"Why do they want to question me? They already asked me a ton of questions at home" Sophie said as she and her dad hurried into the police station."I'm sure it's just procedure" Mr.Duvall assured her as he reached for the door. Sophie inhaled deeply, as though it would make her invincible, and strolled through the door. Mr.Duvall did the same and carefully closed the door, not wanting to disturb anyone. Sophie took a seat to the right of the room while Mr.Duvall talked to the person sitting behind the desk. Sophie opened her purse and checked the compartments and her make-up bag for her mango chapstick. It wasn't really for the purpose of hydrating her lips, she just needed something to keep her busy, something to take her mind off everything. She finally found it, in the bottom of her bag no less. She pulled the top off, smoothed it over her lips, rubbed her lips together, and replaced the top. Olivia will show up any minute now, as if nothing had happened, she told herself. "Ms.Duvall". Sophie jumped at the sound of her name being called by the deputy. It sounded so cold, so foreign. She feebly stood up, tucked her brown hair behind her ear and made her way toward the door. Just before she entered the room she turned back to see her father. He was standing by one of the chairs, his hands in his back pockets. He flashed her a comforting smile, and she tried her best to do the same.
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It was around four in the afternoon when Sophie and Mr.Duvall made it home. They had barely pulled into the drive-way when Mrs.Duvall rushed out to greet them. "So what did they say?" Mrs.Duvall asked anxiously. "They told her that they probably wouldn't have any more questions for her but don't be surprised if they do" Mr.Duvall answered as they walked to the porch. "Well what are we suppose to do in the mean time?" Mrs.Duvall asked. "I don't know, wait" Mr.Duvall replied. "I mean shouldn't we be looking for a lawyer" Mrs.Duvall said with a worried expression. Sophie had never seen her parents so frazzled before. "A lawyer? Why would I need a lawyer? All I did was cover for her, I didn't kidnap her!" Sophie interjected. "Of course I know that! We just don't want to be caught off guard if they were to officially name you as a suspect. Now I'm not saying they will but we have to be careful honey" Mrs.Duvall said as she gently stroked her daughter's hair. "I know, you're right" Sophie said, rapidly nodding her head. "Is Ian still here?" Sophie asked, swallowing to hold back the tears. "No, he left about an hour ago when his parents came home" Mrs.Duvall explained. "But Carson is here" Mrs.Duvall told her. "Really? How long has she been here?" Sophie asked, slightly surprised. "Yeah! She's been here I guess since three" Mrs.Duvall replied. "Does she know about everything?" Sophie inquire. "Well I'm assuming that's why she came" Mrs.Duvall replied. "She's up in your room by the way" She added. "Thanks" Sophie practically whispered.
Sophie left her parents on the porch and opened the front door, closing it behind her. She slowly crept up the stairs. Once she made it up the stairs she went to knock on her door. "Carol?" Carson called from inside Sophie's bedroom. Sophie quietly pushed the door open. "Sophie" Carson exclaimed as she sprung off of the bed. They stood frozen for a moment. Sophie trying to keep her composure, Carson wanting so bad not to say or do the wrong thing. Sophie turned toward the door, closing it softly. "I heard about Olivia" Carson said, waiting for Sophie's response. Sophie let her hands slip from the door, then she slithered to her bed, gingerly descending upon it. "Yeah, it's quite shocking isn't it" Sophie said in almost a monotone. Carson gradually walked to the bed, sitting beside Sophie. "Have they found any leads on her?" Carson inquired. Sophie turned her head to see Carson beside her. "None that I know of" Sophie simply replied. Sophie returned her head to it's previous position. She started to crack her neck from side to side. Then her eyes fell on her full length mirror on her closet door in front of her. She rose form the bed and walked only a few steps, so that the mirror was a couple of inches from her face. She lifter her hand to the mirror, letting it rest on the image of her cheek. She did this as though she could change the events of the past two days by communicating with the mirror Sophie. So far it didn't seem to be helping.
"I think they're looking at me as a suspect" Sophie blurted out calmly. Sophie turned to face Carson who was still seated on the bed. "Are you sure?" Carson asked. "Kinda sure" Sophie replied. "What does kinda sure mean?" Carson questioned with raised eyebrow. Sophie sat down on the bed facing Carson, her legs Indian style. "Well they brought me in for questioning, and my mom wants to hire a lawyer, and let's face it, my alibi doesn't look too good" Sophie explained. "I'm sure Carol is just being cautious, and anyone that knows you, knows you wouldn't hurt a fly, that has to count for something" Carson reassured her. "Yeah, you're right" Sophie agreed. "And how do they know she didn't just run away" Carson added. "Well I think they're still looking into that" Sophie said as she tucked her hair behind her left ear. "I really hope she's okay" Carson said in a daze. "I just can't believe this is happening. I mean you hear about this kind of stuff in the news but you never think" Sophie said almost breaking into a fit of tears, yet never letting one tear fall. "You know what, let's talk about something else" Carson suggested. "Sure! What do you want to talk about?" Sophie asked with a shaking smile. "Hmmm where should I start. Oh yeah! Lars and I are going on our first date out tomorrow!" Carson said excitedly. "Wait! Y'all haven't been on a date before?" Sophie inquired, openly confused. "No, we've been on dates, just always at his apartment. We don't usually have an opportunity to go somewhere without people we know seeing us" Carson explained. "Well where is he taking you?" Sophie questioned. "I don't know" Carson said all in one breath. "Um don't you think you should find out" Sophie reasoned. "I know, but he really wants it to be a surprise. He did tell me though that it's no more than forty-five minutes away, so that rules out Paris" Carson replied. Sophie laughed. Beep! Carson reached in her back pocket for her cellphone. She look at it for not more than a minute, then returned it to her pocket. "That was my mom, I have to go, I'll see you Monday" Carson said, bouncing up off of the bed. "Hey, by the way how did you get here without your car? I didn't see it in the drive-way" Sophie asked curiously. "Oh I walked" Carson told her. "You walked?" Sophie said in disbelief. "Yes, I did,. I happen to enjoy a little fresh air every once in a while. Plus I didn't want to waste gas seeing as I only live a couple streets over" Carson said as she reached for the doorknob. "Thanks for coming" Sophie said with a grateful expression. "What are friends for" Carson replied just before she opened the door and closed it behind her. Sophie waited for a moment to ensure that Carson had left. When she thought she had waited long enough she allowed a tear to slip from her eye. And once she had started she couldn't stop.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Chasse Secrets Chapter 7
A blur.That's what everything was to Sophie, from the time she had talked to Mrs.Nora, til now. She sat in the corner of her living room, practically numb. "What do you mean you can't put out an Amber Alert yet? I don't care if it hasn't been forty-eight hours, she's my daughter!" Mr.Webb yelled at the police officer. Mr.Webb was intimidatingly tall, He had the same almost back hair Olivia and Ian shared. Even though Mr.Webb could be frightening at time, deep down he was a very gentle man. Sophie looked toward her left and saw Mrs.Nora and Ian in the kitchen, Mrs.Nora sobbing with her head on Ian's shoulder. Sophie had never seen Mrs.Nora cry before. She started to look away, ashamed to be witness to such a personal thing, but she stopped when she heard Ian trying to console his mother. "Shh it's okay Mom, she'll be fine. We just gotta have faith" he said. Sophie cradled her head in her hands, hoping to escape her surroundings. Wishing to wake up and this all be a terrible nightmare. How could she let Olivia talk her into this? Why didn't she just say no? Sophie had always been the practical one, the logical one. Why did she choose now to stop?
When she lifted her head from the security of her hands she saw Ian in front of her, his arms folded. "You okay?" he asked. Sophie was a little shocked to hear him ask if she was okay, after all it was his sister, not her's, that was missing. "Um, yeah, I'm fine. What about you?" she asked as he pulled a chair from the kitchen and sat down beside her. "Well, I've had better days that's for sure" he replied. They sat in silence for a moment, Sophie unable to even glance at him. Then out of no where he said "Why?". "What do you mean?" she inquired. "What I mean is, why would she do something like this and why would you let her?" he replied. "I don't know" was all Sophie could say. "And to meet a guy of all things! A guy!" he said, his voice slightly rising. "I'm so sorry, I never thought this would happen. I wish I could go back" she said, trying not to burst into tears. Ian must have noticed because he stood up rather quickly after that, muttering something about having to help his mom.
Sophie dabbed at her eyes. She just then noticed that the police were gone. She got up from her chair and walked over to the stairs. Before she walked up the stairs she peered into the dining room. Mrs.Nora sat at the head of the table, Ian to her right. Mrs.Nora finally realized that Sophie was there and gave her a stare so cold she could feel a chill in the air. And then Sophie assented the stairs. Once she was in her room she grabbed her phone and gently sat on her bed. She dialed the number, and waited for an answer. "Hey Mom! Could you and dad come home?"
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A hour later. Sophie's parents were on their way home. Mrs.Nora and Ian were still there. Mr.Webb was with the police trying to get them to let him file a missing person's report. Sophie crept down the stairs. She scanned the living room. No one in there. Then she turned toward the dining room, and was surprised to find Mrs.Nora and Ian exactly as they were a hour ago. She cautiously walked into the dining room. "Are y'all hungry? I could make some sandwiches and soup" Sophie said, breaking the gnawing silence. For a minute they just stared at Sophie. "Um yeah, thanks!" Ian finally said. "What about you Mom?" Ian asked Mrs.Nora. "I'm not hungry" she replied, barely audible. Sophie nodded and strolled into the kitchen. "You need any help?" Ian asked Sophie. "Sure, thank you" she replied, not sure what to make of it. Sophie opened the refrigerator. "Turkey or ham?" she asked. "Ham" he told her She took the ham, cheese, mayonnaise, and mustard and sat it all on the counter. Then she went to the pantry to get the bread and soup. "Tomato soup or chicken noodle? Wheat or white?" she asked him. "Tomato and white" he answered. Mrs.Nora came in the kitchen then. "Ian, I'm gonna go down to the police station and see if your dad's making any progress" Mrs.Nora announced. "You sure you don't want a sandwich for the road" Sophie inquired. "No. Thank you though" Mrs.Nora replied. Mrs.Nora walked over to Ian and hugged him tightly, as if she expected him evaporate before her very eyes. "I love you" she said as she pulled away from him. "I love you too Mom" he replied. Mrs.Nora smiled weakly at her son and then proceeded for the front door. Sophie was practically holding her breath until she heard the front door slam.
They prepared the lunch mostly in silence until Ian finally spoke. "You know as much as I want to blame you for all this, I can't" "And why is that?" Sophie questioned, not sure if she was startled by what he said, or by the fact that he had said anything at all. "Because as much as I love my sister I know how easily she can talk people into things" Ian explained. Sophie licked her lips and went back to stirring the soup, Ian making the sandwiches. "Do you remember all that messed up stuff she used to talk us into?" Ian said, more so reminiscing than asking. "How could I forget! She once dared me to eat ten live worms" she replied, as she sat her spoon down and turned to face him. "Didn't you throw those up?" he asked, stroking his chin. "Nope! I swallowed all ten. I wanted so badly to prove to her that I wasn't scared. Maybe that's why I agreed to cover for her" she said. As soon as she had said that she wished she hadn't. "I want you to know that I will do anything in my power to find her" she assured him. "Thank you, I appreciate that" he replied. "Maybe we could form a search party" she suggested helpfully. "I don't think that's such a good idea" he said. "Why?" she asked, puzzled. "Because unlike me my mom does blame you" he answered bluntly. "Oh, oh I see" she replied, acutely embarrassed. "Sophie, you have to understand" he said grasping for her hand as she turned back to stir the soup. "No, no, I do understand. What I did. What I did was stupid beyond measure, and I can't take it back" she practically yelled at him. He gingerly let go of her hand. She couldn't believe she had just yelled at him. It wasn't like she hadn't ever yelled at him prior. In fact she was constantly yelling at him when they were younger. It was just her yelling at him in the midst of all this that shocked her, and maybe even scared her.
Slam. Ian and Sophie rushed to the door. "Mom!" Sophie exclaimed, almost running to hug her mother. "Why was the door unlocked? You know I'm always telling you to remember to lock the door" Mrs.Duvall scolded her. "I'm sorry, I got distracted" Sophie said. "Can someone help me with these bags?" Mr.Duvall said, entering completely loaded down with duffel bags. Sophie hurried to relieve her dad of the numerous bags. "How are you doing?" Mrs.Duvall said, addressing Ian. "I'm okay, thanks for asking" Ian replied with a polite smile. "Listen, Sophie, I really should be going, I'll just grab a sandwich and go home" Ian said heading for the kitchen. "No, stay! I don't want to tell your mother I left you alone" Mrs.Duvall said. "No, really, it's fine. I'm home alone a lot" he explained. "Well this is one time you won't be alone" Mrs.Duvall decided. "Thank you" he said, scratching the back of his head uncomfortably. "So y'all made sandwiches?" Mrs.Duvall inquired. "And soup" Sophie interjected. "Sounds great! I'm starved" Mr.Duvall said. "Why don't y'all go get some food and I'll take your bags up to your room?" Sophie offered. "Thanks pumpkin" Mr.Duvall said with a broad smile.
Sophie picked up a couple of bags and rushed up the stairs. That's how Sophie's parents always reacted to a tragedy. Oblivious. Like nothing had happened. Sure they would probably talk about it to Sophie later. About how careless and stupid it was to cover for Olivia, and to ask if she was alright. But that would be the extent of what they would say. It wasn't that they didn't care, they just felt that it made people sadder to talk about it, and maybe they were right.
Sophie turned back to get the other bags and was startled bu Ian. "Geez" she exclaimed. "Sorry" he apologized. They just stood there for a moment, Sophie biting her lip. "I'm sorry for yelling at you like that, you really don't deserve that" Sophie said, unable to look him in the eye. "Don't worry about it. No one gets what they deserve anyway" he quipped. "So, um, any particular reason you're in my parents' bedroom?" she asked. "Well I thought I'd help with the bags" he explained. She looked down at the bags in his masculine hands. "Oh, thanks. That's really nice of you" she replied. "Yeah, I'm pretty nice" he bragged.
They dropped the bags on her parents' bed. "Sophie" Mr.Duvall called from downstairs. "Yeah Dad?" Sophie called. "Mr.Webb just called. The police want to see you for questioning"
When she lifted her head from the security of her hands she saw Ian in front of her, his arms folded. "You okay?" he asked. Sophie was a little shocked to hear him ask if she was okay, after all it was his sister, not her's, that was missing. "Um, yeah, I'm fine. What about you?" she asked as he pulled a chair from the kitchen and sat down beside her. "Well, I've had better days that's for sure" he replied. They sat in silence for a moment, Sophie unable to even glance at him. Then out of no where he said "Why?". "What do you mean?" she inquired. "What I mean is, why would she do something like this and why would you let her?" he replied. "I don't know" was all Sophie could say. "And to meet a guy of all things! A guy!" he said, his voice slightly rising. "I'm so sorry, I never thought this would happen. I wish I could go back" she said, trying not to burst into tears. Ian must have noticed because he stood up rather quickly after that, muttering something about having to help his mom.
Sophie dabbed at her eyes. She just then noticed that the police were gone. She got up from her chair and walked over to the stairs. Before she walked up the stairs she peered into the dining room. Mrs.Nora sat at the head of the table, Ian to her right. Mrs.Nora finally realized that Sophie was there and gave her a stare so cold she could feel a chill in the air. And then Sophie assented the stairs. Once she was in her room she grabbed her phone and gently sat on her bed. She dialed the number, and waited for an answer. "Hey Mom! Could you and dad come home?"
*************************************
A hour later. Sophie's parents were on their way home. Mrs.Nora and Ian were still there. Mr.Webb was with the police trying to get them to let him file a missing person's report. Sophie crept down the stairs. She scanned the living room. No one in there. Then she turned toward the dining room, and was surprised to find Mrs.Nora and Ian exactly as they were a hour ago. She cautiously walked into the dining room. "Are y'all hungry? I could make some sandwiches and soup" Sophie said, breaking the gnawing silence. For a minute they just stared at Sophie. "Um yeah, thanks!" Ian finally said. "What about you Mom?" Ian asked Mrs.Nora. "I'm not hungry" she replied, barely audible. Sophie nodded and strolled into the kitchen. "You need any help?" Ian asked Sophie. "Sure, thank you" she replied, not sure what to make of it. Sophie opened the refrigerator. "Turkey or ham?" she asked. "Ham" he told her She took the ham, cheese, mayonnaise, and mustard and sat it all on the counter. Then she went to the pantry to get the bread and soup. "Tomato soup or chicken noodle? Wheat or white?" she asked him. "Tomato and white" he answered. Mrs.Nora came in the kitchen then. "Ian, I'm gonna go down to the police station and see if your dad's making any progress" Mrs.Nora announced. "You sure you don't want a sandwich for the road" Sophie inquired. "No. Thank you though" Mrs.Nora replied. Mrs.Nora walked over to Ian and hugged him tightly, as if she expected him evaporate before her very eyes. "I love you" she said as she pulled away from him. "I love you too Mom" he replied. Mrs.Nora smiled weakly at her son and then proceeded for the front door. Sophie was practically holding her breath until she heard the front door slam.
They prepared the lunch mostly in silence until Ian finally spoke. "You know as much as I want to blame you for all this, I can't" "And why is that?" Sophie questioned, not sure if she was startled by what he said, or by the fact that he had said anything at all. "Because as much as I love my sister I know how easily she can talk people into things" Ian explained. Sophie licked her lips and went back to stirring the soup, Ian making the sandwiches. "Do you remember all that messed up stuff she used to talk us into?" Ian said, more so reminiscing than asking. "How could I forget! She once dared me to eat ten live worms" she replied, as she sat her spoon down and turned to face him. "Didn't you throw those up?" he asked, stroking his chin. "Nope! I swallowed all ten. I wanted so badly to prove to her that I wasn't scared. Maybe that's why I agreed to cover for her" she said. As soon as she had said that she wished she hadn't. "I want you to know that I will do anything in my power to find her" she assured him. "Thank you, I appreciate that" he replied. "Maybe we could form a search party" she suggested helpfully. "I don't think that's such a good idea" he said. "Why?" she asked, puzzled. "Because unlike me my mom does blame you" he answered bluntly. "Oh, oh I see" she replied, acutely embarrassed. "Sophie, you have to understand" he said grasping for her hand as she turned back to stir the soup. "No, no, I do understand. What I did. What I did was stupid beyond measure, and I can't take it back" she practically yelled at him. He gingerly let go of her hand. She couldn't believe she had just yelled at him. It wasn't like she hadn't ever yelled at him prior. In fact she was constantly yelling at him when they were younger. It was just her yelling at him in the midst of all this that shocked her, and maybe even scared her.
Slam. Ian and Sophie rushed to the door. "Mom!" Sophie exclaimed, almost running to hug her mother. "Why was the door unlocked? You know I'm always telling you to remember to lock the door" Mrs.Duvall scolded her. "I'm sorry, I got distracted" Sophie said. "Can someone help me with these bags?" Mr.Duvall said, entering completely loaded down with duffel bags. Sophie hurried to relieve her dad of the numerous bags. "How are you doing?" Mrs.Duvall said, addressing Ian. "I'm okay, thanks for asking" Ian replied with a polite smile. "Listen, Sophie, I really should be going, I'll just grab a sandwich and go home" Ian said heading for the kitchen. "No, stay! I don't want to tell your mother I left you alone" Mrs.Duvall said. "No, really, it's fine. I'm home alone a lot" he explained. "Well this is one time you won't be alone" Mrs.Duvall decided. "Thank you" he said, scratching the back of his head uncomfortably. "So y'all made sandwiches?" Mrs.Duvall inquired. "And soup" Sophie interjected. "Sounds great! I'm starved" Mr.Duvall said. "Why don't y'all go get some food and I'll take your bags up to your room?" Sophie offered. "Thanks pumpkin" Mr.Duvall said with a broad smile.
Sophie picked up a couple of bags and rushed up the stairs. That's how Sophie's parents always reacted to a tragedy. Oblivious. Like nothing had happened. Sure they would probably talk about it to Sophie later. About how careless and stupid it was to cover for Olivia, and to ask if she was alright. But that would be the extent of what they would say. It wasn't that they didn't care, they just felt that it made people sadder to talk about it, and maybe they were right.
Sophie turned back to get the other bags and was startled bu Ian. "Geez" she exclaimed. "Sorry" he apologized. They just stood there for a moment, Sophie biting her lip. "I'm sorry for yelling at you like that, you really don't deserve that" Sophie said, unable to look him in the eye. "Don't worry about it. No one gets what they deserve anyway" he quipped. "So, um, any particular reason you're in my parents' bedroom?" she asked. "Well I thought I'd help with the bags" he explained. She looked down at the bags in his masculine hands. "Oh, thanks. That's really nice of you" she replied. "Yeah, I'm pretty nice" he bragged.
They dropped the bags on her parents' bed. "Sophie" Mr.Duvall called from downstairs. "Yeah Dad?" Sophie called. "Mr.Webb just called. The police want to see you for questioning"
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