The Girl in Chains

Chapter 3

The police where silent. Lois sat, playing with her thumbs. Lois looked up at the police, staring at her sternly. The tape recorder clicked on.

“Detective Atkinson,  questioning Lois Bradley on the possible murder of Eve Eyles-Smith and Will Stockdale. Anything you say may be brought up as evidence against you. First off let’s give you a chance to give yourself up now. Did you or did you not, brutally kill Eve Eyles-Smith and Will Stockdale? Guilty or not guilty?”

“Not guilty.” Mumbled Lois.

“For the benefit of the tape, could you please repeat your statement.”

“Not Guilty.” Lois said confidently.

 “So who killed them. The ways they have died is not a natural death. We have realised this is more than just suicide. They both died when you were there and near your apartment.” Lois looked up into the detectives eyes.

“Yes, because it was after me! Molly was after me not them! I should be the one dead if anyone.” The detective slumped back in his chair, arms crossed.

“Still pulling out that one, eh? It won’t get you anywhere, you know. You say you say them die. Is that because you killed them?”

“No! I love Eve and Will and I wouldn’t kill them! I’m not sick!”

“Stranger things have happened. And do with spectacular regularity. There are sick, sick people out there. Are you sure you’re not one of them?”

“Yes! I wouldn’t do that. You’ve got to believe me.”

“Oh, yes, I’m really going to believe a mad seven year old came and killed your friends. Where were you when they were being killed by a so called grudge?”

“With Eve, in my apartment, I came out when I heard her screaming. With Will, I was stood next to him. I moved out of Molly’s way in time… but Will didn’t.” Lois stared at the floor, trying her best not to cry.

“Well, I find this all very hard to believe. Basically, two people have been murdered and you were the only person near at the time. The murders have three things in common. One, you were at the scene. Two, they died near your apartment. And three, they were your closest friends. All adds up really, doesn’t it? You hated your life, so you killed your friends. If we let you, you would probably join them. I bet you thought you could go to heaven and live happily ever after with Eve and Will. But you’re not going to heaven any time soon. Anything else you have to say?”

“Please. You have to believe me. I wouldn’t do that. I’m not that sort of person. I know the evidence is stacked up against me but what can I do more than tell the truth. Imagine that you knew something strange, sick and unreal but when you tried to tell someone, they just blanked you. That’s what it’s like for me. It’ heart breaking when people just laugh at me. This isn’t just a couple of murders. These are my friends. I do have feelings you know. Please. I wouldn’t. I couldn’t.”

“I’m sorry Lois. I’ll see you in court.” The detective left the room. Lois kicked over the chair and slumped in her seat. They couldn’t send her down without real proof, could they? But it’s not like she had a believable story. Only a miracle could save her now. There was a knock on the door and before Lois had time to answer, a woman came in, books in hand and in formal clothes.

“You must be Lois Bradley. I’m Charlotte Barrett, I’ll be you’re lawyer for this case.”

“Are you any good?”

“Well I’m cheap what do you expect?” Charlotte gave Lois a big smile. Lois just sighed. “Suit yourself.”

“Sorry. It’s been one of those days…”

“Yeah, It’ll pass. When I get you out of here we can have a big party.”

“Have you been to law school?”

“Oh yes, I was fully trained. I’ll do my best.”

“Well this is serious. I could be sent down for life for two murders I didn’t commit. What are you going to do about it?”

“I’ll think of something…” Charlotte answered unconvincingly. “I’ve had a tip off that the opposition have got some information from Eves mother saying that you were a strange girl and was always curios about you. That won’t help.”

“Great. No one believes me. Do you?”

“It’s not my job to believe you. It’s my job to support you.” Silence filled the room. The door knocked and in came in a police officer.

“Time to take you too you’re cell now.”

Lois followed dreading what was to come. She had no chance with that maniac on her side. She probably worsened her chances. Lois felt ill. She breathed in heavily and closed her eyes. Nothing could make this week worse.

*****

The court wasn’t going well. The only useful thing that had come out of Charlotte’s mouth was: I have known Lois for a while now, and I know she would never do anything like that.

She didn’t stand a chance. It didn’t help when one of the Jury was Lois’s old maths teachers who had caught her cheating on a test.

“Well I think we all feel this is an interesting case, indeed, but there is no hard evidence that Lois is guilty.” Charlotte said when it was her turn.

“And we cannot risk letting her out if she did commit this crime. There is no proof that she isn’t guilty.” The opposition interrupted. The chairman asked for order and the room went quiet.

“Would you like to say anything?” Everyone stared at Lois. She stood and spoke into the small microphone.

“I swear on my life I did not kill them. It was Molly.”

“Oh, yes. Then there’s the case of this mysterious Molly. What do you think of it Atkinson?” the chairman asked the detective.

“Well I find it all very unlikely.” He spoke clearly and confidently.

*****

“Wrong again. What is wrong with you girl? There won’t be any left of you if you carry on like this.” The voice boomed at Molly. “You are only to take orders from us. If someone tells you off you ignore them. How childish of you. And I see you took out your stitches. We’ll keep them off though, because your laugh makes you creepy. But you still killed the wrong person and you know what that means.” Molly nodded reluctantly. “You are dead, but you still need to breathe.”

Molly was dragged to a room, shaking with fear. She felt cold. Around her was water. Dirty, murky, cold water. Molly felt herself be lifted. She winced at the cold water. This wasn’t that bad, she thought.

But Molly gasped as hands pushed her down into the water. Struggling for air, Molly tried to resist and push the floor but the floor was covered in pins, piercing Molly’s feet. Her screams, silenced by the water. A man walked up to the container, wearing a long trench coat, big heavy boots moving the floor as he walked large strides.

“One person.” Spoke the voice, hypnotising and soft. Molly recognised the voice. “Just one that you had to kill. One. How hard is it? Hopefully this will be the last time we will have to torture you. We’re running out of ideas. How long does it take for someone to drown I wonder? Hopefully not long. We have another assignment for you.”

Molly squirmed as the last of the air escaped her lungs. The man watched as she turned from frantic panic, to a still dead little girl. Molly slowly sank to the bottom of the water, skewering herself in the act.