was antagonizing me. I heard a low knock on the front door as I threw the purse down onto the bed. 

I rushed downstairs and decided midway to slow down and proceed with caution. I didn't know what these two individuals were capable of. I opened the front door and Josh pushed his way inside frantically. "Did you hear?" Josh said out of breath. It had appeared to me that he was running. "Someone saw me before the fire," He said as he bent down catching his breath. I shut the door and said, "Yeah, What were you doing there anyway?" I was, I was... Josh started hyperventilating and took a moment to finish, I was following you! He blurted out. I pushed him back and said, "What is your problem!". Josh caught his balance and screamed back at me, "You're the fucking killer, Not me" We argued for a minute and I quickly remembered the purse and asked him if he had stolen anything from it. 

Josh straightened his posture and said, "No, Why?". My eyes grew big and I knew I had more than just this to worry about. Josh became restless and asked about his father. "So are you gonna kill him for me or what?". "I can't do anything right now", I said to him as I became hostile. The cops are still snooping around and now that they have a lead about some kid "hanging out in the bushes", "They're going to be digging around for a while", I said sternly to his face. Josh seemed upset and started rambling about the insurance money that he would get if his dad died. I really was interested in the money, I thought as I asked him, "How much?".

Josh could tell that I was finally listening to him and said, "$250,000".  

I want half I blurted out to him instantly. "No way!" He proclaimed. Then this deal is off I screamed at him, I could feel the spit flying out of my mouth as I became angry. Josh walked around for a second and then turned abruptly, You get "$75,000" he said in a demanding voice. I thought about the money and how I could fix up this Townhouse and sell it, I thought about killing again and how just maybe deep down I liked it. I grinned and said "Deal". We looked at each other as if we were lovers entangled in a forbidden affair. Josh was nice looking and was barely 19, I felt like a 24-Year-Old cougar sinking my nails into his naive mind. 

There was no other way I thought to myself as we shook hands and made a promise, A promise that was overbearing and now made me a contract killer. Was I, Tabitha Joanne Morgan, Well really: Tabitha Joanne Stedfast, A hitman? It was decided, I was going to kill someone for money! I walked Josh back to the front door and said, "I will do this, But when I'm ready". Josh turned and said "Well it better be soon", Or else I will have to tell someone about "Grandmas house" I gave him a shifty look and slammed the door behind him. I felt like I had been trapped into killing someone. The thought of killing someone out of freewill appeased me, This was not amusing to me at all. 

I wandered upstairs to my bedroom and thought about ways to kill his father. Tormenting people seemed to thrill me inside, I blame my Grandmother and all of her lies. I opened my yellow silk curtains to my bedroom window and gazed upon the beautiful evening sky. The clouds were dark blue and mellow, The rain had finally stopped beating down. I took in a deep breath and looked down at the old Oaktree in the front yard. The tree was mysterious and dark just like me, Just like Amber, Who was standing there waving to me with an evil grin on her ominous face from underneath the dark secluded Oaktree.