"Get the hell up!"
I heard Carl scream at me, shaking me roughly,out of my deep dreamless sleep.
I rolled and almost fell out of the bed.
"What the actual heck Carl!"
My voice was hoarse and I was pissed.
"Oh my God...oh my God...oh...oh my God!!"
Carl kept on muttering as he paced up and down the room.
I knew something was up.
Carl never paced! Carl was never nervous in front of other people.
Just then, Cami came dashing into the room like a mad person.
There were tears in her eyes.
"Oh my gosh! What...wha...what's going on?"
My voice was barely a whisper.
Sincerely,I asked that question,half expecting an answer.
I mean,were they just supposed to say something like...'oh it's nothing! Carl just likes pacing on Thursday mornings and Cami just likes dashing into people's rooms, unannounced and in tears."
I stood up from the bed immediately,and ran to Carl.
"Carl."
I called softly.
He didn't stop pacing,he didn't stop muttering incoherent words to himself.
"Carl...what's going on?"
I asked the question more slowly and carefully.
I turned to look at Cami,but she just sat at the other side of the room,on Carl's bed, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Carl... what's going on!"
No answer. More pacing and more muttering.
"CARL!!! TELL ME NOW!!!"
I yelled out loud.
"MR THOMPSON WAS F*CKING MURDERED!!! OK?!!"
All colour drained off my face.
Suddenly,my legs felt like jelly.
I felt like choking and the room felt too small and too hot for me.
"Wha...what"
I said.Or I think I said. I honestly do not know.
"His body was found by a customer this morning,in the river before the chapel.
His fingers were... they were cut off. Just...just...just..."
She could not continue.
I know what I said about him not being found forever...but I didn't mean like this!
I opened the blinds with shaky hands.
Shoot! The police are here.
"Come on guys...let's get down there!! The police are here!"
Carl grabbed my arms before I could leave.
"NO!" He said, almost too authoritatively for my liking.
I yanked my arms out of his hold and glared at him.
"And why is that?!"
I snapped at him.
"Dad said we should stay up here!"
I heaved a frustrated sigh.
"Listen to me Carl...I am the impulsive person in the movie who acts without thinking,and gets into trouble later.
I don't care what dad said! This is our café,our home, our everything! And if something is up with it,I'll be there,up front,pro.tect.ting.it!"
I stood really close to him and poked his chest hard.
Cami had stopped crying now and was watching us.
"So...if you decide to stay locked up here like some princess,then fine! And Cami,for God's sake,crying is so not your thing!
You're Cami Woods! The big bad tomboy...so please, stop!"
I turned back to Carl and peered into his eyes one more time, before brushing passed him and walking out.
Thankfully,I was putting on a short that was a little bit above my knees and a big shirt that covered my braless boobs fairly well. I tied my hair in a messy bun while trotting down the stairs.
I noticed that some hostels were empty, meaning that many people had gone home,and the ones who hadn't, were making fast plans.
"DAD!!"
I yelled when I got out of the main entrance.
He didn't hear me,he was talking to a cop.
The whole place was flooded with police officers here and there.
Where in the world did they come from? Cos I know S.J's police department was as crappy as crap could get.
The whole place was blaring with sirens and uniformed people were here and there.
A large caution tape was tied across the river,down to the chapel. The sun was trying to shine,but the mood of the day was so damp,it was affecting even the sun.
I stood and gaped around as the realisation finally dawned on me.
'MR THOMPSON WAS ACTUALLY DEAD!!'
I ran my fingers through my red hair. I know I wanted him gone,but killed! NO! I didn't wish that for anyone!
A hard lump formed in my throat as my vision started to become blur.
I was having a panic attack.
I clutched my chest with my hands as I tried to catch my breath.
"Rachael! Rachy!!"
It was Carl and Cami. I could hear them calling out.
Suddenly,a large body engulfed mine.
It was Carl's.
"Calm down Rachael...deep breaths...deep breaths..."
I kept breathing and breathing until I felt better.
"Sorry for being an idiot back then Rach. Please don't be mad at me."
I smiled and nodded a bit.
"Mrs Thompson and her son are... God they're a mess!"
Cami said roughly. Glad to see that she was back to her old self.
"What about your mom and the workers?"
I asked, looking around to see it I'd catch them.
"The police are questioning them at the back."
My face dropped and I began to play nervously with my fingers.
What if they leave?What if Cami leaves?
"I won't go anywhere!"
I snapped my head towards her direction and smiled contently.
I could see Zee and his mom being led into a small black van.
He turned and caught my eyes.
His eyes looked lost and dark.
But for some reason,I think I saw a kind if glint in them.
Happiness?
Ha! As if!
More customers' cars drove out.
"This is bad...this is really bad."
Carl held his face in his palms and squatted.
I looked like I was going to cry because I actually was!
A man gets killed! Big deal! But why do people have to leave just cos of that?
The police will find out the killer right?
Well...I wish I knew how wrong I was.
"Have you spoken to dad?"
I asked.
Carl didn't look up from where he was squatting.
"Not really." He muttered.
"Oh Jesus!"
Cami exclaimed.
"Guys...guys...look!"
I shot my head towards the direction she pointed,and saw a police man handcuffing my dad.
"CARL... THEY'RE TAKING DAD!!!"
He jumped to his feet as we made a crazy ass dash towards where they were.
Dad looked shocked to see us.
"I thought I told you guys to stay in."
His voice was not stern. It sounded... pleading.
The police officers around us looked towards our direction.
"You're father is being arrested as a prime suspect in the murder of Mr Th..."
You know when I said that I was the person in the movie who acted before thinking,well...that explained why I did this.
"YOU WILL NOT LAY A SINGLE ONE OF YOUR FILTHY FINGERS ON MY FATHER!!
The cops were taking aback.
Carl tried to hold me,but I shoved him off.
"Sorry miss,this is a serious case of serial murder,and we have proof that your father may be involved."
My head spinned in anger.
I was not my self anymore.
"I don't care what ever proof you may have made up,my father is a hard-working man who has dedicated his whole life to this place!My father took care of this café as a child of his.
This is OUR home,the burial place of OUR mom and my father, would never do anything to ruin it!"
My tears began to pour out as I shook and screamed.
I had definitely created a scene.
Carl and Cami just stood, unsure of what to do.
"I'm sorry miss, I'm doing my job... you're father..."
"That job of yours is what will make your life as miserable as hell! That's why,even if you sell every single thing in your life, including your family, you will never be able to afford a business like this!! You know why? COS YOU'RE WORTHLESS! ALL OF YOU!!"
"RACHAEL ENOUGH!"
Dad's voice boomed.
If the police officers looked amused at my outburst before, they certainly didn't find it funny now.
"Miss.. if you keep this up,I'll have to arrest and detain you for obstruction of justice!"
The one who looked in charge said in his rough voice.
I felt a tug behind me, signalling me to calm down.
But at this point,I didn't care.
"ARREST ME!!"
I yelled and walked up to the man, having a stare down with him.
They never expected this at all.
"Rachael calm down... please... let's go."
Carl pleaded softly, probably trying to reason.
But I was way passed reasoning.
Right now,I was MAD!
I didn't move. If pissing off had a limit,I had definitely crossed that limit with this guy.
"WHY AREN'T YOU TAKING ME AWAY? ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU'RE GOOD AT?!!! ARREST ME!"
A painful sound of a slap resounded somewhere but I didn't know where.
Wait a sec,it was me! On my face!
Carl had slapped me.
Everyone had seen enough drama today.
"Shut your mouth up Rachael, this instant!!"
I glared daggers at him.
"My mouth is my weapon Carl! I would run it till these blockheads, release my father. OUR father!!"
"That's it!"
A voice said behind me.
"A night or two in detention ought to teach you."
I felt the cold metal placed roughly around my wrist as I was led into a different van.
So many emotions swirled through my head and heart.
"I'mma rub it in your faces that my dad is innocent."
I whispered fiercely to the cop holding me.
He stared boringly at me.
"Good luck with that"
I was shoved into the van.
I could see Carl and Cami's worried faces through the glass.
I could see amused and disturbed customers.
But mostly,I could see dad shoved into a black van, handcuffed like a criminal.
I felt a hard lump in my throat as tears begun to cloud my vision.
Why was this happening?