CHAPTER 45

 I get back to Dan's house shortly and I'm surprised when I hear sound coming from the TV. 'You're here,' I say as I lean my body on the door frame.

'I could say the same thing for you,' he replies as he puts the TV on mute and turns to face me. 'Where have you been?'

'I was out, it's not really a big deal.'

'Kiera, I've barely seen you in days and you live here.' I roll my eyes and say 'Well that's also your fault.' He palms his forehead and the doorbell rings. We look at one another and I ask 'are you expecting someone over or something?' 

'No, I'm not.'

'Neither am I,' I reply, walking out to open the door. 'What are you doing here?' I ask annoyed as Joe walks inside Dan's house like he owns it.

'Why are you staying here? Are you retarded or something?'

'Get out Joe.'

'No, I'm not leaving now answer my question.' I scoff loudly, not being able to keep it any longer.

'You are pathetic. I can stay wherever I want Joe.'

'Not with people like him,' he replies raising his voice.

'You have no say in the way that I choose to live my life so please leave Joe,' I say not making eye contact with him.

'Kiera-'

'I believe she told you to leave if I'm hearing correctly,' Dan says as he walks into the hallway, looking at Joe and me.

'You're staying with him?' Questions Joe as he points his index finger at Dan.

'So?'

'What do you mean so? He's like the biggest drug addict on the on this fricking planet. No wonder you got addicted to heroin.' I scoff loudly and Dan moves to stand in front of Joe and says 'Watch your mouth.'

'Or what?' Joe replies acting hard. I roll my eyes at his immature behaviour.

'To answer your question I can stay wherever I want now leave.'

'I'm not going to leave,' he replies as he makes no action to move whatsoever.

'If you don't leave then I will call the police,' Dan confidently states with his phone in his hand. I smirk and Joe sighs loudly as he glares at me one last time before leaving. 

I turn to face Dan who puts his phone back in his pocket. 'What was that all about? It seemed intense.'

'Believe me I don't even know,' I say shrugging my shoulders as I sigh in defeat.

'Well that makes two of us,' he attempts to joke to lighten the mood but fails miserably. ‘How did he know you were here?' He questions and I shrug my shoulders because I honestly don't know. 

I walk up the stairs to the guest room hoping to get some rest. I collapse on the bed, resting my head on the soft pillows. The silence is broken by the sound of my phone vibrating on my nightstand numerous times. I groan before looking at it. 

You can't stay with him Kiera. ¬Joe¬

He will pay. ¬Joe¬

I narrow my eyes at Joe's last message, re-reading it several times hoping it will make me understand. However it does the opposite as it just makes me more confused. In the end, I decide not to think anything of it because it is probably Joe being his immature old self.

I put my phone on silent and turn it over on the nightstand.

I begin starring at the room absentmindedly and my eyes pick up on the box in the corner. I walk over to it, hoping it contains answers about why my dad told D.C Collins to close the case. I reach my hand inside and see a letter. Immediately, I recognise my mother's curly handwriting and on the envelope it says "to mum" with grandma's address.

I open it softly, not wanting to make a mess of it. 

Dear mother.

I should have listened to you when you told me not to marry Dave and I'm sorry that I failed to take your advice.

I can't live like this anymore mum. I'm considering moving to New Castle to come and stay with you because things are that bad.

Last night, Dave came home after a long night staying at the bar with God knows who and told me to drop the case about Kaiden. How do I just forget about my missing son though? I thought it was the alcohol talking so if I perhaps left him to sober up, everything would go back to normal. I decided to sleep in the guest room because I didn't want to deal with his drunk commands.

The following morning, he came into the guest room waking me up demanding that I inform D.C Collins to drop the charges. He told me he already did that himself and now the only thing that was stopping him from doing so was me. Obviously, I told him 'no' but he wasn't having any of it. He brought his hand up to my face and slapped me with so much force before walking away.

It took me a while to agree because the abuse I was suffering became worse and worse. I know I don't love Kiera as much as I love Kaiden but I don't want her to suffer so I had to do this.

I can't stay here anymore. I have to leave, taking Kiera with me and I'm thinking of coming to New Castle.

Love from your daughter.

I scoff as I put the letter back. I sit down crossing my legs, just starring at the box, wondering what other secrets are left unrevealed.

My eyes feel heavy and it becomes harder to stay awake. I sigh as I stand up, walking over to the bed. I get into a comfortable position and I close my eyes, wanting to run away with my fantasy.

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'Kiera!' I wake up to the sound of Dan's voice. I open my eyes and I instantly meet his.

'What?'

'The police are here,' he says instantly. I sit up straight away and ask 'What?' I hear knocking on the door which prevents him from replying.

'The police are here and I have stashes in the house.'

'Where are they?'

'In my room,' he replies with a guilty expression on his face.

'Put them all in here and I'll say they're mine. That way, you won't get into trouble for what you do for a living.'

'No, you can't do that Kiera, you should run while you still can.'

'Dan, I'm not telling you again. Bring them in here and then open the door because they'll break the door down if you don't,' I say getting up. He hesitantly nods and runs out of the guest room. A few seconds later, he returns with all sorts of things and hides it in the guest room. 

I go downstairs and open the door once I realise that Dan is too busy to do so. I gasp when D.C Collins is standing outside. 'What?' I ask him.

'I think you know what,' he replies.

'I don't know what you're talking about actually.'

'Your friend contacted me about drugs in this house,' I scoff loudly and remind myself that I need to kill Joe.

'He's lying.'

'How do you know it's a boy? I didn't tell you that, I just said your friend.' I scoff at the way that he tricked me. 'Can I come in then?' He asks when I don't reply.

'There's nothing here.'

'I never said there was, I just want to make sure that your friend isn't wasting police time.'

'I can assure you, he really is.' He raises his eyebrows at me and I roll my eyes. I open the door wider so he can enter the house.

'Is there anyone else here?'

'Yes, me,' Dan walks down the stairs replying to D.C Collins' question before I even have the chance to. He looks at Dan suspiciously before searching for drugs. 

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He walks down the stairs with bags full of drugs. 'I found these in your room,' he says looking at me. 

'What can I say? Busted,' I reply and he scoffs.

'Kiera Hayden, I am arresting you for the possession of heroin. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you may later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand?' I bite my lip and nod my head. 

He takes out the handcuffs from his belt and cuffs my hands together behind my back. I look at Dan one last time before D.C Collins guides me into the police car.

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D.C Collins walks into the station and tells me to take my jewellery, shoes and socks off. He tells me to empty my pockets and puts everything in a box.

He takes me into a room and searches my body for more drugs. When he fails to find anything he takes me to another room which looks like an interviewing one. 

The walls are painted dark blue and there is a table in the middle with two chairs on opposite ends. There is a tape recorder as well as papers and a pen. There is one officer already present and D.C Collins sits next to him, waiting for me to sit opposite them. I sigh as I sit down miserably. 

D.C Collins begins to set up the tape recorder and when he does so he presses a key and says 'the interview will commence at 14:39. Those present are PC Scott. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court, anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand?'

'I'm not stupid,' I reply defensively and PC Scott begins writing something down. D.C Collins nods and asks 'Kiera would you like a lawyer?'

'No,' I instantly say.

'Okay then. Where did you find the drugs?' I slouch in my chair and ignore his question. 'I know they're not yours so how did you get them?' I scoff and shrug my shoulders carelessly. 'Why were the drugs in your room?' I puts my hands in my hair and I sigh in annoyance, still not answering his questions.

PC Scott whispers something to D.C Collins who says 'interview ended at 14:50.'

'Finally,' I reply.

'That doesn't mean you can go home. You will be put in a cell until you decide to answer the questions.' D.C Collins informs me and I gasp 'What?'

'You can't leave at all until you answer these questions. How long you want to keep them to yourself is up to you,' he says and my eyes widen as I didn't expect this to happen. He stands up and guides me to my cell. He opens the door and asks 'what would your mother say if she could see you now?'

'I couldn't care less,' I reply emotionlessly and step inside. He closes the door hut loudly and locks it before walking away.

I take in my new surroundings and sit on the hard uncomfortable bed. I wrap my arms around my knees burying my face into them. I'm being treated like a criminal. Like father like daughter.