My first thoughts were not how or why, but when.
"When did you get access to my house?" I stood up to confront Martha, regarding the pain in my leg from where I had been viciously dragged.
"I'm not surprised your father didn't tell you. Knowing you and your mother you'd have taken it the wrong way." She scanned her cuticles for dirt as if the situation wasn't serious.
"What do you mean 'it'? How did you get access to my house!" I stepped towards Martha as if to say 'don't push it'. Martha looked up and traversed across the room. Only then did she turn around and say 'your father was a colleague of mine at his old job. We became best friends and he trusted me enough to give me the spare key to his house in case of emergencies."
"Then why the hell did you try to kill him?!" I too shifted my weight towards the door so we were confronting each other.
"Because I loved him. That's all you need to know."
"No. That's not all I need to know. I want to know how you did it. When. If you even thought of the consequences and how you didn't get caught." I crossed my arms over my chest to signify my importance of being a 15 year old.
"Do you think crossing your arms will make me feel threatened?" I dropped them with embarrassment.
"That's what I thought;" Martha continued, "but if you must know, then you have to realise something."
"What?" I ventured,
"No one will believe you. And if you don't believe me, go on and reveal the big mystery." She gestured for me to leave the room. Without hesitation, I scarpered and immediately went to my father.
"Allora... what is it?" His voice was broken and tight.
"Martha did it. Martha did it, you have to believe me." I put out my hand for father to grasp. He was as cold as ice.
"Martha... I haven't spoken to her in a long time. I wouldn't be surprised if it was her. I knew there was something off about our partnership the moment I lay eyes on your mother."
"Father, is it true Martha loved you?"
"Oh yes... that's true. But not in the way you'd expect-" he paused to clear his infected throat.
"This damn infection is the only thing I'm looking forward to being without in the afterlife, my Al. Not long now..."
"Father, please. Distract your thoughts. It's unbearable enough. Please... just tell me about Martha."
"Alright, alright. We were known to be the best partners in the building. We were chemists you see... constantly making new products for household items. She made perfumes, I made soap. But then she wanted to do something bigger... she wanted... she wanted to be world wide known. She wanted everyone to know of her fantastic perfumes- the next Chanel or Gucci I do believe! So we quarrelled and disagreed. Our time had come to part from one another. I was the first to resign and a week after I stepped out of that door, I wasn't looking where I was going and I bumped into your mother. You know that story all too well, I assure you. But when I returned to work to collect my things, Martha... she seemed livid... even jealous! I had forgotten I'd given her the key to our house and so she must've gotten in and set something on fire. I don't how she did it... but it was crafty. Your mother found me out of bed because I wanted to serve vengeance on Martha. I still do... but I know better." He wheezed and coughed at least 7 times before taking a relieved breath and lay back on his pillow.
"What can I do?"
He turned his head to the side and smiled.
"My brave little Al, you don't have to do anything. I can see in your eyes that you want to... so I suppose there is one thing..."
"Anything." I knelt before him to hear his rasping breaths.
"No doubt Martha has fled. You must explain everything to Dr Betah. If she doesn't believe you, tell her "The thief is in the alley." She will explain what this means. It's too long a story for too weak a time. Go with her and find Martha."
"I will." I stood up to leave because my mind had finally been given a plan.
"Allora, one last thing."
"Anything,"
"I love you. I will always be there for you and your mother. I will try to make sure no harm comes your way."
"Father, you know I hate these conversations."
"Al..."
"You know I love you. I love you and mother more than anything else in the world so thank you for everything. Thank you for keeping me happy."
I hugged him and felt the transfer of heat. I was more than happy for this to happen- especially as father was whispering 'I love you' over and over in my ear.

Only then did I notice the heart monitor and its monotonous sound.