Shadows

Chapter One: Forced to Return:

After I graduated high school, I vowed that I would never come back to my hometown. I kept that promise for ten years. I went to college and joined the police academy. I graduated top of my class and became a detective. I grew to love the city where I was living. I lived in a small apartment overlooking the streets. The traffic at night relaxed me. Sometimes, I will sit outside on my balcony and take a drink of tea. I am trying to quit smoking. I have been doing so well, thank you. I do talk to my neighbors from time to time. My job is going great. My colleagues don’t ask me many questions about my past. They do invite me out for drinks. Sometimes I go but other times I do not. Last night, I decided to stay home.

“We’re worried about you,” Jeffery said. “You’re always in that apartment all of the time. Sometimes, I am tempted to send the search hounds after you.” I smile at him.

“I just don’t enjoy going out too much,” I said.

“But seriously,” he said. “You know that we are there for you, okay?”

“Yeah,” I said, nodding. “I’m sure you will.”

“I mean it,” Jeffery said. “We are here for you.”

“Thank you,” I mumbled. I had no idea how much weight those words would hold at the time. I would soon when I had to go back to Fergus county for a case. If I had known then, I would’ve run far, far away.

It started with a phone call. That damned phone call.