by RB Schalin
Chapter 14
When I got home my parents were waiting for me.
‘John, you were not at Jimmy’s. When you didn’t come home, we called there and Jimmy said you never came in. Have you been with Brooke again?’ My mother asked.
‘Not exactly; sit down I need to tell you something.’
When I finished telling them what I had found at Brooke’s house, my mother shook her head slowly.
‘That poor girl, I wonder what happened to her.’
‘Poor girl my ass, she belongs in the loony bin,’ said Dad.
‘I need to tell Chief Harris what I found, will you go with me tomorrow Dad?’
‘Of course I will.’
Up in my room, I turned on my computer. I thought I could Google Amanda Richards to see if something came up that would explain what I had seen in the house. I guess I was too blind with love before to realize just how bad Brook was, but at the same time, she acted so normal, and was so sweet to me.
After a few tries with different words and Amanda Richards in the search engine, I found an article that looked promising.’
“Townsville. CA
Family Tragedy shakes small town.
The small town of Townsville was shaken to its core when details following a triple murder emerged. As previously reported in this paper on the night of October 20 of this year Ron Richards, Anne Richards and their son Johnny Richards aged fifteen was found shot to death by one of their daughters, Amanda Richards age sixteen, when she came back having gone to the local shop. The whereabouts of their second daughter is unknown. She left the family the previous year and no one knows where she is. Her name is Lauren Richards, aged twenty one. The police are investigating Amanda Richards. Neighbors have told the police that on several occasions they heard shouting and fighting from the Richards’ residence. When the police were called, they were informed by either Mr. or Mrs. Richards that it was just a minor dispute with the teenage daughter. The neighbors interviewed insist on what they heard was not minor disputes but fights with very strong language. In several instances they have overheard Amanda Richards shouts that “if she couldn’t be with him, she would kill them.” There will be more information to follow.’
I kept on scrolling down and found another article by the same paper dated ten weeks later. This article was shorter but much worse.
“We have received new information regarding the murders of the Richards family from an anonymous source. We have been told Amanda Richards had an amorous relationship to her brother Johnny Richards. Normally, this paper would not print this since the people involved are underage, but the police are calling Amanda Richards dangerous and most likely armed. We feel it’s our duty to inform the public. Apparently the parents were aware of this, and tried to end it. This could have been the motive for the shooting. Amanda Richards first informed the police she was not there at the time of the shooting. This new evidence contradicts her statement.’
Further down I find another article, from the same paper.
‘Amanda Richards, known for the Richards murders, has gone missing. She was to undergo a psychological investigation to find out if she could stand trial, or if she is mentally insane. Amanda Richards was interned at the Johnson Psychological Institution for the Criminally Insane, while awaiting the outcome of the investigation. Apparently there was an administrative error with her paperwork, resulting in her release.’
I leaned back in my chair. I just couldn’t believe what I had read, an incestuous relationship with her brother, then killing him and their parents, and escaping a mental institution. When the phone rang, I picked up without looking at the screen.
‘Hi there baby.’ Brooke’s voice came over the line as sweet as nectar. I panicked, and hung up. It rang again.
‘Hey John, what happened, did you hang up on me? Her voice was still sweet, but knowing what I knew about her, I thought it would be better not to hang up again.
‘Hi Brook, how are you?’
‘Bored, I studied so much these last twenty-four hours that I don’t want to see another book for at least a week. I thought we could get together tomorrow after school.’
I was scared, I didn’t want to be alone with her, but at the same time I wanted to see her. I just couldn’t believe all I had read about her. Maybe I could make her come forward, turn herself in or something. I loved her and I didn’t want anything bad to happen to her.
‘Yeah, why not, how about you pick me up at Jimmy’s tomorrow, let's say 4.30pm.’
‘Great! See you then, honey, and dream about me will you?’ She hung up.
Maybe I would dream of her, hopefully not nightmares. I wanted to talk to her to let her know I knew about what had happened, but I had to be very careful not to upset her.
