7

It had been nearly a month since Kaleen had saw Sandman and wasn’t expecting to the funeral had passed a cold and bitter day thankfully it all had gone well and there’d been no sign of Sandman. Until now.

Kaleen had just arrived back home after a long shift at the pizza palace she’d just closed the front door when she’d heard voices.

‘So how’s things?’

‘Could be better.’

‘Sorry I couldn’t make it to the funeral. I had to go and see my Aunt she’s really ill.’

‘That’s okay.’

‘How’s Kaleen?’

‘Ask her yourself.’ Candice said looking at Kaleen.

Sandman turned. Smiled.

‘Well I’ll leave you two to it then.’ Candice said walking away, looking distraught at Kaleen, Kaleen looked quizzing at Candice as if to say. ‘What’s he doing here?’

The door slammed behind Candice. Kaleen had come face to face with Sandman yet again was he out to ruin her life and everyone in it? He stood there still grinning.

‘You can wipe that smile off your face right Now!’ She snapped.

His smile faded quickly. ‘What’s up babe?’

‘Don’t babe me!’ She started, raising her voice she felt herself about to flip. ‘Why are you here? And why are you sucking up to my sister?’

‘I just came round to apologise for not being able to come to the funeral.’

‘No need we daint want you there anyway.’

‘Your sister asked me just something came up.’

‘I don’t need any of your pathetic excuses and neither does Candice she’s had enough to deal with without you being round.’

‘I’m just trying to be part of the family.’

‘You’ll never be a part of this family.’

He sat there looking at her blank.

‘What do you want from me Sandman?’ She snapped angrily.

‘I want what you’ve got, a family. A sister, a family that’s close to one another.’

‘My family aint perfect.’ She started

Sandman interrupted. ‘My mom and dad are dead! Mom and dad were complete bastards when they were alive I hated the both of them you think you’d got it hard daint you Kay? Well I’ll tell you sommert for nothing you daint have it as hard as I did, they were a hell of a lot worse than her. I hated how they always put me down, beating me every time I’d do something wrong.’

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t know.’

He put his hand up to silence her. His eyes filled with anger for the first time she could see emotion something she’d never saw with him. He continued. ‘Every time I done wrong they’d lock me under the stairs, I’d go without food for days.

I’d sleep in there crying myself to sleep night after night. I don’t just have scars on my body, they’re in here too.’ He said tapping the side of his head. ‘They scared me for life and I hate them for it.’

‘I-I.’ Kaleen said not knowing what to say

‘So you see Kay my life wasn’t a bed of roses, yours was heaven to my hell.’ He said walking away slamming the door behind him.

A knock of the door echoed through the house Kaleen opened it, two browed shouldered men stood there, both looking like they’d been working all night. ‘Hello can I help you?’

‘DCI Maverick and DCI Karaferd.’ He said, both showing there ID

‘What can I do for you?’

‘Can we come in?’

‘Sure.’

‘Thanks.’

They both went into the hall; Kaleen shut the door behind them, turned. ‘How can I help you?’

‘We’re undercover police officers looking for a Justin Hearshaw.’

‘No. Sorry don’t know him. She answered. ‘Shit what am I goanna say? They’ll see right through me. Sandman actually told me his real name that’s a first!’

‘His friend at the Rock Café said he’d seen you talking to Mr.Hearshaw.’

‘He’s about six feet tall, blonde hair.’ DCI Karaferd added.

‘Oh yeah, I met him a few months ago. He spoke to me briefly before me and my friends left the club.’

‘I see. Did you see him after that?’

‘Once or twice. He popped into the pizza palace where I work a few times. Tried chatting me up.’ She replied, trying not to give them too much information about Sandman she didn’t want to be dragged down with him.

‘Did you see him after that?’

‘No. I told him that I weren’t interested, guess he took the hint ‘cause I never saw him again.’ She answered. ‘They aint goanna fall for this shit, I wouldn’t fall for this shit!’

‘If he does decide to contact you, or if you see him contact us it’s important.’ DCI Maverick said handing her a card with his name and number on it.

‘Sure.’ She replied taking it off him, putting it in her jeans pocket. ‘May I ask what this is all about?’

‘It’s a murder investigation miss, we believe that he killed his parents. It was a few years ago. We had leads but they all feel through with him moving town to town.’

‘Wha-what happened?’ Kaleen asked unsure that she really wanted to know. ‘Nothing could be worse than your own boyfriend killing your step mom and trying to drag you into it.’

‘We found traces of petrol scattered all over the house and an empty petrol canister which had been burnt out. We have reason to believe that he set the house a light burning his mom and dad to their death.’

Kaleen stood shocked her face a pale ghost like colour. ‘It’s a lot worse it’s my night mare come true. I know I dreamt setting the house on fire with Adriana in it, but I never thought anyone would do it for real.’ She thought. ‘I feel sick.’

‘Are you alright miss?’

She looked at the DCI snapping quickly out of her horrific thought. ‘Yeah fine’

‘Just remember this information is strictly for those involved in this investigation so we’d appreciate it if you were to keep this information to yourself.’

‘I will.’

‘If anything happens and you do happen to see him or he does contact you for any reason please call.’

‘I will.’

‘Don’t tell him anything he might try and run.’

‘Okay.’

‘Thanks for your time and help.’

‘No probs.’ She replied, shutting the door behind them.

She stood with her back to the door, crying. ‘I can’t believe it, he killed his own parents. I knew he had problems I didn’t realise how bad they were they must’ve got really bad for him to do something like that but that’s no excuse, and Adriana why her she’d done nothing wrong just told him that I couldn’t move in with him which pissed him off, but I’m glad she did for once. I ‘m so glad she did ‘cause sooner or later he would’ve turned on me and killed me too. What a freighting thought.’ Kaleen thought closing her eyes.