Chapter Thirteen: Seek And You Will Find
“…….And I saw, and, look! a black horse; and the one seated upon it had a pair of scales in his hand….” Revelation 6:5
Faith stood silently beside the small hole Brian had feverously dug. She held in her hands a small baby blue urn, which contained what had been a symbol of the commitment the two young lovers held for each other. Faith was numb, far past tears, and unable to talk, she just stood there, looking empty and scared.
Brian slowly took the urn from her hands and placed it into the ground, covering it over with the dirt he’d unearthed.
“It’ll be okay Faith” he whispered holding her head wit his two hands
The crisp breeze pushed through the trees around them, flicking her dark hair over his hands. She leant down slowly resting her head on his shoulder.
“I hope so” she whispered, encasing his body with her arms.
“Come on” he whispered taking her hand to walk her inside.
She took one last look at the small lump in the ground over her shoulder before they disappeared inside the house.
~ AT THE SAME TIME ~
Nestled in the thick covering of the trees lining the fence, Catherine watched and waited. As they walked inside, she crept around, hidden by the foliage of flowing trees. She was only meters from the lounge room window, she could see them moving around inside. Brian was in the kitchen, Faith sitting down on the couch, her head propped up with her hand, which leant against the arm of the couch.
Catherine grinned silently as she began to hum the first chorus of the haunting anthem Amazing Grace. It was almost like reassurance for her, a slight announcement she was doing this for what she considered the right reasons, or maybe it just silenced the screams in her mind.
She looked around her, securing her path of escape in her mind, it was too easy, too simple. She was covered by the trees, a path set out for her straight to the hole in the fence, from that a quick dark to the river, across the shallow path, and up the embankment, across a thicket, to the car waiting for her on the other side, it was perfect, she’d traveled that route many times, no one would notice the car, no one would notice her, she could come and go as she pleased.
She reached out of the hiding place, stabbing a typed note into the ground with a sharp dagger. Next she lit the end of the alcohol soaked cloth at the top of the dye filled beer bottle. Drawing her hand back she threw it quickly and directly, sending it crashing through the lounge room window, and without looking back she darted through the path she’d planned out.
The explosion was minimal, the bottle landing on a hand woven rug that sat about 2 meteres from Faith’s feet. The dye spattered around the room, as flames engulfed the mat, as Faith sat there in terrified silence, unable to scream, unable to move. Brian ran in from the kitchen. The sight took him by surprise, but he hurriedly pulled Faith from the couch, her eyes starring at the growing flames with an intense glow.
He shook her gently, gripping her arms tightly. Her eyes flicked, as if he was waking her from a slumber. They ran into the kitchen and returned minutes later with pots of water.
The gush of water quickly diminished the flames, leaving a charred hole in the floor, and red dye around the room. Faith stood in amazement as Brian left her side and ran out onto the patio. He starred around the backyard, looking for anyone, anything, something he could blame for this.
“You asshole, why don’t you just come out here and face me” he screamed running from one end to the other
“You piece of shit” he cursed jumping off the patio onto the grass. It was then he noticed the plain piece of paper blowing up in the soft wind, stuck to the ground with a cast iron dagger.
He ripped the message from the ground and unfolded it.
“………And I saw, and, look! a black horse; and the one seated upon it had a pair of scales in his hand…….” Revelation 6:5
The second horses time has arrived, the black horse, with dark eyes…..Pain is coming, all will fear, you will suffer.
The note read simply. No name at the end, no signature, just the plain bold letters, taunting and scaring the reader.
~ THAT NIGHT ~
Marie pulled herself up off the couch, disturbing Nick’s arm, that lay around her shoulder, he continued to munch away of the popcorn in front of him, his eyes not moving from the TV screen, which seemed to have him captivated.
Marie peered into the peephole and instantly remembered the faces on the other side. It was the two officers that had visited her before, this time however they were with 3 uniformed police.
“Can I help you?” Marie inquired opening the door, half way
“Miss Ryan, we called yesterday, I'm Detective Giles and –“
“I know who you are, what can I do for you?” Marie responded, she wasn’t exactly thrilled to see them
“We have a warrant to search the premises”
“On what grounds?” Marie choked, practically laughing at the thought
“Suspected harassment and a breaking and entering charge” Giles announced, flicking the appropriate documentation in her face
“You’re kidding, of who?”
“A Miss Faith Travern and Mr. Brian Littrell”
“This is a joke, is this Brian’s idea of funny?”
“Hardly Miss Ryan. Now we would like to come in”
Marie stood back in disbelief as 5 people waltzed into her apartment. Nick sat bolt upright and starred over at the strangers.
“What the hell is going on here?” he inquired as Marie stood back in amazement
“We have a warrant to search the premises” Giles announced, again flicking out the paperwork
“On what grounds?”
“We’ve explained it all to Miss Ryan” he smiled turning away from Nick
“Explain it to me asshole” Nick yelled, jolting Giles arm backwards
“Nick, back down” Marie pleaded taking hold of his arm
It didn’t take the police long to dig up everything they wanted, it seemed too easy, too straightforward, but the proof never lied, the evidence was there, and it all pointed toward Marie.
~ AT THE SAME TIME ~
“What?” Brian and Faith announced
“You cant be serious, Marie is a good friend of both of ours” Brian added as a plains clothed officer explained what they had found so far
“We understand that, and we hope we’re wrong. But right now, everything points to her”
Faith silently shook her head, unable to believe that someone she was so close to could ever consider doing this, and why? Why would she do it?
“Why?” Faith muttered “What’s her reason?”
“We don’t know, often it jealously, envy, some deep down rage”
“That’s not how Marie works”
“We understand your reservations, but you must realize, we’re doing this to help you”
“You’re helping me by suspecting my best friend?” Faith announced “No, I don’t think so” she added before running from the room
“I'm sorry, I think maybe you should go” Brian said softly
“I understand” the officer smiled, letting himself out.
“You’re not actually going to believe them?” Faith questioned as Brian wandered into the bedroom, where faith lay on the bed
“I don’t know what to think” Brian sighed, rubbing his temples
“Marie and I have been friends since you and I started dating” Faith whispered hugging the pillow beside her
“I know” Brian mumbled as he sat down on the bed beside her
“Then you cant believe it, not Marie”
There was a short silence before Brian gained the courage to speak.
“There’s something I have to tell you” he whispered, his back to her face
“What?” She questioned sitting up
He spun around, looking her dead in the eye.
“Before we were an item and before Nick and Marie were together, Marie and I, had a short lived affair” Brian sighed, his cheeks, flushing a pink color.
Chapter 14
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