Chapter 6

Moments later, our conversation was interrupted by the door opening as Amelia walked in.

“We have everything we need; you can go home now Leah.”

“Thank you.”

I went to step towards the door but stopped wondering how I was going to get home.

“Before you go, the officer at the front desk is going to give you a panic button. If something happens again, hit the button and it will send a message to the nearest officer to attend your address.”

I nodded, smiling, before following her to the front desk.

“I will be in touch if I have any more questions.”

I shook her hand, followed by Logan, and she disappeared back through the swipe access door. I listened to the front desk officer on the instructions for the panic button. He showed me how it worked with a test and then set the alarm and handed it over. I inspected the small device closely in my hand. This little thing was potentially my lifeline. I yawned looking up at the clock on the wall in reception to see the time was 6:33am.

Walking out, the cool evening air had turned colder through the night, sending shivers through me. I stopped turning to Logan outside the front door.

“Thank you for tonight and I am sorry for the kiss and stealing your night.”

“You don’t need to apologise, let me give you a ride home.”

“Oh no, I couldn’t possibly accept it. I will be alright. I’m sure the walk will do me some good. The fresh air will help clear my mind.”

“Leah, please. I can’t bear the thought of you walking home alone after what you have just been through.”

The look in his eyes made it difficult to turn him down.

“Alright, thank you.”

I gave him my address and followed him back to his car.

The ride was quiet. It wasn’t until we were halfway there that I realised I had not given him a single direction or my postcode.

“How do you know where you are going?” I queried.

“You gave your details at the station; I took note of your postcode before we left.” He answered softly.

As he pulled up outside my house, I suddenly felt sick. It took a few minutes before I gathered enough courage to get out of his car. I arrived a few paces away from the front door without realising he was following me every step of the way. I took a deep breath, followed by the final few steps to the door. I hovered my hand over the front door handle and pressed it lightly. The door opened slowly. My jaw dropped, seeing the mess of my house as I stepped inside.  

Most of the living room and kitchen surfaces were covered in fingerprint dust. It looked like a hurricane had hit the place. Everything was everywhere. I started to pick up papers when my mind flicked back to the living room, and I started to search frantically for my laptop. I started tearing the place apart while looking for it.

“Leah, what are you looking for?”

“My laptop. It has to be here! It has all my course work on. I need to find it.”

His hands reached out and held my upper arms. “It’s alright, the police will have collected it.”

“I need it, I have an assignment due tomorrow! I cannot fail!”

“Leah, it’s alright. You’ll get it back. I am sure if you explain what has happened you will be given an extension on your assignment.”