Death strikes the Richardsons

"Hello?"

"Hello, this is Fran City police department," a females voice came from the other end, "I'm I speaking with a Miss Kelly Richardson?"

"Yes?" A divot formed between her brows, what was this about?

"Are you related to a Miss Freya Richardson?" The lady asked.

Kelly felt a knot in her stomach, "yes, I am, that's my mother"

"Miss Richardson," the lady's voice softened, "I am sorry to inform you; your mother was found dead this morning by Ravens creek,"

"What?" She asked, what the hell? "I don't understand."

"I am sorry for your loss,"

"What do you...?" Her breaths laboured, "that doesn't make any sense. How?"

"I think it's best you come confirm,"

"I'm on my way."

The chair screeched as she got up.

"Is something wrong?" August asked.

Kelly looked around frantically. Her university was at the outskirts of the city, so was the birthday party.

"I need to get to Fran City police department, did you come with a car?" She asked.

He nodded.

"Please take me."

The ride was silent. It wasn't true. She wasn't gone. She wouldn't leave her. They had the wrong person. Her fingers tapped raptly on the car door.

When they arrived, she rushed down. An officer led her to the Medical Examiner's lab. As soon as she got in, she froze.

Cornelia. The flower peeked out from her shoulder under the covers. She had a matching design on all her things.

Everything faded when she saw her pale face.

"Mommy," Kelly muttered, slowly approaching her body. This wasn't happening...it wasn't.

The rest of her day was a blur. She didn't know how long she stayed at the morgue but at some point, August placed a coat over her and led her to her dorm.

***

August rode home quietly. By the time he finished with Miss Richardson, the day was long spent. The moon peeked from it's space in the sky as the street lights give him sight.

"How did it go?" Jeffery's voice came through the intercom.

"I'm not sure,"

"How so?"

"Miss Richardson's mother just died,"

"That's terrible," the old man had more sympathy than he did.

"Indeed," he said as he pulled to a stop at a red light.

"How?"

"Brutally. There were large holes through her neck, and her arms were gone. She..." August frowned. Two sedans drove beside him on opposite sides.

"What is it?"

"I'm being followed... since I left the morgue," August said.

"Followed?" The old man paused, "what sort of cars?"

"Black, tinted. Why?"

The green light went on and as soon as August fired the engine, both cars crashed into his.

August went on reverse and missed them by a hair's breadth.

"Shit," he muttered when he caught a red truck at his rear view.

The force of impact sent his car crashing into a light pole. His chest smashed into the staring wheel, the distinct taste of iron filled his mouth.

August lifted his head to see the truck drive into his car again and this time it somersaulted into the open intersection, crashing into a few others.

The young Cline sighed as he laid upside down in the crushed car. Did they know how much this car cost him? Who was stupid enough to try and kill him with a car?

He heard passerbys calling 911. He reached for his phone, the damn thing was broken. This was trouble. His injuries would heal a lot faster than the ambulance could arrive.

August unbuckled his seat belt and pulled himself out of the car. With his injuries healing, there was still a bit of blood on him. He dusted the broken glass and walked to the closest passerby.

The young man looked at him wide-eyed.

"Can I have your phone, please?" He attempted a smile but probably looked worse with blood dripping down his face.

He shakily gave it to him, and he called Jeffery.

The wait wasn't long, his faithful helper appeared in moments. He had a nose mask and gloves on.

Jeffery pulled out a plastic zip lock bag and August crushed the phone down before putting it in.

The kid was about protesting when Jeffery handed him a new one and cash, and with that, they drove home.

August ran a hand through his bloodied hair, in the car "who tried to kill me?" He asked.

"Better if we talked at the manor,"

"Who?"

The old man sighed, "Gregory had a business rival,"

"A business rival?" August raised a brow, "a human tried to kill me?" He chuckled slowly, shaking his head.

"Clean up the car. Properly this time," he warned,

"send it to the police, and burn the phone," he sighed heavily, he'd only just returned and people wanted him dead. If they waited long enough they'd get their wish; why so impatient?

"Get me all I need to know about this rival," he said as he leaned into the car seat.

"Kelly Richardson's mother..." He mumbled. People didn't die like that. Something got to her, or someone. Humans were plenty brutal on their own, but why would a human do that to her? There were easier ways to do it.

"Get me all there is to know about Freya Richardson, and where she died." He said.

"That's quite a bit you're taking on," Jeffery cautioned, "you have to be in Coastlines in less than a week,"

August sighed, he knew that. Then again, he didn't have much time, he might as well take on as much as he could. She was his key to living longer, if there was something after his cure, he needed to know.

"What is that?" Jeffery's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"What?" He asked,

"In your hand," the old man gestured, "what is that?"

August turned to the plastic baggie, with the birthday cap design. He shrugged, out of everything else, it survived. "I didn't think I should let it go to waste," he said

He was used to Jeffery's strange looks by now, his reaction didn't bother him. August had come to peace with his addiction, they needed to leave him alone. He sighed into the car seat as his butler returned to the road.

He hoped his 'save' was worth it, though.