Leah   Lindsey’s Mom had her head in her hands when Detective Luther left their home. She wouldn’t let Lindsey comfort her.  ‘I don’t know whether to be happy or freaked out about this. They’re not trying to take you away from me that’s good.’ She paced the room.  ‘Mom do you want me to call Dad?’  Margaret shook her head. ‘He’s busy with the restaurant. I need to find your birth certificate, every hospital report, photo albums and…  yes the adoption papers. Detective Luther might find them useful.’ Margaret started up the stairs, rumbling all the way. Lindsey shot her Dad a quick text.  Lindsey didn’t want to leave her Mom home alone, but her fingers trembled and sweat drenched her armpits. She marched out the front door, hoping her Dad would be home any time. Lindsey ran all the way to Serge's house.  She hammered on the door. Serge answered a couple seconds later. His hair

Lindsey cracked the door open. She slipped in one limb at a time. The hall lights were on. She hugged her shoulders and attempted to tip toe up the stairs. ‘There you are!’ Her Father blasted. Trey stood in the living room entrance in his grey robe, fluffy slippers with a baseball bat in his hand. Clem appeared next to him with another bat in hand, ruffled hair and wrinkled pajamas. ‘Trouble maker!  You got any idea what time it is?’ Clem added. ‘Dad I can explain.’ Lindsey held her hands out. ‘You’ve got three seconds.’ ‘I bet she was with that boy!’ Clem blasted. ‘What boy?’ Trey yelled. ‘Shut up Clem!’ Lindsey cried. ‘You better start talking Clem.’ Trey ordered.  Margaret heard the commotion and came down stairs. She found Lindsey clutching her j

Lindsey’s Mom had been giddy for the past couple of days. Trey told her it was nothing, stress from the new restaurant there was nothing to worry about. Lindsey semi-bought her story. Margaret approached Lindsey twice with something to say then suddenly remembered she had to unload the laundry or bake the cake she’d been meaning to. Lindsey hadn’t spoken to Serge since she was caught sneaking back in. It sucked because she missed him. His sexy glasses, dazzling eyes and most especially their rides home from school. Riding home with Clem and his recent girlfriend was a mini terror show. Betty was terrifying. How did Clem pick them? She threatened to cut off Clement’s toes more than once since Lindsey had met her. She kept a tooth and nail collection. Lindsey didn’t want to know where they came from. Clem was stuck with this one. Lindsey stuffed her text books in her locker then turned to the courtyard where she’d wait for Jordan to return with their lunch.

‘What the hell are you doing?’ A man jumped out of his car. Lindsey was bent over clutching her knees. The man looked at where she’d jumped out of then back at the panting girl. ‘Hey, was someone chasing you kid?’ He slammed his door shut then walked towards her. Lindsey managed to straighten herself and control her breathing. That was too close. Leah didn’t make a single move to try to escape. ‘Yeah, he tried to grab me. I have to call the police he has my sister.’ ‘Your sister?’ The man with brown bushy hair fished out his phone and rapidly dialed for help Clem burst onto the street with his girlfriend by his side. They scanned the area for Lindsey before spotting her across the road. Doors opened and people came out of their homes to find out what was going on. Surely, the man in front of Lindsey wasn’t the only one who called the police. From the other end of the road Lindsey noticed Serge jogging up the street. ‘The police

After Margaret broke the news they piled into the car and drove to the scene. Lindsey noticed her mother shaking and her father’s muscles tense. They replaced all the wiring as far as Lindsey knew. They didn’t have any information what could have started the fire or how bad the damage was. When they arrived at the building the fire department was there along with the police. The police were taking statements. The building was as black as coal. Everything in it was gone. The new windows, the new tiles all their hard work gone in flames. ‘Oh no,’ Margaret sobbed. ‘This is messed up,’ Clem said. ‘How could this happen?’ Lindsey muttered. Detective Montgomery approached the family along with the chief of the fire department. He introduced Chief Carson to the Goodman’s. ‘Detective why are you here, wasn’t this an accident?’ Trey asked The detective and chief shared a glance. ‘This wasn’t an accident.’ Luther said. Ma