 
RAVENous

Copywrite 2019 Sandra Maggs

Published by Sandra Maggs at Smashwords

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Index

Prologue

Chapter 1 Molly's Rescue

Chapter 2 Raven's Regret

Chapter 3 A Mother's Torment

Chapter 4 Molly Comes Round

Chapter 5 Kate Aubry's Anguish

Chapter 6 Back To The Warehouse

Chapter 7 Questioning Everything

Chapter 8 Another Discovery

Chapter 9 More Questioning

Chapter 10 Posting A Guard

Chapter 11 Night Visitor

Chapter 12 Stalking

Chapter 13 Why?

Chapter 14 Realisation

Chapter 15 Molly Comes Home

Chapter 16 Molly Remembers

Chapter 17 Boys Talk

Chapter 18 What Now?

Chapter 19 Confession

Chapter 20 Ravenous

Chapter 21 Police Talk

Chapter 22 All The Answers

Chapter 23 You're Nicked

Chapter 24 That's It

Chapter 25 Five Years Later

About Sandra Maggs

Prologue

Silence filled the room as they sat waiting for an answer to the question. It hung in the air like an icy curtain waiting to fall and reveal the truth. Difficulties putting sentences together and expressing what was going on inside clouded judgement, and although there was a need to tell them everything, right now it was supressed by emotion.

DCI Devereaux sat patiently while Adam tapped his foot petulantly. Herman looked down at the detective's leg and then cast an accusing glance his way. The last thing he wanted was to agitate the suspect and cause some sort of problem.

Noticing his superior's stare, Adam ceased immediately. He hadn't realised what he was doing until now. Impatient to get an answer, he asked the question again. "Why did you kill the vagrant?"

It was a simple question, but the answer was complicated. Years of hiding the truth from everybody made it difficult now. Thinking about the past month and the sequence of events leading to that very moment it was worrying to think it would lead to losing everything. Choices had been made and there was no going back and changing any of it.

Staring at the two men, a voice began to rise to the surface. They wanted an answer and it was best just to start from the beginning. Not the night of the murder, but the very beginning. Thinking carefully, the structure of the sentence began to form inside, a logical string of words that would not just answer the immediate question but lead to a lot more. "I killed him because I knew him."

Chapter One

Molly's Rescue

As the ambulance pulled up at the hospital, she began to lose consciousness. Fighting to stay awake, Molly Blackburn tried to remember the events that had occurred over the past few days. It was all so difficult and the pounding in her head made it impossible to think properly, but she was alive and that was all that mattered, for the moment.

She wondered where her parents were. Perhaps they would be waiting in the hospital. Had they reported her missing at all? So many times Molly had spent nights away from home without letting them know where she was going. This time had been against her will and although she was sorry for the mistakes of her past, there was nothing she could do about them now.

How she had ended up in at the bottom of the valley was a mystery and as the ambulance slowed to a stop outside of accident and emergency, slowly, fragments of the predicament returned. Someone had hit her from behind. Having no idea who, or why, for that matter, didn't help. What had she done to deserve to be left for dead under that stinking tarp?

It was strange really. For a moment she remembered being dragged along by someone who had been muttering something under their breath, but the voice was unrecognisable. After that everything went blank and there was nothing but the sounds of the natural surroundings she could see through a hole in the tarp, until the guy from the creepy house and his dog had found her. Dread had filled her, she remembered being frightened when he lifted her into his arms. But all of the stories about him had clearly been false. Beef stew cooking on the stove and the heat from an open fire had given her comfort. They were the memories she had from the cottage in the woods. There was nothing to be afraid of. She should have known that in a place like Oxmarsh the rumours would be rubbish. Rumours created to scare the pants of kids. For a moment, she felt bad for believing them. As her eyelids began to close, she felt the paramedics move her from the ambulance.

Unsure of how much time had elapsed, Molly opened her eyes slowly. There were flowers on the cabinet by the bed, colourful blobs of nature slowly came into focus. She couldn't remember who had brought them in though. Surrounded by medical staff, someone smiled at her. She closed her eyes again and drifted off into a muddled sleep. A sleep filled with the terror of dying before her time. The memory of lying beneath a tarp in the damp filled her mind.

When she awoke again, she was alone. A pounding in her head made it difficult to concentrate. Pressing a button by the bed, Molly waited for someone to come to her rescue. Surely it wasn't too much trouble to get her something for her pain.

"How's the leg feeling?" A smiling nurse entered the room and picked up Molly's chart. After reading it, she put it down and checked the drip. "Do you have any pain?"

Until that moment, Molly had forgotten about the pain in her leg. "What's wrong with my leg?" Her voice was croaky, as if she hadn't had a drink for hours, which was probably the truth.

Helping her to sit up a little, the nurse picked up a tumbler with some water in and encouraged Molly to sip a little through the straw. "You have a fracture in your ankle. It's not too bad, but you'll have to stay off it for at least six weeks. The doctor will be in to see you later when she does her rounds. Do you have any pain?"

"Yes," she nodded miserably. "My head is throbbing." Oddly enough her ankle didn't hurt at all, there was numbness there, but that was it. Swallowing the pills and taking another sip of water, she leaned back against a cloud of pillows and closed her eyes. Relaxing, she breathed deeply, the smell of fresh linen and disinfectant mingled together making an interesting mix. Waiting patiently for the pain to subside, she continued to think about the incident, but it was hopeless. There was nothing else in there and as the medication began to take effect, Molly lapsed into a comfortable dreamless place.

Chapter Two

Raven's Regret

A mixture of feelings bombarded Raven. In an effort to keep everybody away, she had forgotten to be Molly's friend, that's what played on her conscience the most. It fought to the forefront and pushed everything else out of the way, just as she had done on so many occasions. Nothing would ever make up for the way Raven had treated the girl who was now lying in the hospital, but she could do something for her best friend and find out how Molly ended up at the bottom of the valley. There was a need within, a hunger to get an answer. Not just for Molly, but for the entire village.

The news of Molly's rescue had spread like wildfire. It appeared that the old guy who lived in the creepy house had been out walking his dog and found Molly under an old tarp. After which he had taken her home and called an ambulance. Perhaps they had misjudged the man living in the scary looking cottage in the woods all of these years. Raven suddenly realised the damage a story like that could do to someone. Imagine living in a secluded place and having people brand you as something you weren't, she felt sorry for him and for a moment wondered if the incident had made her a bit soft. Maybe now that guy had saved Molly's life, life might improve for him. Perhaps people would be a little more accepting.

Apparently Molly had written a letter confessing to the murder of the old guy in the warehouse. That's why the police had released her, but Raven didn't really think her friend was guilty. There had to be another explanation. What she couldn't work out was the ear in the bear thing. How did it get in there if Molly didn't do it? Nobody else really had access to it except the teacher. Raven had given it to Satin as a gift. She began to wonder if her stepmother Kate had something to do with the murder. She could have put the ear in the bear. What did they really know about her? She had been friends with Raven's parents, but there was nothing else. Pushing the thought aside, she remembered why she had been freed. Someone must have delivered this so-called confession and she wondered who would do such a thing and why. There were so many questions that needed answering and there was only one way to get to the bottom of it and that was to start with Molly. Raven wondered if she was awake. The condition of her friend was slightly sketchy as the news had come from several sources, none of which was reliable. She had called the hospital, but because she wasn't family, they wouldn't give her any information except that her friend was stable. It was so annoying, what did they think she was going to do?

Aaron had called earlier and asked Raven if she wanted to visit Molly at the hospital with him and Sean. Apparently Molly was sleeping when he called, but that was all he knew. It wouldn't be long before the entire village was talking about what had happened. Not much was newsworthy in a village the size of Oxmarsh, but this was and it wouldn't take much to twist the truth into an ugly mess. The kind you see on the side of the road that resembles rubbish. Gossip was a major sport and some of the women who lived in the area were at an olympic level. It wouldn't be long now for them to start talking and add a little more as they went along. Starting out as the truth, the story would be embellished to epic proportion and tributaries would flow from it in torrents, winding their way through the village until everybody heard something different. It was annoying. If you wanted people to know something about you, all you had to whisper it into the breeze. Someone somewhere would hear it.

Raven wondered where the boys were, probably already at the hospital. Hopefully Molly would be awake by the time she got there and they could get some answers from her. If only she had been a bit earlier on the night they had arranged to meet in the park, this might have been avoided. That was the night Molly had gone missing and she wondered again if Kate had anything to do with her friend's disappearance. Se might have murdered the old guy, put the ear in the bear and then kidnapped Molly and left her to die. It sounded ridiculous, but at the same time, Raven was highly suspicious of the woman. Plus, she didn't like her so blaming Kate was easy.

The walk to the hospital was pleasant enough and although she would have preferred a lift, her dad was at work and Raven didn't fancy asking Kate for anything. An attempt to be nice had gone by the wayside and she just couldn't be bothered anymore. There were also the suspicions that had about the woman. What if she got in the car with her and Kate tried to murder her too? There was no chance in hell they could ever be more than enemies, no matter how hard her stepmother tried. No amount of adjudication on her father's part would ever mend the situation. It was too far gone and now there was the distrust Raven felt towards her.

Nothing had started it, just Raven's resentment toward someone trying to take her mother's place. Now though. as she felt true compassion towards Molly, did it mean there might be more to herself than she originally thought. Keeping her armour polished was getting harder as she grew older and since spending time with the doctor, perspective was knocking on the door. A door that she would rather keep locked.

Chapter Three

A Mother's Torment

What on earth had she been thinking? Everything was weighing on Jane's mind and as she sat there in the hospital room beside her unconscious daughter she made up her mind that she would come clean about the situation. Hiding it was self-destructive and her family needed her. But the thought made her shudder.

If only he hadn't turned up. If only Molly and her friends hadn't gone to the old abandoned buildings that night, things would have been different. But they had and she couldn't relive the moment now. Even if she had the time again, there wouldn't be any difference. The outcome wouldn't change. But she wondered who had written the confession and she had no idea how her daughter had ended up injured at the bottom of the valley. Perhaps it had been Raven. The girl had always been trouble. From the moment Molly had gotten mixed up with her and that gang, well, it was just exasperating. Of course, teenagers never listen to their parents. Jane knew by her own experience.

Against the white linen of the bed, her daughter still looked pale. The blonde hair blended with the white cotton of the pillowcase and there wasn't much of a contrast between the skin on her arms and face and the bed-cover. Reaching out, she took Molly's hand in hers, it was warm. Picking a small twig from her daughter's hair, she willed her to open her eyes, but there was no response, not even a flicker of an eyelid. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm sorry that I got you into this mess." Of course, there was no reply from the sleeping girl. Sniffing, the scent of disinfectant left a slightly sour taste in her mouth and she sipped from a cup of water that had been left on the tray table in case Molly should wake up.

All of those years of trying to keep the secret of Molly's real parents had led to this. Her daughter had been left to die in the bottom of a valley where only a few people ever went. Perhaps it was time to face her demons and just tell the truth. She reached out and brushed the hair away from her daughter's face. Her sleeping princess, she had almost lost her. What would happen if she told everything? There would be so many questions. Her own husband didn't know the entire truth about Molly's background and that could prove to be a fatal flaw in the entire setup. Would he leave her for keeping it from him? Trying not to think about it, she leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes.

"Mrs Blackburn."

Disturbed from her rest by none other than Raven Aubry, she sat up straight and looked at the girl. There was pity in those dark eyes. Pity for who though, for her daughter who lay in the bed? Feeling slightly resentful towards the visitor, she pushed her feelings aside and tried to focus on the positive. At least the girl was making an effort. Perhaps it was guilt she saw and not pity. After all of the years of torment Raven had inflicted on Molly, perhaps this was the event that would change her behaviour. It was never too late and as she sat there looking up at the girl, she saw the resemblance to Raven's mother, a kind more caring person. "Raven, I was just about to doze off."

"Sorry, I didn't know you would be here. I'm supposed to meet Aaron and Sean. How is she?" Looking at her friend lying in the bed, the was a feeling of dread and it devoured Raven as she realised what the outcome might have been. Had Molly not been discovered, she would have died. Raven didn't want to lose anybody else from her life.

"Tired. She hasn't really said much at all. You say Aaron and Sean are coming to visit."

Raven nodded and tried to remain composed. It wouldn't do for her to start blubbering like an infant in front of Mrs Blackburn, she still had her tough reputation to uphold, for the moment at least. There was silence and Raven took a good look at the frumpy woman who sat in the corner of the room. For a moment she wondered if Jane Blackburn had something to do with putting the ear in the bear, but she just didn't seem the type of person to do something like that. Her brown eyes were kind and she sort of reminded Raven of an old cow that just lived to keep the grass short.

"Do you think it would be alright if I slipped away for a while. I don't want to leave Molly here by herself, but I haven't eaten since they found her and I really could use a good meal. There's her father to think about too, he'll be wanting his dinner."

"No, that will be fine. I have your number so if she wakes up and starts asking for you, I'll call you straight away." Raven thought that Molly was more important than someone's dinner, but different people have different priorities. Unless, of course, there was another reason for her leaving.

Standing, she took one last look at her daughter and then at Molly's so-called friend. Smiling briefly at the girl, Jane Blackburn closed the door behind her and hurried out to the carpark. Her husband would be home from work soon and he would want some dinner. Starting the car, she drove from the hospital grounds. At least they only lived a five minute drive away. Checking the time, she wondered what to cook. There was nothing planned, but he would want something hot and substantial, while she could make do with a sandwich. Many a time he had complained saying that it wasn't good enough. A man needed a hot meal at the end of a hard say's work, not a bit of meat between a couple of slices of bread.

Over the years there hadn't been much she had done right and although she had tried to please him, Jane always fell short and he made sure she knew it too. A simple mistake would be brought up every time they had an argument. She should have left him, or not bothered with a wedding at all. The problem was, she had wanted a family so badly, in the end it didn't matter who she was married to. When they hadn't been able to have kids, things had turned sour and she quickly fell out of love. There was no reason for the relationship. That's why Molly's adoption had been so important. Having nothing in her life for so long had taken it's toll. The girl was her heart and soul. If Jane ever found out who was responsible for her daughter's condition, well, they might just join the tramp.

As she looked at the reflection of the woman in the windscreen of the car. The ageing face of someone who had committed an offence against humanity stared back at her. Regardless of whether it was just one man, it was still wicked and she wondered why she had lowered herself. Desperation had forced her into a corner and now, as her back was against a wall, Jane had no other alternative than to confess to the murder. It might be better for her than letting the police work it out. Imagine the embarrassment for the family if and when they came to the house a hauled her away. Shaking her head, Jane let go of the thought.

Starting the engine of the car, she pulled out of the hospital carpark and headed along the road towards their home. Making a detour to the police station was out of the question until her husband's dinner was made and even then, it was difficult. He would demand to know where she was going and she didn't fancy telling him first. It would have to be handled delicately and she would have to show some remorse. They might be a little more lenient if she pretended to be truly sorry for her actions. But they would want to know why and the reason involved other people. Jane didn't fancy dragging anyone else into it. This was going to take some thinking.

The house the Blackburns lived in was spacious and comfortable. Having no children for such a long time had provided a rare opportunity. Buying it for a song, they had poured pound after pound into the place and made it their home. In a world measured by worth, Jane and her husband Neil had worked their way into a cushy lifestyle. Now after twenty odd years of toil and saving, she didn't have to work. Their construction business was one of the biggest in the district and she bought her daughter everything. It wouldn't matter what she asked for, it was hers. Every now and then something would turn up in Molly's wardrobe that she might not had paid for. This troubled Jane, but she knew Raven was the influence that made her daughter do the wrong thing. If only Molly would stick with the more popular girls. But she was involved with that reckless gang of scavengers and it didn't matter how much she tried to convince her daughter to do the right thing, Molly acted of her own accord. A fat lot of good it had done her, she had ended up at the bottom of that valley left for dead.

As she entered the house, relieved that Neil wasn't home yet, Jane caught a glimpse of herself in the hallway mirror. The windswept hair and worry lines made her look years older than she was. Her waistline had thickened and her clothes were just a little more than clinging. She wondered what her husband saw in her. But more than that, it was the future that bothered Jane. What would happen when the police found out the truth?

Opening the fridge, she glanced at the shelves to see what she could put together to please her husband. Half of a left over roast chicken from the previous evening sat on a plate covered with plastic film to keep it fresh. That would do. She would cook some pasta, open a jar of sauce and add the chicken at the last minute to warm it through. Putting a pot of water on to boil, Jane commenced to cut up the chicken for the evening meal.

Chapter Four

Molly Comes Round

Standing in the hospital room with their injured friend, different thoughts ran through each of their minds. Raven felt guilty for not being nicer, Aaron felt nothing but pity for the girl who had always been so helpful to all three of them and Sean hoped the other two would leave so that he could climb into bed with her. Even in her dishevelled state, he still fancied her and at that moment would settle for a tiny glimpse of skin.

Molly opened her eyes slowly and stared at the three people before her. She wondered which one of them, if any, were responsible for the condition she was in. Beside her, the clear plastic drip line ran from the bag filled with liquid through the canula in her hand in an effort to hydrate her. But it would take more than that to return her faith in anything. She wondered where her parents were and whether or not they had been in to see her. For a moment she remembered who had rescued her. The guy from the creepy cottage. He had carried her home and called an ambulance. Now she knew that he was nothing more than a misunderstood man who lived in a cottage in the woods at the bottom of a valley. When she recovered, she would send him a card, or maybe even pay him a visit to thank him in person.

"Are you alright?"

She looked at Raven and nodded. It was difficult to talk without getting emotional but she kept the tears at bay. Was the girl asking the question the one who had left her to die under that stinking tarpaulin? Or was it one of the others? Nothing about it made sense and Molly didn't really want to see or talk to any of them. They might all be in it together. What if the only reason they had come to visit was to finish the job.

"What happened Molly?"

It was Sean who spoke to her next. Surely he wasn't responsible. Once again, the thought almost brought tears to her eyes. Her feelings for him were stronger than she had realised. Shrugging, she still couldn't get the words out. His eyes told her he felt the same way, or was it pity she was seeing? No, that was the look on Aaron's face. He had that I feel sorry for you look and it was unmistakable. In a way she despised him, or was it just that look she hated? The look of pity.

"Maybe we should come back when you're feeling a little more talkative."

It was Aaron's suggestion and she smiled a weak smile at him and nodded. Waiting patiently, Molly watched as they filed out of the room. Thankful that her parents had the money and sense to pay for private medical, she now had the seclusion she needed. Silently, one by one, the tears flowed from her eyes and ran down her cheeks soaking into the white linen. Alone, she felt more helpless than she had under the tarp at the bottom of the valley. Every time Molly closed her eyes, the vision of the greenery that she had spied through that tiny hole came back and she wondered if she would ever be rid of it completely. Haunted by what might have been, she wiped her eyes with the sheet and tried to push the images away.

Molly watched as each droplet silently fell. It was almost hypnotic. Drop after drop contributed to her recovery. Still foggy, she tried to remember what she had been doing in the park to the beat of the constant drips. One after the other they reminded her of her thirst as she stared through the hole in the tarp that was firm in her mind's eye. The greenery and the moisture as the dew dripped from the leaves denying her what she had needed more than anything at the time. It was a painful reminder that somebody had left her for dead.

Now in the warm hospital room with the white walls and sanitary smell, Molly closed her eyes again. At least for the moment she felt safe, but what if whoever had left her to die came back? Shaking her head she tried to clear he mind of the negative thoughts that continuously invaded. Trying to think logically Molly steadied her mind. What was it that made her go there? A reason that she couldn't quite recall, but it was trying to rise out of the sludge that drowned her memories. Exhaustion started to creep back in and although she fought, Molly soon gave in to sleep.

********

Once outside, Raven called Jane Blackburn to let her know Molly had woken up.

"She didn't have much to say, did she," Aaron said when Raven had finished talking to Molly's mother.

"No," Raven answered shaking her head. "You don't suppose she thinks we had anything to do with what happened do you?"

Sean shrugged. "Probably, but I'm sure we can convince her that it wasn't us. Especially if we can help find out who it really was."

"How do you expect to do that if the cops can't manage it?" Aaron asked. Head bent, he kicked the gutter a few times trying to think of a way to help Molly.

"I don't know. Come on, let's go to my place. I'm home alone tonight. Mum and Dad have taken to going out once a week to rekindle their romance or whatever it was they said. Anyway, nobody's home and there's a big pot of stew waiting for us."

Raven and Aaron agreed.
Chapter Five

Kate Aubry's Anguish

Disturbed wasn't quite the right word for the way she felt, but it was definitely close. All of the torment from the years of hiding the truth came flooding to the surface and it was just too difficult to console herself. All she had wanted was him and in the process everything had been ruined. Trying to cover up her secret had been difficult and although she had succeeded to some extent, there was a major problem which now arose.

Panic grew inside. Silently it menaced every fibre of her flesh. Once the truth was all out in the open, she would lose everything including her family. Prison was also lurking, and spending time in there, well, the thought just made her shudder. After already doing the unthinkable, there was no room for any more mistakes, but the police would catch on sooner or later and she wondered if she would be able to talk her way out of it.

In the car, she drove to the city. From the countryside of the small village to the grey and less characteristic. Slowly but surely the landscape changed. Kate kept her darkest secrets in a bank in a safety deposit box. A rare commodity that she had managed to find. Only a few knew her secret and she was bloody sure she would be keeping it to herself. Even if it meant destroying it all.

In the steel and glass building that encompassed her hidden treasure the bank officer showed her to the private area so that she could access the box. Sitting in the room alone, Kate sifted through the documents and photographs she kept to herself. Silently a tear fell onto the table as she looked at the pictures of the child she had sold to improve both of their lives. If only he hadn't come to town, things would be as they had before. But being coerced into keeping everything hushed up, well she only had herself to blame.

Returning everything to the box along with an extra addition, she locked it up and left the bank. There were more documents and letters at home she needed to hide away. Angry at herself for not remembering to bring them triggered bad memories to arise. Affairs along with unwanted children and murder swirled around in her head and she wondered what would happen when it all came out. Imagining the headlines in the local newspaper and the scowls from the residents of Oxmarsh, she started the engine of the car. It made perfect sense to not go back. What if she just left and went somewhere else? Somewhere nobody knew her. They might catch up with her eventually, but more importantly everything she had planned would be gone. All of the things that she had wanted in life would be taken away and that was worse than going to prison. But would she be convicted? As far as Kate knew, there was no concrete evidence and the only thing she was really guilty of was kidnapping and maybe assault.

If only that old guy from the cottage hadn't found Molly. Now the girl was sitting up in a nice comfy hospital bed recovering and there wasn't a damn thing Kate could do about it. Any moment now she might start gabbing about the night in the park. The information in the girl's bag had been destroyed, but what would happen when she remembered? Crying wasn't going to help, but at that moment, Kate felt as though it was her only option. Just to let it all out. After that, she might be able to think a bit more logically and come up with a plan. This time she would have to make sure there was nothing that would ruin her chances of fixing the problem once and for all.

The hospital where Molly had been taken was on the way home, just outside of Oxmarsh. It wouldn't be difficult to slip into the room and smother her with a pillow. Would they know it was her? Thinking carefully, Kate knew the hospital would have CCTV, maybe she could go back in the middle of the night. There would be minimum staff and less chance of being caught. She could borrow one of those terrible black hoodies that Raven wore all the time. If she could keep her face hidden from view, there would be less chance of the authorities knowing it was her and perhaps, she could set her stepdaughter up and get rid of both of them with the one act.

Bothered by her thoughts, Kate continued to work out a plan to get herself out of the mess she was in. A mess that seemed endless. Seething, she put her foot down and sped towards her home.

Chapter Six

Back to the Warehouse

When Sean suggested returning to the warehouse to see if there were any clues the police had missed, Raven and Aaron agreed immediately. Just because they were police, it didn't mean they had found everything there was to find. All three were keen to find out the answers that seemed to elude the detectives in charge of the case.

Raven was there first. The place was locked up tight, but she knew that there was still a chance they could get in through the window. Of course, she was right. Squeezing in, she jumped down onto the dusty floor and strange occurrence of déjà vu hit her. The last time Raven had entered through that window, she had been with Molly. Not wanting to dwell on the memories of the past, quickly she headed along the hall to the old factory warehouse and let the boys in through the door.

On the floor was the ridiculous outline that they had sprayed around the homeless guy. It seemed silly now after all of the drama. On the more positive side of the situation, there was the all too familiar mural on the wall. The three looked at it feeling proud of who they were and the fine artwork they had accomplished together. The rest of the large open space was still filthy and littered with rubbish. Even the stuff that they had swept into the corner had been rummaged through and left scattered about.

"Okay, let's start looking," Raven said. "There has to be something here that the cops missed."

"Like what?" Aaron asked. He wasn't sure why they had returned. Sean was too emotionally involved to see logic.

"Anything that can help us find out who killed that old guy. Because I reckon that the killer is the one who took Molly and left her to die at the bottom of the valley. For some reason, I think the two crimes are connected," Sean said. "I know it's a long shot, but we have to try, for Molly."

"For Molly," the others repeated in unison.

That afternoon, they left nothing unturned. Every discarded paper that was rotting in the corners, all of the leaves that had been tramped in and ignored, it was all carefully examined. From one end of the old warehouse to the other, they scouted for something that might help with their investigation.

"When I found out someone was trying to frame me, I talked to a homeless guy outside and he told me that he saw a blonde girl on the night of the murder," Raven revealed. She hadn't shared the information with her friends until then. "I thought stupidly, it might have been Molly. I know now that it definitely wasn't her."

"Did you offer him any money? Because he could have told you anything just to get something from you," Sean said.

"I didn't think of that," Raven admitted. "I feel sort of bad for believing him and even having any doubts in my friend."

"There's a button here," Aaron said interrupting the conversation as he bent and picked it up. "It was lodged under the door. It could be something. The police might not have seen it if it was stuck under there."

The others looked at the button he held. It looked as though it had fallen off a woman's coat of some sort. Large round and red, it stared up from the palm of Aaron's hand like an unblinking plastic red eye.

"That looks familiar," Raven said taking it from him. "I'm not quite where I've seen it, but I know I have." She looked carefully at it. There were a few scratches from being caught under the door. Handing it back to Aaron, she shrugged. I guess I'll think of it eventually. But hang on to that. It might just be an important clue."

Slipping the button into his pocket, Aaron continued searching. There was nothing else to find though and they were no closer to finding the killer than they had been before they started.

Silently the group left the abandoned building. Standing out in the street, Raven was unsure of what to do next. Angry at herself for not being on time to meet Molly at the park, she kicked at the pavement scuffing the toe of her trainer.

"What now?"

It was Sean who asked the question, but the other two had no idea and trying to work it out seemed ridiculous now. If the police couldn't find the murderer, why would they be able to?

"I'm going home," Raven announced. "I'll see you both at school tomorrow." Turning, she didn't wait for anybody to speak, she just left them there standing outside of the old building. Angry at the situation, she trudged home feeling disappointed. It was one thing to have someone try to pin a murder on her, but hurting her friend was pushing it too far. A hunger began to grow within. Raven decided that no matter what it took, she would get to the bottom of it all and find out who had killed the old guy and hurt Molly. No matter what it took.

Inside the house, Satin was once again sitting on the stairs. The fragrance of furniture polish hit her and she knew that Kate had been on a cleaning rampage. It was something she did when she was angry. Raven wondered what had set her off.

"Hello," Satin said smiling at her.

"What did you do this time?"

"I don't know, Mummy just said go and sit on the naughty step."

"That's weird," Raven said. "Come up stairs with me, You can help me work out who hurt Molly. If you get in trouble for getting off the step, I'll take the blame."

Jumping up, the younger girl followed her big sister up to the bedroom that she was usually banished from. Closing the door behind them, Raven sat on the bed and stared out of the window while Satin climbed up beside her. "Something strange is going on," Raven said.

Satin shrugged her shoulders. She wasn't sure what it was, but she could see it was troubling to Raven and she didn't want to do anything to make her angry. "I don't know anything about strange things."

"What else did Mum say to you?"

"Nothing, she just told me to sit on the naughty step. I didn't do anything wrong. There was some letters on the bench and I picked them up. They were already open and Mummy just snatched them off me. That when she sent me to the stairs."

"Letters? What letters? Do you know where she put the letters?" Perhaps there was something Kate was hiding from them all. It would be good to find the post that Satin was talking about and have a look through it.

Once again Satin shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know."

Raven looked at her sister. The blue eyes and blonde hair reminded her of Molly. There was also something in the way she looked when she didn't understand what was going on. She had seen that look before, but not on her father or her step-mother. It was the look her best friend got when she was thinking about something. The family had known Kate for a long time. She had been their friend before her parents were married. Could it be that Molly was their daughter? But if that were the case, surely her father would have told her. Raven couldn't see him giving up one of his children. As angry as he got with Raven he was devoted to her. Smiling at her sister she brushed the hair out of Satin's eyes. "Don't worry. Mum's just having a bad day, that's all."

"Well I hope she finishes soon because I didn't do anything wrong and I hate the naughty step," Satin told her pouting. "It's lonely there."

"Don't worry," Raven smiled. "I'm sure she'll snap back soon. Did you see where she put the letters?"

"Of course, she put them in her handbag. The brown one," Satin explained innocently.

Now Raven knew where they were, she was itching to find out what it was Kate wanted to keep to herself. Later when everybody was asleep she would have a snoop about and see what she could find. She wished her sister could read, at least then they might have a clue to the contents.

Picking up the remote, she turned on the television and flicked to a channel that Satin would like. While they sat on Raven's bed together, the younger girl enjoyed the show and the older of the two wondered what it was Kate had stashed in her bag. On the night Molly went missing, she told Raven that she had found some documents or something like that. Had Kate gone to the park and knocked Molly out so that she could get her hands on whatever it was Molly had found? It made more sense than anything else she had thought of. Plus there was the blonde hair. Was it Kate who had killed the tramp? A girl with blonde hair, that's what he had said. But to him, Kate could be a girl. But why would she want to kill some random guy who was just passing through the village? There were so many questions that needed answering, but she couldn't just blurt them out. No, Raven knew she would have to be sneaky about this. Sitting on the bed, she tried to tune into the ridiculous children's show that Satin was entertained by, but try as she might, Raven just couldn't push the questions out of her head.

Chapter Seven

Questioning Everything

The trouble that DCI Deveraux was having was the manner in which everything had happened. The clues had led straight to Raven Aubry. Then there was the confession letter that threw them into disarray and the discovery of Molly Blackburn who was clearly innocent. This meant there was another person or other people involved and they had no other leads. Suspicion pointed to Kate Aubry, but there was no proof she was involved in any of it. For some reason, he had a hunch that the woman was someway involved.

"What I don't understand is how the ear of the vagrant ended up in a stuffed toy that was made by those girls," Adam said as he sat at the desk looking through the reports. Hours of racking his brain had come up with nothing. So now there was an ear, a bear and a typed confession by a girl who was left for dead at the bottom of a valley. There was clearly someone else involved, but who?

"I'm sure it has something to do with Kate Aubry," Deveraux said. "There's something about the woman that I just don't trust. She had access to the bear too."

Adam nodded. He wasn't sure about Kate being involved, but the ear got in the bear somehow. "It would be good if we knew more about the old homeless guy. The murder was calculated. I firmly believe that he was targeted specifically. I wonder why he was in Oxmarsh. Was it a coincidence, or did he come here with a purpose in mind?"

"Have there been any updates on where he came from or who he was?"

Shaking his head, he shuffled through the reports once again hoping something would jump off the paper at him. "No sir," he answered finally. "But that could be the key to the crime." There was no denying that finding out more about the homeless man would help them with their investigation, but it was difficult when there was nothing on the body that could identify him and nobody had reported anyone missing. Interviewing those kids had been a waste of time as far as he was concerned because it was bigger than they thought. This wasn't just a simple murder of a vagrant, there was a deeper reason behind it and Adam felt sure it had something to do with Molly Blackburn. The answers, however, weren't going to come by themselves and it was a difficult situation.

"Perhaps some DNA testing might be in order," Herman suggested. "We both know there's more to this than meets the eye. If the vagrant was killed for a reason then it's more than like something to do with someone in this village and at a hunch I would guess young Molly Blackburn. She seems to be right in the thick of it."

"I couldn't agree more," Adam said, wondering if Herman had some sort of psychic ability and had read his thoughts. "It makes a lot of sense. The girl was there on the night the vagrant was killed and then there's the bear which Raven Aubry claims Molly finished off for her. The girl disappeared and we received the typed confession after which she was found at the bottom of the valley. Somebody is either trying to set her up for murder or trying to get rid of her for good. I bet she's related to the murder victim in some way."

"And of course, there's certain to be a common denominator in Oxmarsh. That would explain a lot."

He nodded his head in agreement. There was definitely a link, but what or who it was remained hidden. All they had to do was find it. "So what do you suggest?"

"I suggest a visit to the hospital to see if the young lady remembers anything," Herman said. "But right now, I'd like a cup of tea and a biscuit."

Chapter Eight

Another discovery

There was no time like the present to bring it up. "I think you're my sister," Raven whispered to Molly. "I think Kate is your real mother." Sitting in the hospital room, she looked at her friend with concern and the same look appeared on Molly's face that she had seen on Satin. They could almost be twins. Why hadn't she seen it before now?

Dumbstruck by the thought of the whole thing, Molly sat looking blankly at the bedclothes. Was Raven right? Trying to think clearly about the night in the park, she closed her eyes and opened them again. "What makes you say that?"

"Just a hunch. But I think that Kate and my dad had an affair a long time ago. That might be the reason Satin and you are so similar. My dad and Kate could be your parents."

Shaking her head, she stared at Raven. "Have you gone mad or something?" It sort of made sense to Molly, but the suggestion was a little farfetched.

"No, I think I'm right. They've known each other for a long time Molly. Plus there's the resemblance between you and my sister. Sometimes, she just looks like a younger version of you. Think hard about the night in the park. What was it you wanted to tell me? You said something about finding some document or something." Raven knew that no amount of pressure would make Molly's memory return, but she had to try. Even if it meant nagging until her friend remembered.

"I wish I knew. I'm still exhausted from being left for dead at the bottom of the valley. If that dog hadn't sniffed me out I'd be food for the wildlife. If I could remember, I'd tell you, but there's nothing. But clearly someone wanted me out of the picture." Unsettling as the thought was, it was the truth. Someone had tried to get rid of her. Maybe Raven was right, but why would it matter in the long run?

"Well, you get some more rest and try to think about things. Once you remember, it might give us an answer as to who clocked you in the park and dumped you at the bottom of the valley."

Molly smiled.

Leaving, Raven closed the door to the room and headed along the corridor to the exit. There had to be a way of finding out more about Kate's past, but how? Maybe the letters Satin had mentioned held the key or perhaps there was something hidden away amongst her things in their bedroom. It was just a matter of having a snoop around through everything when her father and Kate were out. Maybe she could offer to babysit while they went out for a movie or something. But that might raise suspicion. She had tried snooping about in the middle of the night, but her father was a light sleeper and if he woke and found her rummaging through Kate's things there would be questions asked that she couldn't answer.

Outside in the grounds of the small hospital, Raven sat on a bench waiting for a bus. It was close on two miles to her house and although the exercise was never an issue, today she just didn't feel like it. She was sure she was right about Molly. That meant her father had betrayed her mother and shagged that silly bitch when they were first married. Were they both keeping it a secret? No, she didn't think so. Perhaps it was Kate who had hit Molly in the park and dumped her in the valley. The thought of the whole sordid affair made her feel unwell. If she was right about Molly being their daughter, Raven was sure of one thing. Her father didn't know.

As she boarded the bus, Raven paid the fare and made her way to the back seat. Staring out of the window, she searched for an answer to the riddles in the landscape, but of course, there was nothing forthcoming.

Chapter Nine

More Questioning

A visit to the hospital was in order for the detectives and as they pulled up in the parking lot, Devereaux and Levy both silently hoped that there was an adult present in the room of the girl they wanted to question. Walking along the corridor, they flashed their identification at a nurse who smiled up at them from behind the ward desk. After receiving the room number, they headed off to find Molly Blackburn. As luck would have it, her mother was in the room sitting beside the bed of the sleeping girl. With a book resting on her knee, she looked up at the men as they entered.

"Oh, hello," she said smiling at them. Instantly the nerves began to twitch and she felt a pang of panic when she saw the two detectives. "Did you want to talk to Molly, because she's only just gone off to sleep." Immediately she thought about confessing, there and then, right in the room. She could even write something and sign it, but the embarrassment that would cause Molly if she woke up didn't bare thinking of. Deciding to hold off for the moment, she waited to see what they were after.

They looked at each other and then at the woman beside the bed. Why else would they be there?

"We actually wanted to ask her a few questions about the night she went missing," Adam explained wondering how to approach the subject of the DNA. "But we also have some questions for you Mrs Blackburn."

"Go on," she said trying to keep a calmness about her. "I'm listening, and please, call me Jane" It was slightly unnerving to have them both there in front of her, but as long as they didn't start asking questions about the homeless guy, she would be able to bluff her way through.

"Mrs Blackburn, Jane, do you know anything about Molly's background?" Herman waited for an answer. He studied the face of the woman before him and saw a slight look of dread, but that was soon dismissed as her expression became calm.

"Well, not really. I could give you the name of the adoption agency we used, but I think they closed down a few years back. I'm not sure if there would be any records of it all. They like to keep all that to themselves you know, it's data protection or something. I doubt whether you'd find out anything. As for me and my husband, we don't know where she came from. All we wanted was a child you see. The past never interested us at all."

Adam wasn't paying attention to what the woman was saying. He was more interested in the cup on the tray table which held some water and the plastic drinking straw that was resting in it. That could be the answer to getting the DNA. If they could get their hands on it and run a test, they might be able to find out if she was in anyway related to the homeless guy who was killed in the old factory warehouse. At that moment a nurse entered the room to check Molly's temperature and he saw the chance to take it. Picking up a paper napkin that was by the cup, Adam quickly wrapped the straw in it and placed it in his pocket without anybody except his partner seeing.

"Thank you for you time today," Herman said. "I'm sorry to bother you, it must be a difficult time for you both. But we will be in contact so if Molly remembers anything at all, perhaps you could let us know. If it's possible, we'd like to talk to her when she's feeling a little better."

She nodded and turned her attention back to her daughter and the nurse.

Leaving the hospital, they both smiled.

"Well done."

"Thanks," Adam said. "Let's get this to the lab and see if there's anything to go on. Who knows, I might just have the answer in my pocket."

Chapter Ten

Posting a Guard

Once again the four teenagers were gathered together in the hospital room but this time Molly was sitting up smiling. After several days of intravenous fluids and antibiotics for a chest infection she had contracted, her health was on the mend and it looked as though she would be home in a few more days. Her friends contributed to the way she felt. Suddenly she felt silly for thinking one of them was responsible for her injuries and as she looked at each of their faces, she knew they genuinely cared about her wellbeing. It was amazing what comfort could do for your thinking, how it turned all the negative out and replaced it with logical positivity.

"We want to help you find out who put you in here," Sean said. "So anything we can do to jog your memory we will."

She believed him. In fact, she now knew that none of her friends would have done anything to hurt her, even Raven. "I've tried to remember but it's hard. It's as if I was in the park and then in the valley and there's nothing in between. I know I was there to meet you Raven and I had something to show you but I can't remember what it was. The more I try, the more it seems to elude me."

Raven nodded. She recalled the phone conversation they had that afternoon and the urgency in her friends voice. If only she had been a little earlier, Molly might not have ended up where she did. "Don't worry too much, the important thing is that you get better. I'm sure that what you were going to tell me is significant, but it will come to you in time."

Aaron and Sean looked at her.

"What the hell is going on with you? You've gone all soft again," Aaron told her. He like the hard Raven, the one with a pinch of spice, not this bland unseasoned sissy. "Since when do you use words like significant?"

"I'm not soft, but I have done a lot of thinking." That was all she told them. It wouldn't do to give too much away, but the truth was, she was getting tired of being the bully and now was the perfect time to put the past where it belonged. There was so much Raven regretted and the most important thing was the way she had treated people and pushed them away. Perhaps it wasn't too late to make amends.

"I like it," Molly told her. "I'm a bit more used to it now and it's nice. You don't have to change very much, you weren't really that bad."

"That's rubbish," Sean argued. "She ruled the school, maybe even the village. There are adults in Oxmarsh who shit themselves when they see Raven coming."

"Maybe, but the point is, you've turned a corner Raven and it's great," Molly said. Secretly she hoped that it wasn't just a passing phase.

"Well, I'm hoping that corner leads me to a better place, because after what happened to you, it kind of sucks here right now. If someone can grab you and dump at the bottom of a valley, then it could happen to any of us."

The others nodded and thought about what Raven had said. It was their choices that had led them to where they were. Was it right to be feared? It didn't make you a better person, it just made other people stay away. Or in Molly's case, commit a crime against you.

"But why didn't it?" Sean asked them. "Why is it, if the people who live around here resent us, that Molly was targeted. You had something to show Raven, so what happened to it? This is bizarre."

"Because whoever it was, wanted me out of the way," Molly said and swallowed hard. "That means that there's someone out to get me and whatever it was I found has something to do with it."

"Then we need to find out who it was and we need to protect you. One of us should stay here in the hospital at all times. It wouldn't be too hard. All we'd have to do is hide in the bathroom when the afternoon rounds are done and then come out afterwards. This is a private room and unless Molly needs something, nobody really comes in," Aaron pointed out.

"Who wants to take the first shift?" Raven asked.

Sean smiled. "I will," he offered. "Maybe we can have a long talk about the events of the past month or so. That might lead to you remembering what it was you discovered that was so important."

Molly nodded. She remembered some things and one of those things was the kiss that they had shared. Having Sean there would make her feel even better about staying in hospital. "I can share my dinner with you if you like."

"Well, it looks at though you two have everything worked out. We should go and if you think of anything call me," Raven said. Nudging Aaron she pushed him from the room and the door closed behind them.

"So do you want to play cards or something?" Sean asked feeling slightly uncomfortable all of a sudden. He picked up a deck of cards from the bedside cabinet and began to shuffle them. The situation was awkward.

"Okay," Molly agreed, doing her best to make him feel more at ease. "It's probably going to be a long night for you. You lot didn't work out when someone would take over."

"Don't worry about anything," Sean said as he dealt the cards. "It's all going to be alright. We're working on finding out who clocked you and dumped you in the valley. You'd think, in the village the size of Oxmarsh, someone would know something."

"That's what I don't understand myself," Molly said looking at the hand. "I think there are people who do know, but they're involved in some way."

"I suppose you're right," he agreed. "But tonight, at least we're sure of one thing, and that is you're safe."

Chapter Eleven

Night Visitor

When Kate Aubry left her home that night she wasn't quite sure whether or not she could go through with the plot. Smothering someone with a pillow wasn't something she had planned to ever do and it seemed callous, even for her. Throughout her life, she had done some despicable things, but smothering someone with a pillow wasn't one of them. Surely there had to be another way.

Shivering a little, she wasn't sure if it was the night air or the thought of the outcome of the evening. Cloud covered the moon making the night darker and although the streetlights were luminated, there was an eeriness about it all. Leaves shivered with her as a slight breeze disturbed them and the rustling made her feel uneasy. If she turned back now, she could make herself a hot cup of tea to warm her from the inside out and then crawl back into bed with her husband and he wouldn't be any wiser. Hopefully he wouldn't wake up while she was out. But she would think of something to tell him. She always did.

At this time of night, the village was deserted and there wasn't a soul about. It was ridiculous to think that in a place like Oxmarsh there would be any nightlife at all. Unless someone threw a party or there was some sort of village function on, the place was like a ghost town after the sun went down. Kate blamed her step-daughter and that lousy lot she got about with. They had terrorised all manner of people, from children to the elderly and this was the result. People were afraid to set foot outside after dark and some even in the daylight for that matter. There was a distinct smell of fear emanating from the old village and as she walked along in silence with the dark hood up over her head, Kate once again wondered what she would do when she got to the hospital. It would have been easier for her to drive her car, but that would have wakened her husband and parking at the hospital would be sure to have some sort of security cameras operating. So walking was the best option for her. Jamming her hands in the pockets of the hoodie, she carried on.

An empty carpark greeted her as she trudged along the driveway toward the old building. Lined on either side by old oak trees that had been there since before the property was developed, the dirt track had ben reinforced with gravel and it crunched beneath her feet as she took one step at a time. But that was the only sound. Nearing the building, her pace slowed and she thought about the crime she had in mind. Somewhere in amongst the foliage that rustled in the breeze, an owl hooted and she perused the branches, but her eyesight wasn't as keen as the night bird's and she couldn't see it anywhere. At least it wouldn't be able to tell the police anything.

From where Kate stood, the windows of the building looked like peering eyes and although there was no light or no sign that anyone was awake, Kate knew the vigilant nurses who cared for the patients overnight would be on the prowl. There might not even be a way into the hospital, but she had to try. When she found Molly, she would decide the course of action.

There were several entry points to the hospital and Kate decided going in through the front would be the best. Making sure her face was hidden from the view of the camera, she approached the door, but it was secured tightly and there was an intercom to the right. Resisting pressing the button, Kate made her way around the building to find another way in. At the rear there was some sort of entrance for deliveries or staff, but that door was locked too. The best she could hope for was to hang about and wait for someone to exit, but it could take hours and she didn't have hours. Sighing to herself, Kate Aubry left the hospital grounds and commenced the walk home. At least she still had a home, for now.

It seemed quicker on the way back and she hoped that the family hadn't woken up. Sometimes, Satin would wake in the night and sneak into their bed. Kate prayed that tonight wasn't one of those nights. She had no reason to be out especially wearing a hoodie that belonged to her stepdaughter. What would Graham say? At least if she could get into the house and out of her clothes, she could make a hot drink and warm up a little before getting back into bed. If he woke, she would just say she couldn't sleep.

As Kate approached the house, the darkness of the windows indicated that the family were sound asleep. Turning the key quietly in the lock, she opened the door and to her relief, the place was in darkness. Creeping up the stairs, she checked on Satin. The little girl was asleep. Removing the hoodie, she dumped it in the laundry hamper in the family bathroom and went into the room she shared with her husband. Graham snored softly away and she smiled to herself. Changing into her nightclothes, she pulled on her slippers and went down to the kitchen to make herself a cup of cocoa.

The house was warm and she soon relaxed. Sipping the hot chocolatey drink, Kate wondered what she was going to do about everything. The best thing to do would be to confess everything right from when she gave up their daughter for adoption illegally. Graham would despise her, Raven would finally get one up on her and Satin just wouldn't understand. Molly would be more than confused knowing that her biological mother tried to get rid of her. Jane would hate her for telling the world about the purchase of a child and also for the attempt on Molly's life. The entire village would be gossiping forever about the woman who had an affair with a married man and sold the product only to marry him years later and produce another child. Perhaps it was better to wait it out.

Rinsing the cup under the tap, she put it in the dishwasher and turned off the kitchen light. Climbing the stairs, she suddenly felt exhausted. Not just from the walk to the hospital and back, but from the years of lying and keeping secrets from her husband. Falling into bed, Kate closed her eyes and slept until morning.

Chapter Twelve

Stalking

Raven heard the door to her bedroom open and in the dim light she could see the silhouette of her stepmother. Closing her eyes she pretended to be asleep. Listening, she heard the door to her wardrobe open and then close. As the door slowly closed blocking out the landing light, Raven watched as Kate put on a black hoodie that she had taken from Raven's wardrobe. In an instant, she was out of bed pulling on her clothes. For some reason her stepmother needed a black hoodie and Raven intended to follow her to find out why.

Opening the bedroom door just a crack, she heard the front door to their house close quietly. Grabbing her coat and house keys, she ran downstairs quietly and silently opened the door looking out into the chilly night. Kate was just down the road a bit. Closing the door behind her, Raven followed, but kept her distance.

As the clouds moved slowly across the light splattered sky, the night changed as the moon was blocked out. Surrounded by the darkness, Raven wasn't bothered at all. It wasn't the first time she had been out at this time without her dad knowing. Shivering a bit from the cold, she zipped up her coat and pulled up the hood. Kate was almost a block away, but Raven didn't want to get too close, just in case the woman suddenly turned around. She wondered why her stepmother hadn't taken the car and why on earth she would be out in the middle of the night walking around. Clearly there was something she wanted to keep to herself.

Following her, Raven smiled to herself. It felt good to do something that would drive Kate nuts if she found out. From the direction they were going, she guessed that they were heading towards the hospital. Suddenly she realised that it must have been Kate who attacked Molly in the park and left her for dead at the bottom of the valley. Fuming, it was all she could to do to stop herself from running up behind her stepmother and clocking her one. Perhaps she was going to the hospital to try to finish the job properly. Well it was too bad, Sean was with Molly and he wouldn't let anything happen to her. Plus, the hospital would be secure and hopefully Kate wouldn't be able to get in.

The drive up to the hospital was covered in gravel and she stopped as Kate's steps made a crunching sound. Climbing over the fence that lined the way, she walked beneath the trees and made less noise. The last thing she wanted was to get caught. Waiting under the canopy, she watched from a distance as her stepmother tried the front door. Knowing she wouldn't be able to get in, Raven waited anyway. She watched her disappear around the side of the building and figured if she was gone for too long, she would follow. It wasn't very long before Kate returned and began to walk towards the spot where Raven was hiding. As the woman neared, she held her breath. She could almost have reached out and touched her and wondered if the pounding of her hear would give her away. Once Kate had passed, she allowed herself to exhale and watched as the warm droplets from her breath turned to fog. The way was once again safe.

Following her back to their home, Raven felt the hate rise within. If what she suspected was true, and Kate and her father were Molly's parents, why would she commit such a terrible crime against her own daughter? It didn't make sense.

Waiting a minute or two before entering the house, she closed the front door and ran softly upstairs slipping into her bedroom and closing the door. Sitting on the bed in the dark, her heart still pounding, she heard Kate walk along the landing past her bedroom again. Opening the door just a crack, she watcher her go downstairs. She had clearly changed into her night clothes. Raven heard her in the kitchen and closed the bedroom door again.

Changing into her pyjamas, she snuggled down under the covers and tried to go to sleep. So many questions swirled in her head. At least though, Molly was safe and she wondered what they were up to alone in that hospital room.

When Raven caught up with Aaron the next day she revealed what she had told Molly in the hospital a few days before.

"Are you kidding?" he asked. "What, you and Molly might be sisters."

"Well, I suppose that's what you'd call us. But if its true then Molly and Satin are definitely sisters. They look alike, don't you think?"

Aaron hadn't thought about it until now, but it sort of made sense. Molly and Satin were very much alike.

"You know what Aaron. I think that Kate went to the park that night. You know the night Molly was going to meet me. If Molly had found something that proved that Kate was her mother, well, I think Kate would have done anything to stop her. Plus, last night, she took a hoodie from my cupboard. She thought I was asleep, but I followed her Aaron and she went to the hospital."

"What? Why?"

"I don't know, but I'm guessing that she wanted to finish what she had started," Raven told him.

"That doesn't sound right then. Why would she want to kill her own kid?"

"I don't know, but I'm sure that Kate and Dad are Molly's parents."

"But how can that be? If she's your father's daughter, how is it nobody knows?"

"I'm guessing that he had an affair with Kate a long time ago and Molly is the result. I don't think my dad knows Aaron. He loves his kids and I'm sure if he knew Molly was his daughter too, he would include her in our family." She finished talking and thought about it for a moment. There were a few choices Raven had. She could keep her mouth shut and let it be revealed through the investigation the police were carrying out, or she could go to her father and tell him her suspicions.

"You're not thinking of telling your father are you?" Aaron could almost read her thoughts. That was the thing about Raven, once she began talking about something, you could follow her thought pattern and predict what was going to happen next.

"Well," she hesitated. "I think I should."

"But what if you're wrong. What if it's a coincidence. You'll be stirring up a hornet's nest for no reason at all," Aaron told her. Raven was impulsive. That was probably one of her worse traits and the last thing he wanted her to do was go off half cocked and start a war at home. It would also have an impact on Molly's home and the poor girl was still in the hospital.

"I'll wait until Molly gets out of the hospital," she said. "But after that, I'm telling my dad. He has a right to know he has another daughter. Come on, let's go to the hospital. Sean's probably still there from last night. I wonder what they got up to."

Aaron smiled. "Knowing Sean, nothing. I think he's scared of girls."

"Don't be ridiculous, they've kissed you know."

Chapter Thirteen

Why?

A report with the findings of the DNA test for Molly Blackburn sat on his desk. Herman looked it over and smiled to himself. There was a definite connection between the girl and the tramp. But what did it all mean, that was the question he needed an answer for, and at the moment, it eluded him. Looking at the board, he read the names over and over again in an effort to find a reason for the death of the old guy.

"Is that the report?" Adam asked as he entered with two cups of tea. Placing one in front of his senior, he picked up the paper and sat down at his desk.

"Yes and as you can see, the tramp who was killed in the warehouse is in fact a relative of Molly Blackburn. But I'm puzzled about it all. Why did he come to Oxmarsh, and who killed him? More specifically why did they kill him? That's the question that will answer the others Adam."

Sipping his tea Adam Levy didn't have the foggiest. There were no other suspects and it all hinged on this latest piece of evidence. There were so many loose ends that it was like it had unravelled in all directions.

"You know, I have a theory about the whole thing, but whether or not it's right, that's another thing. There are certain similarities between Molly Blackburn and Satin Aubry. What if they are sisters. What if Graham and Kate Aubry are the parents of Molly and the victim is in some way related to one of them?"

"I get where you're going with this, but I'm not sure that's possible. Molly is the same age as Raven and Graham was married and living here in the village when his daughter was born."

"Affairs happen. It's not out of the question. If my suspicions are correct, the girl is their daughter and one or both of them are involved in the murder and the abduction of Molly Blackburn. What I can't work out is why."

"I can't imagine Graham Aubry being that way inclined. He loves his kids, even Raven. She's such a problem child, but he's always backed her up no matter what. If he is the father of Molly Blackburn, then I'm guessing, and this is a guess, he doesn't know."

"If you're right, that makes Kate Aubry a suspect."

The men looked at each other. Herman picked up his cup of tea and sipped at it. Things were beginning to make sense. If the homeless man had come to Oxmarsh without realising that Molly lived here and he was recognised by someone who knew him and thought he might spill the beans, then it made perfect sense that he should be kept quiet. The act had been callous though and he couldn't imagine a woman killing in such a way, but stranger things had happened in his life and on occasion, the murdered had been the person he least expected.

"What about the Blackburns," Adam said suddenly. "What if they're involved someway. It's not usual to know where your adopted child comes from, but they might have known. I can't imagine either of them would have attacked her and then left her to die at the bottom of the valley, but they could be responsible for the tramp."

Once again they sat looking at each other both thinking about the case and all of the people who could be involved in some way. For the moment it was all speculation and all they had to go on was a report which didn't point the finger at anyone in particular.

"I know one thing for sure, we're not going to get anywhere guessing. I'm not sure who to speak to next, but we haven't spoken to Graham Aubry and it might be ideal to get him alone. Perhaps we should pay another visit to their home, or his work," Herman said. "I want to talk to them separately so that there's no collaboration."

Chapter Fourteen

Realisation

That bloody Molly, it was all her fault. If only she hadn't gone prying into her past, things would be different. She wouldn't have had to do anything to her. Looking at the documents she had taken from Molly's bag Kate read over them. For the moment, the girl seemed to have lost her memory and couldn't remember anything about the night in the park, but it wouldn't take long before she remembered what she was going to tell Raven and that meant the cat would be out of the bag. Graham would find out that Molly was their daughter and he would ask a lot of questions. Questions that would be difficult for her to answer. She remembered when she had given up her baby. Nobody had known about it except for Jane Blackburn. The pregnancy had been hidden and the baby had been sold. At the time, Kate had needed the money more than a child and she knew Graham would never leave his wife for her. It had been the only option and Molly had grown up in a good home. Then the bloody family had moved to Oxmarsh and Raven had made friends with Molly. Why? How on earth could something so obscure happen? Of all the places in England, they had come to live here. It seemed too ridiculous for words, but she had to face the consequences of her actions and they were right in front of her. Once Molly regained her memory, Kate would lose everything.

She felt the bile rise in her throat and leaned over the toilet. Not again, she couldn't be pregnant again. But all the signs were there. The last thing she needed was another child ruining her life. First there had been Molly and then Satin. Now it looked as though there was another on the way. Flushing the toilet, she brushed her teeth to rid herself of the sour taste, but that was only a momentary answer to the problem. She had to do something about it before Graham noticed. The trouble with that plan was she needed someone to bring her home afterwards. There was no way she would be able to get behind the wheel of a car. What if the police pulled her up? There would be questions she couldn't answer. She wondered if Jane would help her. They had been friends for a long time, although, nobody knew how long. It was something they had kept to themselves. Molly and Satin looked so much alike, it wouldn't take too long to piece it all together.

Wetting the end of a towel, she wrung it out and mopped her brow. Lowering herself to the floor, Kate felt the emotion bubbling to the surface. Everything was slipping away. It wouldn't be too long before that brat remembered why she was waiting for Raven in the park that night and then she would tell someone. Until then, she had to remain as calm as possible.

Chapter Fifteen

Molly comes home

When Molly was released from hospital it was a relief for all of them. She felt so much safer in her own home. That afternoon, she sat on her bed with her legs crossed as her friends were perched around her. She could call them that now, friends. Molly had complete trust in all three of them and she knew the events of the past few months had changed the dynamic of the group and brought them closer together as a unit.

"I have something to tell you guys," Raven announced. She looked at Aaron who already knew about the night stalking.

"Go on," Sean urged. He knew by the look on Raven's face that it was important.

"Last night, Kate came into my room and took one of my hoodies from my cupboard. She thought I was asleep, so I got dressed and followed her. She went out into the night and straight to the hospital."

"Wait," Molly interrupted. "What time was this?"

"A little after midnight," Raven told them. "Anyway I waited for her. She wasn't there long and then she just went home. All the doors were locked you see and she couldn't get in without alerting someone."

"So what are you saying exactly?" Sean asked.

"I have a feeling it was Kate who hurt Molly. There's just too many similarities between Molly and Satin that makes me think that my dad and Kate had an affair years ago. I'm sure you're their daughter Molly and it's been covered up all of these years. When you called me to tell me to meet you, you said you'd found something. I reckon Kate was listening in on the conversation and went to the park before I had the chance to get there," Raven explained.

"So that would make you both related to each other," Sean said. "It's interesting and not totally out of the question I suppose. But why keep it a secret and why is all of this happening now?"

"That's something I haven't quite worked out. But if I had to guess, I would say that the homeless guy triggered everything," Raven said. "I've been thinking about it. Don't you think it's odd that he turns up and out of all the tramps in Oxmarsh someone chooses him? If it was just a random attack then wouldn't it be one of the old guys sleeping in the street? Remember what he said? He told us that he thought his granddaughter lived in this area and she had some trouble years ago."

"What's that got to do with anything?" Molly asked.

"What if his granddaughter was Kate and the trouble that he was talking about was a baby," Aaron said. "You might just be onto something Raven. I just don't know how to prove it. But then does that mean Kate killed the tramp?"

"Hang on a bit" Molly said. Tears appeared in the corner of her eyes and she fanned them with her hands. The revelation that the woman who might have given birth to her wanted her dead was a lot to deal with. "I don't know why anyone would do something like that. If you're right then I'm her daughter and she left me to die Raven."

"Molly, I know it's difficult. But I don't think my dad knew. If he did, things would be different. You'd be living at our house like you should be and I'd have two sisters. If I'm right, Kate kept everything covered up so nobody would know. If it was me I'd feel the same way, but you have to try to remember what you wanted to show me in the park that night." Raven finished talking and waited for her friend to compose herself. It was hard to watch as Molly sat there and the tears streamed from her eyes. Knowing the girl before her could possibly be her sister made her feel even more guilty for all of the horrible things she had said to Molly over the years. But the past was the past, they had to move forward. If she had learnt anything from her visits to Leah Mills, that was possibly the most important lesson. Dwelling doesn't solve problems. Sitting on the bed she put her arm around Molly. "I'm going to talk to Dad, everything's going to work out for the best. If anything, you'll have two families."

Molly nodded and wiped her eyes with a tissue. Emotions were reeling inside and her thought process was erratic. "I don't know what it was I wanted to tell you or show you Raven. I'm just wondering if there's some sort of a connection between Mum and Kate. It seems very odd that I would end up in Oxmarsh, doesn't it? Should I talk to Mum and Dad about it?"

"No," Aaron said. "This conversation needs to be kept between the four of us. I get that you want to tell your Dad Raven, but until we know for sure who is involved, we shouldn't go spreading our suspicions around. If we have to talk to anyone, it should be that detective bloke."

"I agree with Aaron," Sean interrupted. "I'm staying here tonight. I won't be going to school tomorrow. You shouldn't be left alone until we're certain of the facts."

"Wait, why do you get to bunk? I'm not going in if you're not," Raven said.

"Let's all take the day off. My parents don't give a toss anyway," Aaron told them. "They wouldn't have a clue what I get up to and I don't think they want to. The less they know, the less they have to deal with."

After the discussion, Raven and Aaron left Sean and Molly.

"This is such an odd situation. But if I'm right, it will be nice to have another sister," Raven admitted. "Hopefully Molly will spend more time at our house. I never thought I'd feel this way."

"Me neither," Aaron said.

Chapter Sixteen

Molly Remembers

"I'm remembering something. You know your theory about us being sisters? Well I have a feeling that's what I was going to tell you in the park." Her memory was starting to return and although it wasn't quite at its best, a picture was forming. Sean had gone home for a shower and a change of clothes and Raven had taken his place for a while.

"Go on, I'm listening." Sitting on Molly's bed, in the teenage bedroom adorned with white furniture and pink accessories, Raven was keen to hear what her friend had to say. She had suspicions but until Molly remembered properly, there wasn't much she was willing to do about it.

"There was something I found that I was going to show you. It wasn't a birth certificate, it was like some sort of sales document," Molly told her.

"What? I don't understand what you're saying." Had Molly gone mad? Perhaps that crack on the back of her head had done more damage than they thought it had. Even Raven knew that it was illegal to sell children. She didn't think anybody would do that.

"Well, it looked as though my mum paid a large amount of money to a woman called Kate McIntyre. There was a figure on the paper and just the word baby. But it doesn't take a genius to work it out. At first I wasn't sure where I knew the name from but then I remembered your stepmother's maiden name. I'm right aren't I?"

Raven nodded. "You're right. If anyone was going to sell their own child it would be her. Do believe me now that Kate is the one who attacked you that night in park and left you at the bottom of the valley?"

"I don't know what to think. I didn't think she would be capable of something like that. But if she did then she might know we know the truth and she would do anything to cover it up. So that means we really could be sisters."

"Well she's a bitch, so it's possible. In fact, she went out that evening, not long before I did so she might very well be the person who hit you over the head. Molly do you think Kate killed the vagrant and tried to frame me and then you?"

"Why though, that doesn't make sense. Why would she have done that?"

"I don't know, but I think it's time I did a bit more snooping around our house. At least now you're at home, you're safe. I'm going. I'll bring you some homework from school. You'll be happy to know that I've been doing my own and I'm actually getting good grades. Do you mind if I raid your fridge?"

"Could you make me a sandwich?"

"I think even I can manage that."

Molly smiled and Raven left the room. As she watched her go, worry set in and she began to feel a little paranoid. If Kate was her mother, why on earth would she do something so horrible to her? Wasn't there supposed to be some sort of bond between a mother and her children? It was awful to think about and she wondered why Kate had given her up to begin with.

********

Aaron didn't know whether or not Raven was joking about Kate, but there was one thing for sure, he knew she had always hated her stepmother. There had been several occasions when his friend had confided in him about finding different ways to get rid of her and this seemed as though it was another one of those. Perhaps she was joking about it. He never thought Kate would be capable of killing anyone, but someone had killed the tramp and someone had tried to put Molly out of action. Was it the same person? What if, by some weird coincidence, there were two different people committing these crimes as some sort of coverup? He couldn't imagine Kate Aubry killing anybody, she was too girly. She had always reminded him of one of those women who sat in front of a mirror and brushed her hair one hundred times.

Sean had been acting a bit strange too, but that might be because he fancied Molly. He had told Aaron on several occasions and nothing had changed. The way he was looking at her in the hospital room and again in her bedroom at home confirmed that. Conversations about the girls had come about on many occasions. To be honest, he couldn't see the attraction. Molly didn't appeal to him at all, but Raven, that was another story. Right from the very start when they had become friends, Aaron had felt a different type of connection, one that pulled on his heartstrings. He felt silly. Just thinking about this sort of stuff made him feel like he was weak or something. Once he had almost admitted it to Sean but thought differently when he imagined the ribbing he might get. Plus, he didn't want Raven to find out just yet and Sean had a bit a mouth on him. She would probably just laugh at him.

The problem he faced now was how to go about it. How was he going to let Raven know that he had more than just friendly feelings for her. Feelings that ran much deeper than hanging about the streets and scavenging through the markets. What if she laughed in his face? It made him feel dismal just thinking about it and a grimness set in.

Boiling the kettle to make some tea, he wondered if Raven felt the same way. It was a possibility, but how would he find out unless she told him. Girls confided in each other and she might just have had a conversation about it with Molly. If that was the case, knowing how close Molly and Sean were getting, then he might know something. Turning off the kettle, he left his home and headed out to his mate's place. Hopefully he was home and could help with the problem.

Chapter Seventeen

Boys Talk

After leaving Molly's, Sean's head was spinning. It was information overload. All of the things that Raven had said just didn't seem right. If it was true, well, he imagined the fallout from the revelation. Once the gossips got hold of the news, it would spread like a fire through a pile of dry leaves.

Making himself a sandwich, he grabbed a can of soft drink from the fridge and settled in to watch some catch-up television for a few hours. Raven was with Molly and he knew she would be safe for the time being. Later in the day he would return to the Blackburns and resume his post. Finishing the snack he noticed Aaron coming up the path towards the front door. Leaping from the chair he rushed to open it thinking something was wrong.

"Hi, you alright?"

"Yeah, you?"

Aaron entered the house and closed the door behind himself. "I though we could hang out for a while."

Sean breathed a sigh of relief. "For a moment I thought you were coming to tell me there was something wrong at Molly's."

"No," Aaron said sitting down on the sofa. "I just wanted to talk to you about the girls."

"Go on," Sean surged.

"Well, you know how me and Raven have been friends for a long time. I sort of like her as more than a friend." There, he had said it and there was no denying his feelings now.

"It's sort of obvious. When you're with her, you're different. I bet she's noticed too."

"Well, what should I do about it. I don't want her to laugh at me. You know how she is," Aaron said.

"I don't know," Sean said honestly. "I have a hard enough time understanding Molly's feelings towards me. One day she really likes me and the next day it's like we're just friends. I know she's been through hell, but there's no need for her to behave like that. It's just not rational."

"My dad says there's nothing rational about the way women think. He reckons that they're mad and the only reason he married Mum was so he didn't have to spend his retirement as a lonely old bloke with nothing better to do than drink his money in the pub," Aaron told him.

They sat in silence for a while. Being a teenage boy was difficult. There was so much to combat without thinking about whether or not a girl might like you. Was life always going to be this hard?

"I just had a sandwich. If you want one you have to make it yourself," Sean explained.

That was the extent of the conversation about girls and although they felt a bit uncomfortable talking about it, there was something comforting in the fact that each of them knew about the other.

Chapter Eighteen

What Now?

"Should we go to the cops about all this?"

The four teenagers were once again sitting in Molly's bedroom. It was Raven who spoke first. She had thought about it over and over, so much so that it had almost driven her nuts. Now she was more than certain Kate was guilty of something and she couldn't wait to string her stepmother up.

"I think we need some sort or proof," Molly said. "If it was Kate who hit me over the head in the park, then she would have the document I wanted to show you Raven." As time went by, more and more of her memory returned. She remembered calling Raven's home and Kate answering the phone. She could have been listening in on an extension or anything.

"The only problem with that is we don't have any proof," Sean reminded them all.

"I'm going to have to find something. She has to have that paper in the house somewhere. I'll just have to look for it. Usually on Monday nights, they play cards with one of our neighbours so I could have a poke around in her stuff," Raven offered.

"Yes and if you find something, call me," Molly urged. "If she has it then it's the proof we need. I'm not sure it was her, but if it was then we can go to the police and when they arrest her I'll feel a lot safer."

"You and me both," Raven admitted. "She's changed. She used to try to get on the good side of me all the time, now she barely speaks to me and Satin spends most of her time on the naughty step for no reason. I feel sorry for her."

"That's new," Aaron piped up. "Are you sure it's not you who's changed.

"Maybe I have a bit, but not that much. I still hate Kate and I hope they lock her up and throw away the key," Raven said.

"Well if she is responsible, I can't see you father putting up with any of it," Sean said. "Imagine what he's going to do when it all comes out. He's going to kick off. I can see it coming."

"Well you can't really blame him. She deceived him and denied him his daughter," Raven said smiling at Molly. "Just so you know, I'm not sharing clothes with you."

They all laughed. It was strange for Molly to think she had more family than she thought she had all of this time.

"I just realised too, if that old guy that was killed in the factory warehouse was Kate's grandfather and she is Molly's mother, that makes him your great grandfather Molly," Sean said. "Sorry about the outline we sprayed around him. I hope it wasn't some sort of jinx."

"I didn't think of that," Molly said. "I was sitting right near him too. Although, he didn't look very familiar. But the family resemblance might have been hidden beneath the dirt."

They all laughed again.

"I'd better go," Raven announced standing up. "I have to babysit my sister tonight. As soon as she's in bed, I'll start hunting through Kate's stuff and if I find what we need, I'll call you."

Opening the bedroom door, she came face to face with Jane Blackburn.

"I was just coming to see if you and the boys were staying for dinner," Jane told her.

"Well I'm not, but the others might be," Raven explained. "I'll see you guys later."

As Raven left the home of the Blackburns, she wondered how long Molly's mum had been waiting outside the door and whether or not she had been listening. It was odd to think someone would buy a child, but after looking at several adoption sites with Molly she knew there was a very long waiting list from childless couples who were in desperate need. If that were the case and Molly had been bought from Kate all those years ago, then Jane Blackburn might just be involved in some way. Surely though she wouldn't have wanted Molly dead. She seemed such a loving mother. No, it wasn't possible. There was no way on earth Molly's mum would have let that happen to her only child.

Chapter Nineteen

Confession

After overhearing the conversation that was going on in her daughter's bedroom, Jane Blackburn made a conscious decision, she would go to the police station and confess to the murder of the tramp. Unsure of what the outcome would be, that evening she sat down to write a letter to her daughter. One that could be opened after she was arrested and probably locked up. She could explain everything to Molly and there would be no digression. It was a shame it had come to this, they had been so happy.

Taking a pen and paper, she thought for a moment and wondered if an email would be better. No, it had to be this way. It would be something that Molly could read without having to plug one of those awful devices in.

Dear Molly

Let me start from the beginning.

Your father and I were very much in love and when we married, we wanted to start a family quickly. That wasn't to be. For some reason, the universe was against us and try as we might, we remained childless.

I knew Kate from college, we met one afternoon and became friends. It was always very obvious that she was in love with Graham Aubry and even after he was married, she pursued him. The result was a brief affair and child. That child was you. She confided in me and told me that although she couldn't go through with an abortion, it just wasn't the right time in her life for her to raise a child. That's when we came up with the idea that I would take you off her hands for a price. Your father and Graham Aubry were unaware of the transaction. Graham didn't even know that she was carrying his child.

You were only a few weeks when I brought you home and I loved you like you were my own, I still do. Everything went well and we ended up moving to Oxmarsh to build a business here. I had no idea that Graham Aubry lived here until we arrived. When his wife took sick and passed away like she did, it didn't take long for Kate to win him over and they were married not long after the death. Then they had Satin and as she grew up, each time I saw her I was reminded of you as a baby. The secret stayed hidden though and as nobody in Oxmarsh had seen you before school age, we thought it would be alright.

When he came to town, Kate freaked out and so did I. If the truth came out, well for one, the adoption was illegal and we would both be in a lot of trouble with the authorities. So one night, the same night you and you friends had been drinking in the factory warehouse, I took matters into my own hands and did away with the old guy – Kate's grandfather.

I never meant for things to go this far. It was difficult you know. I'd never cut anyone's throat before. I knew that you had been working on that damned teddy bear for Raven and I thought if I planted a small part of him inside the toy, well I'd be alright. That girl is out of control so there wouldn't be any reason not to suspect her. But things turned sour when you went missing. I had no idea what had happened to you and then the police turned up with some sort of confession that you were supposed to have sent them. But I knew the truth Molly, because I was the guilty party and I had no idea who had written it. I'm still not sure.

The police were baffled and they had to release Raven. Not long after I received a phone call from them saying that you had been found but you were in bad condition and had been taken to the hospital. I had no reason to suspect anyone except your friends and I was angry to think that you had put up with so much over the years. I know now that none of them were involved. There are suspicions and they point towards Kate Aubry.

I'm sorry about everything except for one thing. I'm not sorry that I took you off Kate's hands. Every single moment from when I first brought you home has been a joy and when I look at the fine young woman that you're becoming, I'm proud Molly.

Whatever happens to me, I know now that the truth is always best out in the open.

Your loving mother

Jane Blackburn

She stopped for a moment and took a sip of the water that was in front of her. Things were messed up. If only she had just left it alone then nobody would be none the wiser. He probably would have moved on and things would have gone back to normal. Now her husband would find out what she had done. Everything would change and it wouldn't be for the better. Prison seemed such a bleak alternative to the life she had now. How would Molly react knowing that her mother was a murderer?

Reading the letter back to herself only cemented it and she folded the paper and slipped it into an envelope. On the outside, she simply wrote the word Molly. Unsure of what to do next, she hid the letter in her handbag and tried to think logically. If she didn't go to the police, they might never even know. If the kids went with their story, Kate could be blamed for the murder of the old guy too. After all, he was her grandfather. But there was still the matter of the money that had changed hands after the birth of Molly and she didn't think Kate would just sit there keeping something like that to herself. For the moment, the police were still in the dark. Jane decided to sit tight and wait for a few more days, just to see what would happen. If she felt the police were closing in, she would approach them first.

Chapter Twenty

Ravenous

Visiting the police station wasn't a very joyful experience for Raven and not the kind of afternoon activity she was renowned for. It was out of necessity though. There was a hunger inside her and she wanted the truth to come out. Her stomach ached and the ponding in her chest overwhelmed her, but it was time to put things right and this was the best way to do it. She would make them listen, even if they didn't want to. Today, Raven, accompanied by Aaron wouldn't be leaving the police station until somebody promised to pursue their lead, however convoluted it sounded.

It was slightly unnerving though and as Raven sat there, Aaron sat beside her feeling just as nervous. They had broken so many laws and caused so much trouble in the community, neither of them expected to be taken seriously, but they had to try. Those detectives would probably believe Molly more than the rest of them put together, but she wasn't well enough to come, so Raven and Aaron had volunteered.

Notices were pinned to a cork notice board on the wall and it looked as though they hadn't been changed in quite some time. Dog-eared and curling in the corners, the condition of the flyers prevented Raven from reading any of them. The fragrant aroma of coffee reached her and she wished for a latte to give her just a little comfort. It wasn't the first time she had sat in the station waiting. On several occasions she had been caught making a nuisance of herself in someway or another and had sat while her father discussed his daughter's behaviour. Warning after warning had been issued in an attempt to scare the wild child out of her. Now, in silence, she looked back in disbelief at the way she had behaved. Perhaps it was the thought of what had happened to Molly that had changed her attitude, or the visits to Leah Mills, she wasn't sure. The sound of footsteps coming nearer drew her of herself and she looked at Aaron who seemed to be in the same sort of stupor as she herself had.

"You two, come with me."

Following the uniformed police officer, they went into a small room that was over cluttered with furniture. In the corner, an overstuffed filing cabinet gave the impression that nobody knew anything about filing and the manila folders had been squeezed in with force. There was only one small window which was too high to see out of, but the untidy enclosed space was flooded with electric light. The two men they had come to see stood to welcome them. DCI Devereaux and his faithful sidekick DS Levy. There were four chairs in the room and as the detectives took theirs, Raven and Aaron made themselves uncomfortable on the other two.

"How can we help you?" Herman asked smiling at the kids. He didn't want to scare them out of saying what they had come in to tell. Hopefully it was some sort of confession.

"Well," Aaron said looking at Raven. "We have a theory, it's Raven's theory really. Maybe you should tell them." Turning to her he nudged her encouragingly and managed a weak smile.

"Okay," she said hesitantly. "This is just a theory, but I think that my stepmother is responsible for Molly's abduction."

Levy and Devereaux looked at each other. It was almost as if they had been expecting it and Raven waited a moment before she went on.

"What makes you think she's responsible?" It was Adam Levy who asked the question.

"I just reckon that it was her. Look, there are just a lot of things that don't add up. Molly and Satin are too much alike not to be related and I think that Molly might be the daughter of my dad and Kate. Maybe they had an affair a long time ago and Kate had a baby. Apparently on the night Molly was taken, she was going to show me something. It was like a sales receipt but the only word on it was baby. Maybe Molly's mum bought her from Kate. That would explain a lot of things. We also had an idea about that old guy that was killed in the factory warehouse. He mentioned something about his granddaughter running into some sort of difficulties and how he was searching for family. Maybe that granddaughter was Kate and she realised that he might know about the baby so she killed him. I know that it's not much to go on and you can't arrest somebody on the hunches of a group of teenagers, but it's something that you should consider maybe looking into. That's all really," Raven finished.

After taking a few notes, Adam Levy put down his pen and looked at his senior.

"We appreciate you coming in today," Herman said sincerely.

"There's just one thing I can't work out though," Raven interrupted.

"What's that?" Adam asked her.

"How that dead guy's ear got in a teddy bear I made at school. It really makes no sense."

"That's something that we've been wondering too," Adam admitted. He believed her. It was the first time in his appointment at Oxmarsh that Raven Aubry had walked into a police station voluntarily and from her body language and the way she spoke, he knew that the girl was just as keen to get answers as the police were.

"I swear I never put it in there and I know that Molly never. So maybe Kate did it to frame me or something. I don't know," Raven told them.

"Is there anything you'd like to add?" Herman asked looking directly at Aaron. He hadn't said much at all.

"No, not really," he answered quietly. Like Raven he had spent his share of time in the police station and even though he knew he hadn't done anything wrong this time, he was still felling uneasy. Plus there was still the smash and grab lurking in his mind. The crime hadn't been solved and he was waiting for them to question him further about that.

"Okay then, thanks for coming in, we'll look into this. Oh and we'll be discreet about it," Adam told them.

They all stood and the teenagers left the office in a hurried fashion. Both of them couldn't wait to get outside into the fresh air. Not only had the office been stuffy, but it was hot in there. Zipping up her coat, Raven shoved her hands in her pockets and looked at Aaron.

"Fancy some chips?" he asked.

Nodding they walked off together towards the local chippy.

"I think that went well," Raven said.

"I was shitting myself. I thought they might start on about the clothes shop again," Aaron admitted.

"Thanks for reminding me," she groaned. "I'd completely forgotten about it. What with Molly and everything. Anyway, they have no proof that it was us and they too busy investigating Kate now. Come on, I'm starving."

Chapter Twenty One

Police Talk

Sitting in the small interview room, Adam Levy looked at the few notes he had scribbled while his senior sat in silence pondering the information they had just received.

"What are your thoughts?" Herman finally asked.

"To be honest, it makes sense. It's sort of along the trail of thinking that we had ourselves. There's still the question about the ear in the bear that puzzles me. Raven could be right though. Kate might have put it in to frame her. What I don't understand is how on earth somebody could purchase a baby without the story being leaked accidently. We're talking about women here," Adam said. "They're notorious for gossiping."

"Yes but not about themselves," Herman reminded him. "I think these kids are right about Kate Aubry being involved somehow. We know about Molly being a relative of the homeless guy. We had the DNA tested on that drinking straw she used in the hospital. If that's the case and she is the daughter of Kate Aubry, then the three are related and Kate might have seen him and recognised him. She could have easily slipped into the factory warehouse after they left and killed him. She might have unpicked the bear and put the ear inside too. It all seems really simple now I come to think of it. I wonder where Jane Blackburn fits into the equation."

"I was just thinking about her. I don't think she's totally blameless," Adam said. "There's just something about this whole situation that turns my stomach. If she purchased the child from Kate, she would have known she was pregnant which means that they must have been acquaintances at the very least. She might have recognised the homeless guy and killed him. Jane Blackburn could have known the entire family for all we know. Either way, they both have crimes to answer for, starting with the baby purchase. Perhaps if we get them into question them about that we'll be able to squeeze a confession from one of them."

Herman sat for a moment. Sweat began to bead on his forehead. The room was hot and hot tea didn't help matters. His brain was clouded with information. There were a lot of things that didn't add up, but they were closer to an answer than they had been the entire time. Getting one or both of them in for a chat about Molly might be the answer. Either of the women might be able to help them with the investigation. Unsure of which was the guilty party, he knew Jane wouldn't have hurt Molly. Anyone desperate enough to buy a baby under the counter wouldn't try to make her disappear and from talk in the village, the woman doted on Molly.

"I have an idea."

Adam interrupted his thoughts and he looked up.

"Why don't we get everyone together and let them hang each other? If one or both or all of the adults in the equation have some part in it, then somethings bound to come out. More than likely out of desperation, but it's worth a try."

"You know, that might just be the answer to everything."

Chapter Twenty Two

All the Answers

Nobody had known. It was one of those things that was just left unsaid and unless you knew the history, there would be no reason to suspect the two women even knew each other. But life takes a strange curve when you're a desperate childless woman.

For Molly's mother, it had been a simple purchase of a child and who knew that Kate's grandfather would turn up in Oxmarsh. If it hadn't been for him, none of this would have come to light. But it did and now there were consequences. She had tried to set Raven up and that had backfired when someone had grabbed Molly in the park and delivered that ridiculous confession letter to the police. It had to be Kate, but would she do that to Molly?

As they gathered together to hear what the DCI had to say to them all, there was fear and apprehension in the air. Raven had a feeling it all hinged on a secret and that secret had something to do with Molly's birth. As she looked around at both families, she knew by the looks on the faces of Kate and Jane that they had both had a hand in what was about to be revealed. She waited with anticipation, keen to see what might become of the woman who had tried to replace her mother.

"Before I start, does anyone have anything to say?"

Kate and Jane looked at each other. They both had a lot to say, but it meant the truth was out. If the detectives did know anything at all, it was probably because they guessed it. There was no way that they could have figured out the whole story. So it was best to wait and see what they had to say about the matter.

"At first we were misled and kept coming up with dead ends. Until, we started to notice certain similarities between two people who were in no way related."

"Wait, I have something to say, but not here," Jane said looking anxiously at the group. She didn't want anything revealed until she had told them her side of the story.

Devereaux and Levy both nodded. They knew exactly what she was going to say and although they would have liked to announce it to the group,

"Very well," Herman said. "Would you like to accompany us to the station?"

Kate said nothing. What was Jane going to tell them? Surely she wouldn't tell about the illegal adoption. Feeling slightly panicky about the whole situation, she decided to sit tight. After all, was there any real proof?

"Wait, what's going on Mum?" Molly asked feeling slightly bewildered by the quick meeting and the announcement her mother had made. What did have to tell them?

"I'm sorry love, I never meant for any of this to happen. There is an explanation, but for now, I need to speak to the police in private," Jane told her. "Don't worry, everything's going to be alright."

"I don't understand," Neil Blackburn interrupted. "What's going on?"

"Perhaps you should come along with us," Adam Levy suggested.

The two detectives along with the Blackburns departed the house with only three of them having any idea. Neil had been kept in the dark, but it was all about to come to light.

"Well if that's it then we should go Graham. You can come home with us now if you like Raven or stay with Molly a little while." Kate stood, anxious to get out of the house.

"I'll stay here. I won't be too late Dad, I know it's a school night."

After the departure of the adults, Raven turned to the others with a look of disbelief on her face.

"That is not what I expected to happen," Sean said.

"I thought Kate would at least say something. She acted as if she's innocent and I don't believe my Mum would have done anything to hurt me. I don't understand what she would have to confess to or talk to the police about. Unless it's about the illegal adoption."

"I think I know," Sean said. "Remember the button? You know, the one that we found at the factory warehouse when we went back to look for clues. Sorry Molly you were in hospital and it completely slipped my mind. Where's your mum's red coat?"

Molly went to fetch the coat while the other three waited. The looked at each other as if they all knew the answer.

Returning she showed them the coat. There was a button missing from one of the sleeves. It would have gone unnoticed and Jane wouldn't have realised it had fallen off.

"We found a button exactly like this in the factory warehouse Molly," Raven explained. "I think we might have things a bit wrong. I have a feeling it was your mother who killed the tramp and it was Kate who hit you over the head in the park."

Sitting down on the sofa, Molly felt drained. It was too much to take. Not only did she not have her mum with her, but it appeared that she was a murderer. Why on earth would her mother kill someone though? It just seemed wrong. She wished she could go back in time to the night when they had decided to hangout in the warehouse. She wished she could warn herself and her mother about the future. But she couldn't.

"I'm sure if there is any doubt in the detective's minds, they will come looking for Kate. I wonder if your dad knows Molly. You know that your mother is at the police station," Sean said.

"The might have let him sit in on the chat that she wanted to have," Molly muttered. "I don't want to stay here by myself. Can you stay Raven?"

"I'll call home and find out. I don't like the idea of you staying by yourself either, but if your mum and dad come home and finds Sean asleep in your room without any parents present, they'll hit the roof."

"Don't worry Molly" Aaron said trying to comfort her. "Everything will turn out for the best. You just wait and see."

"I hope you're right."'

Chapter Twenty Three

You're Nicked

Sitting on the sofa, she felt as though her whole world was about to come crashing down around her. Everything was wrong. Now Jane had gone off with the cops, it would all come out in the open. She would confess to the murder and they would want to know why. Either she would lie, or the truth would come out and that would implicate her. Kate didn't know whether to go to the police with a bullshit story that might get her out of trouble or just wait and see what happened.

"Is everything alright?" Graham sat beside his wife and put his arm around her. "You seem really quiet. Are you worried about something?"

"I'm just tired," she lied. "You love me right?"

"Of course, why would you even ask a question like that?"

"I don't know, like I said, I'm tired. I might have an early night. Satin's in bed and it won't take long before she's asleep."

"Maybe that's a good idea. I'll wait up for Raven. I'm sure she won't be much longer. There's the phone, I'll get it."

Listening, she could hear the conversation and felt relieved when she realised Raven wasn't coming home. For some reason, at the moment, the girl unnerved her. There were clearly some conclusions that had been reached prior to that evening and Kate had the distinct feeling that it all hinged on Molly. Anxiously she wished she had finished the job properly. Standing on shaky legs, she made her way to the bottom of the stairs where she clung to the bannister for support. Each step felt like a mountain in itself and she struggled taking them one at a time. By the time she had reached their bedroom, Kate was exhausted. Sitting down on the bed, she felt the tears and couldn't contain them.

It felt like no time at all had passed before she heard the knock at the door and the voice of the detectives. They were taking her in for questioning and that's when it would all come out. A crime from so long ago which had wormed its way back into her world by accident. Now it would be her undoing because she had been deceitful. Wishing she had told the truth to begin with wouldn't change the outcome of the evening and as she left the house, she took one last look at her husband knowing that when the truth was revealed, he would never look at her the same way again.

*******

"They've taken Kate in for questioning," Raven said as she put down the phone. "I'm not sure why, but Dad said he would let me know all about it when I get home in the morning."

Slightly in shock from the events of the evening, Molly looked around at her friend's faces. Each one of them bore the looks they had given her when they arrived at the hospital a week before. It was sickening to think that everything that had happened over the passed month was due to her mothers. That's who they were, one gave birth to her and the other raised her. Was it too much for her to ask to have a normal family?

"Are you alright?"

"I'm not sure Raven. I just don't know what's going to happen to me. It looks as though I won't have my mum around anymore."

"We'll work everything out, but there's one thing for sure," Raven said.

"What's that?"

"The four of us will always be friends."

Chapter Twenty Four

That's It

It was clear that she didn't fit in to the threesome properly. Her sisters were both blonde and bubbly, but Raven was willing to adjust to having Molly living with them. It was the best thing all round. Now that her stepmother was behind bars, life would be a lot different. Even though she still had to share her father, it was with her best friend and Satin who she could mould and shape into someone who would stand up for herself, but without the bullying.

Raven regretted a lot of the things she had done. The years after her mother died had been difficult, but now it was time to grow up a little and take responsibility for her actions instead of blaming them on others.

The other thing on her mind was Aaron, she finally admitted to herself that she might just be attracted to him as more than just a friend. She saw his face in her mind constantly and it was no point being in denial about these things, they didn't go away unless you faced them. Would it be so bad if she told him how she felt? The worst thing that could happen would be that it would ruin their friendship. But she really couldn't see that happening. They had been friends for far too long.

********

After the arrests and the truth had come out, Molly had been given a choice and although she loved Neil Blackburn as the man who had raised her, she wanted to get to know her real father. Living in the same house as Raven, well, it wouldn't be so bad. Her friend had changed and there had been a remarkable improvement in her attitude to just about everything. For now, Molly was staying in their guest room, but there were plans to change the décor and make it her own.

********

Aaron knew it was now or never but revealing the way he felt was difficult. He hadn't grown up in a home where people expressed their feelings openly. It felt sort of girly and he had never been in touch with his feminine side. In fact, he didn't think it existed. That was just another excuse for men to get all mushy. There was definitely a vibe of some sort between him and Raven and he knew it was more than just friendship. All he had to do was work up the courage.

The police never did question him again about the smash and grab which was a relief. Although it hadn't very long ago, it felt as though years had past since that night. It was strange how one event could trigger so many others and Aaron felt as though they had all turned a corner.

********

Thinking about how angry they had all been, Sean finally began to relax and look forward to the future. He thought about how they had all spilled their guts and almost sold each other out, but in the end, the bond had been far too strong. Any negative feelings or thoughts were left in the past where they should be.

His relationship with Molly was progressing. It was nice to have a girlfriend and go out together, just the two of them. They'd come a long way and even though they had made mistakes, he realised now that it was just a simple part of life that everybody had to overcome.

********

When they took her into the station for questioning, Jane had only one intention, to tell the entire story right from the beginning. She revealed Kate's pregnancy and the purchase of the child. Jane told of how they had been at college together and she had known the entire family. So when Kate's grandfather had stumbled into town, she knew that it wouldn't take long before he recognised her and she was unsure of whether the old guy knew the whole story, but she had to stop the truth from coming out. So she had gone to the factory warehouse later in the evening after the kids had been there and killed him. She took the ear and put it in the bear to frame Raven when Molly had brought them home from school to finish them properly. Jane confessed that she knew what she had done was terrible, but it was important to keep the secret.

Neil knew nothing of the whole affair and was both angry and shocked to think that he had been kept in the dark for so long. Uncharacteristically, he became emotional at the thought of his wife spending years in prison. After all, he loved her.

********

Refusing to talk at first, Kate had sat in the police station with her arms folded in front of her. Where was their proof anyway? The note was locked in a safe deposit box in the bank and they had no witnesses. What had Jane said? Clearly something to incriminate her. When all this was over, she would sort that silly bitch out. But as she sat there thinking in a revengeful way, Kate became more and more subdued. No matter what she said, there were hospital records of the pregnancy that the police could get their hands on. Finally after thinking things through properly, she told the entire story from start to finish. Beginning with the friendship with Jane and Graham in college and the affair with him after his marriage, she told of the unplanned pregnancy and the sale of the baby to Jane. Kate recalled the day when her grandfather had turned up in the village and how she had contacted Jane to let her know. She knew Jane had killed him, but she didn't know about the ear in the bear until it was revealed. The detectives sat and listened while she told them of how she had hit Molly Blackburn over the head and taken her to the edge at the top of the valley and pushed her unconscious body over the side hoping that she would die on the way down. She admitted to hiding the girl under the old tarp that she had found hoping she would die. When Kate finished speaking, the detectives regarded her appallingly as she knew they would.

Chapter Twenty Five

Five Years Later

It was Christmas eve and she could see them in the living room gathered near the fire. The lights on the tree that was also visible from the street blinked on and off twinkling like stars and she felt a pang of anger. There was no room for her now.

Her coat was snug and the buttons only just did up. The time in prison had been tough on her and the crow's feet had deepened. Worry lines were embedded in her forehead and her hair was lightly peppered with age. A child had been born in prison and taken from her, but once again she had tried to keep it from Graham.

She could start again though. It wouldn't be too difficult for her to find another family. This time, she would make do with just a partner. There was no need for children in her life. From now on, she would just concentrate on herself.

Turning, Kate left the yard of the house she had once lived in. Perhaps Jane would be able to help her. Surely she would be out of prison soon and then they could plan some sort of future. She doubted the woman would return to Oxmarsh and vaguely wondered what had happened to Jane's husband. Was he still in the area? There had been some whispers of a divorce but people make things up all of the time, especially in a place like this one. News had reached her behind bars. This village was far too small to rekindle the friendship with Jane and it sounded as if her husband didn't want her back.

Kate had contacted Graham from the facility she had been staying in, but after one final visit, he told her that it was over and they should go their separate ways. He told her about the girls all being with him and although she knew they would be looked after, she felt resentful. That's when she had revealed the birth of their baby and the adoption which was legal this time. It was clear he carried a grudge. There was time though and one day she was sure that she could win him back, whatever the cost.

********

When Raven, Molly and Satin heard that they had another sister somewhere out there, their feelings were mixed. All three wanted to go out and find her, but there was something stopping them. Kate had done some terrible things and the police had caught her when she had just discovered the pregnancy and there hadn't been an opportunity to terminate it.

The child had been taken away at birth and the facts had only recently come to light.

"I wonder if she's like me and Molly," Satin said as she sat by her sisters in front of the fire one evening. "I mean, it makes sense that she would be."

Raven nodded, "Yeah." She looked at her little sister. Satin was growing up fast and although it might be nice to find their other sister, it had been difficult for their father. First her mother had died and then Kate, his second wife and the mother of both Molly and Satin, had turned out to be a crazy bitch. They had locked her up in some sort of nut house to begin with and then transferred her to a prison, apparently she was being released soon or she recently had been. It didn't interest Raven. There were better things to do that let a woman that she didn't like infiltrate her thoughts and ruin her life.

Aaron had become a much more permanent fixture in her life and there had been several hints of a marriage proposal, but she was still waiting patiently. Molly and Sean had started a business together both opting out of continuing their education whereas, after taking a year off, Raven was about to go off to college and study law. It seemed funny to think that she had pursued that path, but stranger things had happened and she put it all down to the events in her life. The loss of her mother and the marriage of her father and Kate. Then there was the murder of the vagrant and the injuries Molly had sustained. Her sister had never really gotten over it and although a lot of years had passed, there were still bad dreams and brief memories that haunted her. On occasion she confided in Raven. There had been times when Molly had tried to end her own life, but the worst was now behind them both and with years of therapy they were making headway.

It was almost Christmas and the tree was decorated and stood silently in the corner adorned with blinking lights and the decorations they had made and collected over the years. Nostalgically, she touched one of the shiny baubles and remembered when they bought the delicate trinket. Each year more were added to the assortment and the tree was overflowing to the point where it looked almost tacky. Smiling, Raven turned to the fire and put another log on the flames. Poking it she felt the heat. Their father would be home from work soon and the end of the day would begin.

About the Author

Born in a library, I was raised on literature and fed off the great and masterful writers of classic fiction. Now it's my turn.

After several attempts to have my work published, I'm doing it myself. Residing in the UK, I spend most of my waking hours researching and writing. This is my life and the characters I create are the imaginary world that hooks me in for hours at a time.

I hope you enjoyed my book as much as I enjoyed writing it, and it would only take a moment of your precious time to leave a rating and a comment on the website you found the book on.

Meanwhile, keep on reading!

Sandra Maggs

Other Books by Sandra Maggs

The Mystery of the Cornerstone

The Mystery of Kissing Gate woods

The Mystery of the Stone Arches

The Mystery of Wicklow Hall

The Mystery of the Vanishing Lake

The Landowner's Secret

The Musician's Betrayal

The Bee Line

Jacqueline & Other Stories

Scavenger

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