CARSON'S CRIME INVESTIGATION SERVICES

Chapter 7

"Oh God, they got in", gasped Ivory, cowering in her utility cupboard, hugging on to her baseball bat as heavy footsteps padded along her carpet.

She felt as though she were ready to vomit and pass out as the door handle tugged lower and lower until it jarred open slightly.

She screamed, begging for mercy as a voice told her to get out of the closet. She did as she was told, but readied her baseball bat, until she saw her neighbour through her blurry, teary eyes.

"Maggie?", she asked, gasping as she crumpled to the floor and shook like a leaf.

"Hey, are you ok? Did anyone hurt you? I heard someone smashing your windows so I got out of bed and kept ringing your doorbell and banging on your door to wake you up!", said the pink haired woman as she knelt beside Ivory and pulled her in to a hug, the brunette sobbing like a child. "And I'm really sorry, but I had to kick your door open, so the hinges are broken. You can sleep at my place tonight and I promise I'll pay to have them fixed tomorrow".

"Thank you Maggie", sniffled Ivory, "I'll sleep at yours tonight, but I'll pay for my door to be fixed".

"Well you can stay at mine until it's sorted out, ok?", smiled Maggie, helping Ivory up from the carpet. "Now grab some clothes and a tooth brush and we'll go to my room so you can sleep in safety".

Ivory nodded and grabbed a fresh change of clothes and a toothbrush, following her friend to her apartment.

"I made you a hot chocolate to calm your nerves before you sleep", said the pink haired woman as she handed the sweet cup of melted chocolate to the shaky brunette and watched her sip it and smile lightly.

"Thank you Maggie", she said in an exhausted tone as her eyelids drooped heavy.

"It's ok, now lay down and try to rest", said the woman with a voice like silk, pulling the blanket over Ivory as she closed her eyes and slept like a rock.

Morning soon came, Ivory being shook lightly awake. "Ivory, your alarm is going off. I think you need to get ready for work", came Maggie's voice as the brunette opened her eyes and drowsily complied. "You can shower if you want. I got you a clean towel to use".

Ivory nodded and thanked her neighbour as she picked up the towel and made her way in to the warm shower. She thought back on last night and how she was wrong about whoever was stalking her smashing her windows. They had indeed managed it, making her fear for her safety.

She stepped out of the shower, drying her body and dressing into a simple pair of high wasted black trousers and a button up white blouse with black heels. She looked in the mirror at the dark circles under her eyes and sighed. She was positive all of the makeup on the planet couldn't mask how little sleep she had gotten, but she just drowsily closed her eyes for a moment and began applying foundation and the works with her brushes, finally stepping out of the bathroom when she was presentable enough to thank Maggie and set off to work.

She exited the building, glass shards from her windows all over the street below as she cautiously took photographs and called an appropriate firm to fix both the broken glass panes and the door whilst she completed her day at work.