Chapter 3

I gulped in shock. This has never happened before. No one I've questioned has died in front of me. In fact, I've never witnessed someone die before. It was making me feel nauseous so I moved away.

"I'll call for an ambulance," I said and left the house to get some air as I could no longer stay there. I took a few deep breaths to calm myself before taking my phone out of my pocket and made the call to the emergency services. I noticed Officer Adams exit the car to walk over to me when the call ended.

"What's going on?" he asked me in confusion as I put my phone back in my pocket.

"Mrs Johnson just collapsed and died," I explained briefly and Officer Adams eyes widened in surprise. Neither of us had expected this to happen but it's done now. I just can't believe it. One second she was alive and talking to us, the next she was dead. The poor woman, her poor kids have no idea yet that their mother has gone. I dread to think of the look on their faces when they find out. I can't ever imagine what it would be like to lose a parent, hopefully I will never find out what it is like. My parents are Vampires with the potential to live forever so hopefully nothing will ever happen to them. "An ambulance is on the way,"

"Oh so we'll be here a while then,"

"Yeah," I agreed. We have to wait for the ambulance to arrive and talk to the paramedics before we can leave.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah I'm fine, just the first time I've seen someone pass away,"

"Ah I see, the first time is always tough but you'll get used to it. It won't be the only time in this line of work,"

"I know," I'm not looking forward to that but it's out of my control. It's inevitable to see people die in this job but I didn't expect it to be now. It never happened before, I was hoping it never would happen but it has. I need some time to get used to this. I don't know how I will go on with the rest of the day. I will just have Jules death on my mind the whole time. I won't be able to concentrate. I need a drink but have nothing with me, I have to wait. I should have brought a bottle of water with me.

It wasn't long before the ambulance arrived. The paramedics confirmed Jules had passed away and she was placed in a body bag before being put into the back of the ambulance. Thankfully they didn't need to speak with all of us so Sean did all the talking and then we were free to leave. The 3 of us joined Adams in the car and the drive back to the station began.

It was a quiet drive back, no one really spoke. Everyone was in shock especially me as it was my first time having witnessed something tragic. The others have seen death and don't seem as fazed as I am. The silence between us was making it worse. It was making me think about Jules even more. Her face will never leave my mind. I wish I'd never seen what I saw. I wish Jules was alive right now and not on the way to the morgue.

I should have known something bad was going to happen, it was why I was on edge the whole time we were there but I didn't think it would be something like this. I didn't know it would feel like this either. I never really prepared myself mentally for something like this when I should have. In this profession, death is to be expected. I've been fine when getting cases of people being murdered for whatever reasons. Yeah it's sad to hear about a death but I've managed to move on to solve the cases but this was different. I saw someone die in front of my face. I've never felt this way before. I don't know what is wrong with me. I need to get this out of my mind so I can continue with the interviews and my other cases but right now I can't seem to be able to get out of this feeling of despair. I'm going to have to find a way or else I won't make it as a detective for much longer. Get a grip Everleigh, you can do this.

I tried to think of something else but it was no use, today's events just wouldn't leave my mind and there was no way I could continue working while feeling like this. I can't talk to Dad about this because then it will just prove him right. That I didn't want to be a detective and was just doing it to please him. Right now, after what happened I don't want to be a detective, I can't be a detective.

When we arrived at the station, I got a cup of water from the water machine and had every intention of going to my cubicle to working independently for the rest of the day as it was decided there would be no more interviews until tomorrow which I was grateful for. It gives me time to get over this and be ready to resume with the interviews tomorrow. Unfortunately for me, I was called into the chief's office before I could even step foot into the team office.

I rolled my eyes as I made my way to the chief's office to see the chief aka my dad. I don't know why he keeps doing this to me when I keep telling him I am fine.

"What is it now Dad?" I asked in a bored tone of voice after I'd taken a seat in front of Dad's desk.

"I heard what happened today, are you ok?" Dad asked me worriedly from his seat behind the desk.

"I'm fine Dad but you can't keep doing this," I moaned.

"Doing what?"

"You know what,"

"I can't help but be concerned for my daughter Everleigh,"

"I know but it's too much Dad. I'm a grown woman for goodness sake,"

"I knew this would effect you like this," Dad gave me a knowing look and right then I hated him. Why can't he just let me be? I'm not his little girl anymore. He's always been like this and so has Mum. I think it's because of not having my full Vampire abilities, they want to protect me which I thought was sweet when I was younger but its so annoying and being an only child doesn't help, it makes them want to protect me even more. They need to treat me like an adult and let me get on with my life. I still can lead a normal life. Just because I don't have all my Vampire abilities, it doesn't mean I am not able to look after myself and make decisions for me. "Which is why I have made a decision,"

"Decision? What decision? What are you talking about?" I asked in confusion.

"I'm taking you off the case and a few others. I'm also putting you on part-time work," Dad told me seriously. "You will only have 2 cases at a time from now on,"

"What? You can't do that not without discussing it with me first," I raged. When the hell did he decide this? Why?

"I can, I am your boss Everleigh,"

"I know but you can't just-"

"I already have,

"But-"

"It's for your own good Everleigh and did I mention it's effective immediately?"

"What the-" I tried to argue but Dad cut me off.

"Go home Everleigh, take the rest of the week off. I'll see you on Monday ok?"

"No you-"

"I won't repeat myself Everleigh," Dad left no room for objections so I did as he asked. I grabbed my things from the office and left the station angrily but I was secretly relieved that I had no work for the rest of the week. I smirked as I got into my car and closed the door behind me before turning the engine on to head home.

When I arrived home, I really was relieved when I realised what this meant. I had nothing to work on for the first time in years since I became a detective. There was never a day I wasn't working even on my days off and holidays, I was always doing some kind of work. I hate Dad for making this decision without talking to me first but he's done me a huge favour. Though I won't ever let him know that otherwise I'll never hear the end of it.

Since I had nothing to do, I got out of my work clothes and into the shower to wash away the days events. I relaxed, I am free. Dad's antics have helped me forget what happened today making things easier to bare. The worst of what I was feeling is over. It will be ok from here on.

After the relaxing shower, I got dressed in a black sweatshirt and joggers with my grey slippers. I decided to have a meal from the freezer. It was a vegetarian pasta bake. I removed the packaging and pierced the covering several times with a fork before popping it in to the microwave. It was ready in 10 mins and would go nicely with a glass of blood.

I sat at the dining table and had my meal while wondering what the future would hold.