Wanted for Murder (Part 1)

Hayley had been sleeping rough for four days now, and here she was, wanted for murder. Her hair had grown since the photograph had been taken. It was way past her elbows now. She stared at the photograph on the advert, shaking her head in misery.

"It's not true!" she told the stray cat, which was purring and rubbing against her ankles. "I didn't do it! I've been framed! I'd never hurt Louise! She was like a sister to me."

The cat 'meowed', and Hayley bent down to stroke it. It jumped up and rubbed it's head against Hayley's leg. She sat down, for she felt weak, and didn't want to collapse. She looked at her watch. It read eight minutes past nine. It was quite dark now, and as she looked down the dreary side road, she could see shadows leaping around. It was so silent it was eerie. She heard a scuttling noise behind her. She jumped and looked around. It was only a mouse, its red eyes gleaming in the moonlight. She sighed with relief and wiped her sweaty palms on her torn, ragged jeans. She checked her watch again as the stray cat gave a delighted 'meow' and bounded after the mouse.

"So long," she whispered. She was on her own again. She got up, and smoothed her hair. Gathering her few belongings together, she ran silently down the road, then, pressing her body against the wall, she peered around the corner. To her horror, a man in navy uniform stood a few metres away, his back towards her.

Before she could duck back into the shadows, the man turned around, but when she saw his face, she sighed with relief. The man's face broke into a grin.

"Hayley? Is that you?"

"Donald! Come here!" Hayley saw her seventeen-year-old boyfriend look around before he joined her in the shadows. They kissed a kiss that sent shivers down her spine. Donald broke away, looked at her and said "I saw the ad in the paper. I just don't believe it. The Hayley I've always known wouldn't even hurt a fly!"

"Someone framed me, Don, and for the life of me I can't think who it was." Hayley shivered as she remembered the cold and windy night that she had to run away into the forbidding atmosphere of the countryside. "Whoever it was... Oh Don, you've got to help me! I'm just so scared!"

Donald looked taken back. "Of course I'll help you..." his voice drifted away as he pulled Hayley's head towards his and felt her melt into his arms while they kissed.

After what seemed like eternity, Hayley pulled away. "We've got to go now..." she paused as she checked her watch. This time it read twenty past nine.

"It's twenty past nine." she said.

"Already?" Donald pulled her close for another kiss. And this time, Hayley didn't pull away.

Dawn was slowly breaking when Hayley awoke. Her hair was tussled, her clothes more torn than usual. She then looked down. Donald was sleeping like a baby. Horror overcame her. They had been sleeping on a side road where anyone could have recognised her. Donald turned in his sleep, and gave a grunt.

She looked around, then checked her watch. It read sixteen minutes past five.

"Sorry Don, but I've got to leave you now. I can't risk getting caught." she informed the sleeping figure. She got up, and taking her duffel bag, she put on a hat and a pair of sunglasses. Brushing herself down, she walked steadily along the path, early morning runners raising their baseball caps at her as they passed her.

Heaving a sigh of relief, she quickened her pace down the side road, which was no longer dark and dreary, but warm and welcoming. She carried on until she came to a ditch leading through into a narrow alleyway. She looked behind her. The road was clear. She slipped unnoticed into the ever-darkening alleyway. She ran through it, catching her jeans on brambles and ripping yet more holes in them. Finally, after what seemed like hours, she came to a crumbling brick wall. She threw her bag over, and leapt over herself. After she landed, she straightened herself and stood up. Awe overcame her as she took in the overwhelming countryside. It seemed as though there were hundreds of hills and fields. Thousands of flowers and trees. "It's like a paradise!" she whispered, unable to speak much louder.

Birds chirped, grasshoppers hummed. Hayley suddenly felt relaxed. More relaxed than she'd ever felt before.

"I'm going to find out who killed Louise Parker. And who framed me. They're not going to get away with murder."

She kicked off her holed trainers and fell asleep, the sun seeping into the skin of her bare arms.

An hour later she awoke, her skin red. Hayley moaned. It was bad enough sleeping rough, without having sunburn as well. She stood up, immediately wishing that she hadn't stood up so quickly, and brushed her clothes down. Glancing around, she noticed that the birds had stopped chirping, the grasshoppers hummed no more. It was as though they sensed a killer in the air. Raising her eyebrows, she collected her duffel bag, put her trainers back on, and wandered through the fields and smelling the flowers. 'This is what life should be like' Hayley thought. 'All trees and flowers and sunshine. Bliss.' "Excuse me," a voice said behind her. Hayley jumped. She turned slowly, expecting the worse. A teenage girl with dark brown skin and dark anxious eyes stood behind her.

"Yes?" Hayley asked timidly.

"I was wondering if you'd seen my dog?"

Hayley grinned with relief. "No, I'm sorry, but I haven't." She turned round to go on, but the girl was speaking to her again.

"Hey, haven't I seen you somewhere before?"

Hayley's heart thumped in her chest. "Uh, no. I don't think so."

"No, I'm sure I have." insisted the girl. "Have I seen you on the TV?"

"No," Hayley told her, "I've never been on TV in my life!"

Just then the girl's face turned from curiosity to horror. She'd never looked so terrified in her life.

"You're that girl in the paper, aren't you? Omigod! Don't kill me will you!"

"Wait!" Hayley looked on in dismay. "I'm not a murderer! Don't you understand? I'd never kill anyone. Look, please don't report me! I'm innocent!"

"Look, I haven't got a death wish. Who would stay out here with a girl who..." she broke off, eyeing Hayley's shoulder bag anxiously.

Hayley stood by, watching her every move. If only she could prove her innocence. If only she had someone who trusted her. Like Donald. Only problem was, that Donald was in the navy. How she wished he could be with her. He'd help her through it all. But then again, she couldn't trust anyone. Not even Donald. Somewhere, out there was a murderer. She knew that she was safe, because who ever it was that framed her would want her in prison for something she hadn't done, not dead. She couldn't go home, for her parents thought she was a murderer too. She missed them. She'd been away from them for nearly a week now. What were they thinking? Do they still want to know her, or do they want to discard her, like a crisp packet? If only she knew. If only she knew if she was still accepted as a member of the Barber family.

Her thought went back to the girl, still standing in front of her. She needed a friend, to help her through it, to find the murderer of Louise Parker. Hayley knew that if she and this girl were friends, the mystery would nearly be over. There would be two of them to try and clear her name. But most important of all, she'd have a friend. Someone on her side. Sure, Donald was on her side, but he couldn't stick up for her, he'd lose his job. That was the second-to-last thing Hayley wanted. The last thing Hayley wanted was to be locked up in prison for something she hadn't done. For something someone had framed her for doing. All the evidence pointed towards her. Except for the fact that she was Louise's best friend and she would never kill her best friend. But there was nothing she could do about it. Yet.

"You're right," she admitted. "What shall I do?"

"We have to sort out your hair, you know, dye it, get extensions, etcetera. You can stay at my place, and borrow some clothes."

Hayley nodded gratefully. Life was a lot easier now, she had a friend and a roof over her head. Just a few hours ago, Marigold had been petrified of her, certain that she was the next to be murdered by Hayley Barber. Well, she trusted Hayley now. They worked as a team. They would always be a team.

They continued walking down the road to Marigold's house, peering into the windows as they passed each shop. Most of the clothes were pretty expensive, but a short hot pink mohair sweater caught her eye. She gazed at it, searching for a price tag, and she saw it. £4.95. Hayley showed it to Marigold, who liked it too.

"I'll buy it for you if you like" she said, and pulled a five-pound note out of her purse. She handed it to Hayley, who disappeared into the shop to purchase the sweater. Once she'd got rid of that blasted sunburn, it would look great on her. Hayley walked out of the shop, clutching a bag closely to her chest.

Marigold admired it, and the two of them continued to walk down the street. Finally, half an hour later, they arrived at Marigold's house. Her parents were out, so she let herself in with a key, and they made their way up to her room.

As she entered, Marigold let out a gasp.

"What's wrong?" Hayley asked, and then stepped into the room herself. She too, let out a gasp. "Y-you didn't leave your room like this, did you?"

Marigold shook her head. "I-I always make sure that everything's as neat as could be! This room, this room is an absolute MESS! Someone must have broken in and ransacked it! I-I , it's going to take me ages to clear this up! Who on earth could have done it?"

"I haven't a clue." Hayley said, puzzled.

"My boyfriend, Donald, wouldn't have done it. He was so loving towards me the other night. He said he'd come to see me last night, too, but he didn't." Marigold frowned.

Hayley drew in a breath. "Donald Howard?"

Marigold stared at Hayley. "How did you know?"

"I didn't. I guessed. You see, I have a boyfriend too. I think you can guess who it is." Hayley said, feeling betrayed by Donald's infidelity.

"Donald is your boyfriend too? I wouldn't have thought that Donald was a two-timer!"

"Well, if your boyfriend is in the navy, then it's true."

Marigold and Hayley looked at each other. Each was sure that Donald had murdered Louise. Who else could it be?

Part 2 of Wanted for Murder

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