Question Time

Police sirens startled them and they turned round to see the police car stopping in the car park across the road from them. A groan escaped the lips of Lily as she noted it was the same on who’d spoke to them about Jessica (she tried desperately to remember his name but couldn’t so she gave up). He spotted them and his face fell grim as he started towards them.

“Oh God.” Hayley snorted as she also spotted him dodging the cars and noticed that he was actually quite attractive in a uniform man kind of way (basically she’d screw him if he promised to wear the uniform). “What’s he want now?” She grumbled moving her bag further up over her shoulder as it was starting to get heavy.

He stepped into the building and looked around at them all. “I’m afraid you won’t be going to Katie’s house for your barbecue.”
“Are you stalking us?” Ellie asked raising her eyebrows as she pursed her lips. This was getting weird. Who normally had police officers following their every move.
“No. I’ve just been called by the police at Katie’s house.” The girl’s all rose from their feet, their heartbeats speeding up as they looked at them.
“Has something happened to Katie?” Carrie whispered biting her lip gently, not wanting to know the answer (even though she already knew the answer in her mind)
“Her house was burnt down.” He looked over at them, saw the tears starting to build in their eyes (he should have done this somewhere else was his only thought as he saw the other people in the interchange staring at them). “It was arson.”
“Someone really was after her.” Keeley whispered looking down at her hands.
“You promised her!” Carrie turned to look at Hayley, her eyes open in horror. “You promised her she was going to be okay.”

Looking down at the ground, she ran her hands through her hair and felt tears starting to fill her eyes. She had promised. She had swore that there wasn’t some psycho out to get them. How stupid was she to make that promise?

Her phone buzzed and she reached into her pocket.

A message of Harrison (inside her mind she was smiling) as she opened the message and felt more tears fall.

Hope you have a great time tonight. Don’t get too close to the BBQ fire. I know how clumsy you are. Fire burns. I Love You. X

Looking up at the police officer she shook her head. "Why is this happening to us?"
"To you guys?" He asked looking over at her, his arms crossing over his chest.
"You have to admit, Officer. Two of our friends are dead." Lily stepped in and looked at him. "Why?"
"We don't know."
"Well why are you wasting your time here with us!" Ellie shouted angrily at him not caring about the scene she was making (women started to mutter about teens today and Hayley found herself wanting to beat them one), all she cared about was her friend's.

"I have one question for you all."

Those few lines caused all of them to take a deep intake of breath as they waited ("on the edge of their seats") for it.

"Another shell was found at the crime scene. What could that symbolise?" Hayley pursed her lips as she crossed her arms over her chest, her glare aimed at Carrie.
"They went on holiday. Maybe they picked up some crazy stalker without realising."
"They?" The officer asked (eventually they'd ask his name as he knew they didn't remember)
"Jessica. Katie. Carrie. Darius." Ellie voice aloud, the disgust present in her voice as she also glared at Carrie before turning to look back at the nameless officer.

The officer picked up on that. Two of them were dead. Shells being left behind.

They had a lead.