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Authors: Owen Nichols
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much help from him or his ex-wife,” he said. He checked his watch and turned to Anders.
“Come on, let’s get back to the Yard. We need to debrief the team.”
Chapter 7
Anders opened the door to her apartment and tossed the keys into a glass bowl on a table in the hall. She hung up her jacket and made her way to the kitchen. Cassie had made dinner and decided to use every pot and pan available. It smelled good though, and her stomach rumbled at the inviting odour. Cassie had left a portion for her in the oven and she spied it through the glass. On the fridge, she saw a painting that Aaron must have done that day at school. He’d drawn Anders, snake like scar round her neck, holding a gun to a frightening monster. It was painted black, but the eyes were blue, much like his father’s. The monster was tall, but Anders was taller, Cassie and Aaron standing behind her, shielded from the fury of the beast.
“Pretty sure that’s going to come up at a parent-teacher meeting,” she muttered as she turned the oven on to warm up her food. While she waited for that to heat up, she took a bar of chocolate from the fridge and sighed in delight at the English chocolate, so much better than the American version Aaron and Cassie preferred.
Hearing sounds coming from Aaron’s bedroom, she took off her boots and padded along the corridor to his room. The door was ajar and she could see a light spilling from the crack. The shower was on in the bathroom and she could hear Cassie’s soulful voice as she sang an old Christian song, “In the Pines”. Cassie imbued the words with such sadness that Anders felt overwhelming sorrow for her.
Sliding Aaron’s door open a little more, she saw him lying in bed, curled up under the sheets and wide awake. He smiled as he saw her and shot from his bed to give her a warm hug.
“Bumble!” he cried. She lifted him up and carried him to his bed, tiptoeing over the scattered action figures that created a prickly minefield for her bare feet. Posters of his favourite Marvel films adorned the walls and she noticed that he still wore his Captain America T-shirt.
“It’s way past your bedtime little Munchkin. How was your first day at school?” As she tucked him back into his bed, he shrugged.
“It was ok. I painted you a picture.”
“I saw. Thank you. I always wanted to slay big scary monsters! Grrrr!” She gave Aaron a tickle that caused him to shriek loudly and throw his sheets off in delight. Tucking him back in, she asked if he’d made any friends that day. Another nonchalant shrug.
“A few,” he replied. “Can you read for me?” Anders smiled, reached over to the bedside table and plucked a book from the top before sliding back on the bed and leaning against the wall, folding her legs under her.
“Of course. We haven’t finished The Hobbit yet.” As she flicked to the right page, she heard a creak in the hallway and guessed that Cassie was outside, listening in. “Come on in hun,” she called and Cassie gave a rueful smile as she snuggled up to her on the bed, her damp hair soaking through Anders’ blouse. Though she was nineteen years old, her past had aged her in many ways but stunted her development in others. Anders cleared her throat and started to read, putting on her best dragon voice for Smaug, as Aaron and Cassie drifted off to sleep.
Later that night, Anders showered and changed into her nightwear, a strappy top and some shorts, and moved quietly around the flat as she cleaned the kitchen, took her tablets and turned off the TV that had been left on. She’d even managed to get Aaron’s favourite t-shirt off him and in the wash. She’d have it dry for tomorrow. Once Anders was done, she made her way to the workroom, taking a bundle of papers with her. Closing the door quietly, she started to pin the sheets to the whiteboard that she’d screwed to the wall. Using a black marker, she drew lines, scribbled ideas and started to build a pattern of
“Come on, let’s get back to the Yard. We need to debrief the team.”
Chapter 7
Anders opened the door to her apartment and tossed the keys into a glass bowl on a table in the hall. She hung up her jacket and made her way to the kitchen. Cassie had made dinner and decided to use every pot and pan available. It smelled good though, and her stomach rumbled at the inviting odour. Cassie had left a portion for her in the oven and she spied it through the glass. On the fridge, she saw a painting that Aaron must have done that day at school. He’d drawn Anders, snake like scar round her neck, holding a gun to a frightening monster. It was painted black, but the eyes were blue, much like his father’s. The monster was tall, but Anders was taller, Cassie and Aaron standing behind her, shielded from the fury of the beast.
“Pretty sure that’s going to come up at a parent-teacher meeting,” she muttered as she turned the oven on to warm up her food. While she waited for that to heat up, she took a bar of chocolate from the fridge and sighed in delight at the English chocolate, so much better than the American version Aaron and Cassie preferred.
Hearing sounds coming from Aaron’s bedroom, she took off her boots and padded along the corridor to his room. The door was ajar and she could see a light spilling from the crack. The shower was on in the bathroom and she could hear Cassie’s soulful voice as she sang an old Christian song, “In the Pines”. Cassie imbued the words with such sadness that Anders felt overwhelming sorrow for her.
Sliding Aaron’s door open a little more, she saw him lying in bed, curled up under the sheets and wide awake. He smiled as he saw her and shot from his bed to give her a warm hug.
“Bumble!” he cried. She lifted him up and carried him to his bed, tiptoeing over the scattered action figures that created a prickly minefield for her bare feet. Posters of his favourite Marvel films adorned the walls and she noticed that he still wore his Captain America T-shirt.
“It’s way past your bedtime little Munchkin. How was your first day at school?” As she tucked him back into his bed, he shrugged.
“It was ok. I painted you a picture.”
“I saw. Thank you. I always wanted to slay big scary monsters! Grrrr!” She gave Aaron a tickle that caused him to shriek loudly and throw his sheets off in delight. Tucking him back in, she asked if he’d made any friends that day. Another nonchalant shrug.
“A few,” he replied. “Can you read for me?” Anders smiled, reached over to the bedside table and plucked a book from the top before sliding back on the bed and leaning against the wall, folding her legs under her.
“Of course. We haven’t finished The Hobbit yet.” As she flicked to the right page, she heard a creak in the hallway and guessed that Cassie was outside, listening in. “Come on in hun,” she called and Cassie gave a rueful smile as she snuggled up to her on the bed, her damp hair soaking through Anders’ blouse. Though she was nineteen years old, her past had aged her in many ways but stunted her development in others. Anders cleared her throat and started to read, putting on her best dragon voice for Smaug, as Aaron and Cassie drifted off to sleep.
Later that night, Anders showered and changed into her nightwear, a strappy top and some shorts, and moved quietly around the flat as she cleaned the kitchen, took her tablets and turned off the TV that had been left on. She’d even managed to get Aaron’s favourite t-shirt off him and in the wash. She’d have it dry for tomorrow. Once Anders was done, she made her way to the workroom, taking a bundle of papers with her. Closing the door quietly, she started to pin the sheets to the whiteboard that she’d screwed to the wall. Using a black marker, she drew lines, scribbled ideas and started to build a pattern of
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