Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Suspense/Mystery

  CHAPTER TWO
Miley got home to an empty house and headed straight to her room and closed the door. She flung her backpack on the floor, ripped off her scarf and mittens then tossed them on her closet floor along with her beanie. She slid into her bed and threw the covers over her head and tried to process exactly what she saw. The more she thought about it, her emotions switched from fear, to excitement. 
Slipping out of her covers long enough to grab her diary then jumped back into bed. 
    Dear Diary, 
 You would not believe what I saw today as I am having trouble believing it myself. I felt terrified, or was that excitement? I don't even know anymore. I just know that the more I relive it, the more it excites me. At first I heard the footsteps close behind me, and my heart jumped when I saw him. Had he come for me? But then I saw her. I didn't know her, but her face was familiar. Then I felt jealousy bubbling up inside me when he got close to her. However, the look her in eyes was not admiration, it was fear. How could she be afraid of him? Then it happened so fast, blood splattered on the dry leaves where she stood. Then a loud thud as her lifeless body hit the ground, then he was gone.
Getting lost into the story she was writing, she didn't hear the keys unlocking the front door. “Miley, are you here?” Startled, she jumped up, closed her diary and carefully locked it and shoved it under her pillow. A moment later Preston was standing in her doorway. 
“You are home. Dammit Miley, you have to let me know if you don't need a ride. I waited for you forever.” he barked.
Miley rolled her eyes, “Not my fault you didn't get the clue this morning, now get out,” 
“Whatever,” Preston said then slammed the door behind him. 
Finally alone with her thoughts she was able to let what she saw that afternoon sink in, and it was going to take time to figure out what to do next. That’s when she heard the sound of sirens in the distance, she sat straight up in her bed. Soon after, more and more sirens filled the quiet neighborhood next to the woods and she began to fear what would happen next. 
Miley opened the door to her room and tiptoed downstairs trying to avoid her brother if she could. She turned the corner to head into the kitchen when she was startled as she ran into Preston. “Shit, you scared me. What are you doing sneaking up on me like that?”
“I was here, Miley, you are the one tiptoeing around, Preston snapped back. “Is Mom home?” she asked trying not  to seem suspicious. “Not yet,”
Miley walked over to the fridge and pulled out an apple, then hopped up onto the counter and took a big bite. “You hear all those sirens?” Miley asked Preston looking for clues in his response. “They were kinda hard to ignore, don’t ya think?” That’s when they heard the squeaking sound the garage door made. “Mom’s home,” Miley said as she slid off the counter to go greet her mother by the door. 
“Hi Mom,”
“Thank goodness you’re home,”
“Yes, I am home, so is Preston. Why what’s up?”
“Honey, I am not sure. I heard some terrible rumors but I can’t say until I know for sure. Just get inside and lock the doors,”
“Mom, you’re scaring me, what is going on,”
Mrs. Jenner ignored her daughter’s questioning and headed straight to the living room to turn on the TV. The scene from the helicopter above showed several flashing lights in the woods near the house. It had already gotten dark and it was difficult to make out what exactly was happening. Preston and Miley both stood silently by their mother’s side trying to make sense of everything when a reporter came on.
“We are now on scene at a location where a middle school girl was found brutally murdered. At this time we do not have anymore information. We will remain here until we can get some further information. Police on the scene are advising everyone to stay inside and lock their doors. Mrs Jenner reached her arms out and pulled her two kids in closer and gave them a big squeeze. “We are all staying in tonight, I am so thankful you are here safe.” Preston glanced over at Miley giving her a strange look. Miley brushed it off. 
“So does that mean that Dad won’t be home tonight?” Miley asked although she knew already knew the answer. Mr. Jenner was a homicide detective, and he was the best at what he does. So it only made sense he would be called to the scene. 
Mrs. Jenner looked over to her daughter and stroked her daughter’s cheek in a way only a mother would, “Probably not love, someone has to catch whoever did this,” Just then the doorbell rang. Preston and Miley stopped and glanced at each other, then at their mother.
“Stay here, I’ll get it,” said Preston acting like the man of the house. He slowly walked over to the door and looked through the peephole then back to his mother and sister. 
“It’s just Jack,” He slid the chain and unlocked the deadbolt then opened the door. 
“Hey man, what’s with the Fort Knox treatment,” Jack said as he walked in. 
Jack looked at Mrs. Jenner, then over to Miley, then back at Preston. “Okay, what’s going on, you guys are acting strange?” 
“You didn’t hear?” Miley asked
“Hear what?” he asked looking puzzled.
“Jack come in, your mother is probably worried sick honey. You should call her,” Mrs. Jenner said.
“Dude, some girl was murdered in the woods next to Miley’s school,”
Jack looked at Preston then over at Miley and Mrs. Jenner. “Oh man, are you serious?” Jack said then turned his attention to the news. They all walked over to the TV as the reporter came back on. 
“This just in, the identity of the young victim has been released, Johnna Jameson, she was an eighth grade student over at Harper Academy located just on the other side of the woods where her body was found. Our thoughts are with her family tonight as they mourn their daughter. We will keep you updated as this story continues to unfold,” 
Mrs. Jenner in shock as she turned to see Miley’s face. Miley stood there with a blank face and she glanced over at Jack, then over to Preston before she ran upstairs and into her room and slammed the door. Preston was about to follow after when Jack stopped him. “Maybe you need to give her minute first,”
“She’s my sister Jack, not yours,” Jack backed up putting his hands in the air as if to surrender. “Okay, go ahead. Just trying to help.”
Mrs. Jenner looked over to Jack with an apologetic look, “We are all just in shock, how can this happen so close to home?” Jack shook his head in disbelief then ran his fingers through his thick hair. “I better go,” 
“Don’t go,” a soft voice said from the top of the stairs. Jack looked up to see Miley. “Just call your mom to let her know you are here, you shouldn’t be out there right now, they don’t know who did this, and he could still be out there,” Jack flashed a sweet smile then looked over to her mother to see if it was ok. Mrs. Jenner nodded in agreement and Jack went into the other room to make the call. Meanwhile, Mrs. Jenner looked up at her daughter, “Sweetheart, I am so sorry,” Miley came downstairs and fell into her mother’s arms feeling a tad scared, and a little confused.
‘Mom, I am so hungry, what’s for dinner,” Miley asked.
A little taken aback, her mother replied, “If you feel like eating, I will make you something, anyone else hungry?” she said as she glanced at the boys. Preston and Jack exchanged looks, then Preston agreed, “Yeah, I could eat a little something, you hungry Jack?” 
“Uh, sure thanks. Anything I can help with Mrs. J?” Jack was always so kind and well mannered, and Mrs. Jenner appreciated that him and her son were friends.
They all followed Mrs. Jenner into the kitchen as she began to make dinner. It was chilly night and quiet other than the sound of the helicopter circling the woods just down the street from her house. They carried on as if nothing bad had even happened. However, deep down, Miley’s mother worried about her, and how she was coping the news that one of her close friends was just murdered. Mrs. Jenner feared that she was shell shocked by the news and eventually, the reality of it all would hit her like a ton of bricks. For now, she would make them dinner and try to retain some normalcy until it was time to face the reality of what happened.
Miley jumped up on the stool at the breakfast bar in their kitchen to watch as her mother cooked. She quietly looked around the kitchen then stared out the pitch black window trying to make sense of what just happened and what she saw this afternoon on her way home. Her head turned slowly to face her brother, who was oblivious to the fact the she was looking right through him. Now she had to decide how she would use this information, if she even does at all.
‘Here you go sweetheart,” her mother said as she slid the plate of warm pasta in front of her. “Thanks mom,” she replied then took a big bite. She looked over to Jack as he was already devouring his food and gave him a little smile. 
Dinner was long over, Mrs. Jenner turned off the tv and waited patiently to get a call from her husband to see if he had any more information. Jack was invited to stay the night, even though it was a school night. The phone rang earlier with a voice recording announcing the news to the families of the students that went there. 
“In light of the recent tragedy, school is canceled for the remainder of the week,” 
Up in her room, Miley sat on her bed and pulled out her diary.
  Dear Diary, 
I am still trying to come to terms with my emotions, or lack thereof. Johnna, while on the outside to everyone else, seemed to be one of my good friends, the reality is, I couldn't stand her. She had a crush on my brother. MY BROTHER. The nerve of some people. She just wanted to be like me and have a mature relationship with an older boy. I guess I don't need to worry about that anymore, she is out of the picture…
Miley's phone vibrated on the nightstand. She closed her diary and push the little heart shaped lock closed and shoved it under her pillow. 
Jaycee: Omg Miley, did you hear the news? I still cannot believe that Johnna is dead. We just saw her today. I feel so bad for not being more kind. Who do you think did this? And why??
Miley: Yes, so tragic. Someone out there wanted her gone, but who?...
Jaycee: I have no idea, she wasn't dating anyone, other than her crush on your brother…
Miley: Her crush on my brother was not sincere, you know that. She just was always trying to be like me...I guess now we don't have to worry about that anymore now do we?
Jaycee:
Miley: Um, Jaycee, are you there? 
Jaycee: Yes, I am here. I just felt that you could try to be a little more sensitive, our friend was just murdered. 
Miley: You're right, I am sorry. It's all just so shocking. 
Miley: Gotta go, mom’s calling me. Night.
Jaycee: Night.
Miley heard a soft knock on her door. She set her phone down on her nightstand and quietly opened her door. The rest of the house was quiet, her mom had fallen asleep on the couch waiting for her dad, and Preston always fell asleep fast. 
“Hi, Jack,” Miley said softly. 
“Sorry to bother you, I just wanted to make sure that you were ok,”
“Oh, that's sweet of you, but right now it hasn't quite hit me yet. Want to come in,”
“Uh, I probably shouldn't…”
“I could use the company,” Miley said with a flirty smile.
“Ok, just for a bit,”
Miley closed the door behind him and gestured for him to sit on her bed. Finally, she had him just where she wanted him.
She stood in front of him, looking into his Hershey kiss eyes debating her next move.
“Aren't you gonna sit too,” 
Miley walked up to him and stood between his legs. She held out her hand and combed her fingers through his hair.
“Whoa, Miley, wait…”
“Shh, please, just let it happen,”
Jack stood up and headed for the door. 
“Jack! I'm sorry, please, don't go. I am just upset and I needed someone,”
Jack stopped at the door and turned around to face her. 
“Look, its not that I don't want to, but you're just a kid. I know you don't look like one, believe me, you don't…”
“I am not a kid, just go,” She rolled her eyes and turned her head away from him and headed towards her bedroom door. Miley opened it and Jack left without saying a word. After he was gone, Miley jumped on her bed and screamed into her pillow. 
“How dare he turn me down,” she whispered to herself. “He will soon regret this,” she added. 
Her eyebrows furrowed and she threw the pillow across the room in a fit of rage.
   Dear Diary, I know now what I have to do…