Wanted for Murder (Part 2)

Hayley admired her new hair. Marigold had gone to the chemist and got some black hair dye. This had puzzled the poor chemist, as Marigold, having African parents had black hair anyway. Still, at least no one would recognise Hayley for a while now. What they had to do was some detective work. Find out where exactly Donald was on the day that Louise was murdered.

Marigold smiled. "I'm glad you like it like that," she said, "'cause you're going to be stuck with it for quite a while!"

Hayley smiled. "Yeah. It actually suits me better than my brown hair did. But the thing that's puzzling me is how Donald could have got in your room and trashed it!"

Marigold frowned. "Hayley, we're not certain that it was Donald."

"Well it certainly wasn't your mother!"

"I'm not saying it was. I'm saying that we haven't got any strong evidence it was him. It could have been someone off the street!"

"So why would they have trashed yours and no one else's?"

Marigold sighed. "Look, we've found that Donald has been two-timing us. We know that my bedroom has been trashed between the time you left him on the street to when we got back here. You can't give him an alibi, so it could be him. But then, it could be anyone."

"Wait a moment," Hayley said, "what time did you get up this morning to look for your dog?"

"Well, I got up at 6.30 to feed Rusty, but I couldn't find him. I called for him, but he didn't come running as he usually does. So I got dressed, and went out to look for him. Then, around 7.00, I saw you wandering around."

"Well, I left Donald asleep at 5.20 this morning, and by the time I got to that field, it must have been around 5.30. I wandered around for a while, and then fell asleep. I woke up with sunburn around 6.50. I was just thinking how peaceful it seemed compared to last night when you sneaked up behind me."

Marigold giggled. "I can't believe I actually thought you were a murderer! Well, it'll only take a couple of weeks to uncover the real murderer. But the thing is, I have to go to school. You might be in danger if you stay here by yourself."

Hayley nodded. "Maybe," she paused to think, "maybe, you can get me into your school somehow. That way, we could be together all of the time, and discuss things during break. What school do you go to?"

"Marfield Senior." Marigold looked at Hayley. Her spirits lifted when Hayley smiled.

"That's alright then. It's not my one. Your school's quite good at sports isn't it? You've beat mine a few times!"

Marigold smiled. She was glad that everything was going to be OK.

Three days later, Hayley was sitting at a desk next to Marigold. Only she wasn't Hayley any more. She was Sophie. Sophie Lynch. The register was being taken, and as her alias was called, Hayley was daydreaming about Donald Howard. About him being locked away forever.

"SOPHIE!"

Hayley looked up.

"I've called your name FIVE times! Are you going to answer at all today?"

"Yes sir. Sorry sir." Hayley stammered.

"Yes, well. Make sure you answer your name when I call it, and not ten hours later!" Mr. Mortimer boomed.

Hayley turned and winked at the girl sitting behind her. "I'm Sophie Lynch," she whispered. "Who are you?"

"Jenny Wright." Jenny flashed Hayley a grin. "Pleased to meet you. You new in the area?"

"Yeah. I'm staying with Marigold at the moment."

Jenny tossed her chestnut hair, a twinkle in her blue-green eyes. "And her parents don't mind?"

Hayley frowned. "Of course not. They're really cool about it." she said indignantly.

"Sorry. I didn't mean it to sound like that. It's just that her folks don't usually like whites staying with them."

"That's alright. Forget it."

"SOPHIE LYNCH!" yelled Mr. Mortimer. "STOP GOSSIPING AND GET ON WITH YOUR WORK!"

"Yes sir. Of course sir." Hayley flashed a grin first at Marigold, then around the class.

Marigold grinned back. Hardly anyone wanted to defy Mr. Mortimer, but when someone did, it was really amusing, as he seemed to go purple when he was angry.

"Next time you disrupt the class, I'll put you in detention, new girl or not." he added, who was visibly calming down as he wasn't purple just then.

The lesson went on, and Hayley did not get a detention, though several times came close. Finally, the end of lesson pips sounded. Hayley sighed with relief and rolled her eyes at Mr. Mortimer. Marigold saw, and burst out laughing. Seeing Mr. Mortimer glare at her, she hurriedly turned it into a cough, and packed her bag. Hayley tucked her book under her arm and made her way out of the room in between Jenny and Marigold. Hayley never did like geography much.

Hayley's spirits lifted when Marigold then told her that they had English next.

"We've got Mrs. Kendal. She's a dear. She really knows her stuff, too."

They walked into the room. A woman with long brown hair tied tightly in a plait and soft brown eyes was sat in the chair facing the class. Marigold took Hayley to her and introduced her.

"Mrs. Kendal, this is Sophie Lynch. She's new today." she explained.

Mrs. Kendal's eyes crinkled. "Thank you Marigold. Welcome to the class, Sophie. You can sit where you like today."

Hayley looked at her, and decided that she liked her. She definitely looked nicer than Mr. Mortimer, who had only grunted when Marigold introduced her.

Marigold sat down at a seat; Hayley followed her and sat beside her. Jenny and her friend Alex were seated in front of them. The lesson was very interesting, and Hayley was sorry to hear the pips sound.

During the lunch break, Hayley and Marigold discussed the mystery of Louise Parker's death.

Hayley suddenly remembered years back, when she and Louise were best friends. Louise and Hayley at the beach lazing in the sun smothered in sun cream and talking about all the cute boys that walked past them. Louise and Hayley at Alton Towers, queuing for ages to go on the best rides. Louise and Hayley watching videos, laughing through the funny parts, crying through the sad parts... Louise and Hayley.

Hayley felt a solitary tear slide gently and slowly down her cheek, leaving a shiny, wet trail. She hastened to wipe it off when she noticed Marigold looking at her.

"Sorry, what were you saying?" Hayley asked.

"Hey, are you alright?" Marigold was surprised when Hayley burst into tears.

"What's wrong? Hey, don't cry. Please! Tell me what's wrong." Concern was written all over Marigold's face. She guessed it had something to do with Louise. Or Donald. Hayley took a deep breath. Between her sobs, she poured out her friendship with Louise, everything they had done together, and how Donald had once tried to kiss Louise when he was drunk. That precious gem, once called Louise Parker, was gone forever. She had been so young, so innocent, without a care in the world. Hayley closed her eyes and saw Louise, her long brown hair flowing freely and her startling blue eyes shining with anticipation. Hayley started crying openly now, and Marigold put her arm around her to comfort her. While Hayley would grow old, get married, and have children, Louise would stay forever young, a gentle breeze in the mountains. Why did she have to die in such pain? What were her last thoughts before being dragged into ever lasting slumber? No one would ever know. Not for a million years or more.

Donald was marching proudly with the rest of the Navy. He couldn't help feeling proud, really. He had two beautiful girlfriends, and for all he knew, they did not know that the other existed.

But what Donald didn't know, was that Hayley and Marigold were now best friends, and were plotting revenge against him.

Donald remembered the night of Louise Parker's death very well. The stupid cow wouldn't kiss him, would she? She got what she deserved. Donald remembered looking in the mirror. His eyes appeared to be, red. Red. The colour of danger. Black rims underneath his eyes. Death. Brutal black death. He remembered reaching out for the large kitchen knife. He had tracked down Louise to an alleyway just off the road leading to the city.

Louise's blue eyes had caught in the moonlight, Donald immediately recognised fear. Donald had walked up to her touching the cool sharp blade of the knife against her delicate frail neck.

"Do you love me Louise?"

Louise gulped and closed her eyes for an instant. She opened them again. "No. I don't. I never have done, and I never will."

Donald acted immediately. He plunged the knife into her left breast, the blade sliced through the delicate lace of her bra, and straight into her heart. He withdrew the knife, and stabbed her again as she collapsed to the ground bleeding heavily and gasping in pain. And again. And again. At last he was satisfied that Louise Parker would never wake up. He went back, and planted the knife in Hayley's rucksack.

Hayley was still sobbing when the pips went. She quickly wiped her eyes, but leaving red patches showing.

Finally, it was time to go home, and Hayley nearly cried with relief. She only hoped that the next day would be better.

Hayley felt ashamed of herself. A lot of people had probably watched her bawl away during lunch. Well, she reasoned, it wasn't for nothing. Louise Parker, her best friend was brutally murdered. She was sure that she knew who had murdered her. Her mind wandered back to the night when she saw Donald on the street. He had been so passionate and caring. So sweet and gentle. So unlike the person who had killed Louise Parker. Yet she was sure that Donald had killed her. Hayley Barber would bring the murderer to justice. Her best friend would not die in vain. No way.

Marigold was certain that it was Donald, her two-timing boyfriend, who had murdered Hayley's best friend, Louise Parker. Who else could it have been? The person knew Hayley, had a grudge against her and on Louise, and was obviously someone who knew that they wouldn't be suspected.

Marigold knew that Donald knew Hayley, she knew that Donald was angry with Louise for not kissing him, and as he was Hayley's boyfriend, he knew that he wouldn't be suspected. What was the grudge against Hayley? That was what puzzled Marigold. What made Donald want to frame Hayley, his girlfriend?

Marigold ran her hand through her Afro hair. Her hands stopped moving half way through. She sighed. It was so annoying. She decided that she would go to the hairdresser and have her hair put into tiny plaits. She pulled her hand out of the Afro jungle.

Maybe Hayley had bored him. No. Maybe, she had not done as he had wanted her to. Well, that was a possibility. Hayley did something he did not want her to, he got angry, and decided to kill two birds with one stone. Take out his aggressions on both girls he was angry with.

Marigold was flushed with excitement. "That's got to be it! Why else would he have done that?" she muttered. "Hayley would remember if she had done anything to upset Donald!"

Marigold got up from her bed, and ran across the hallway to the spare room.

"Hayley? Hayley? I think I've got it! Can I come in?" She cried.

"Yeah. Sure." Hayley's voice mumbled.

Marigold pushed open the door gently. It slowly creaked open, and she went in and shut the door behind her. Hayley sat at her desk, her head on her hands. Her eyes were red, and a solitary tear slid down her cheek.

Marigold was astonished. "Hayley! What's wrong? Tell me what's the matter!"

"I'm gonna get caught, aren't I? They're gonna come in here and arrest me, aren't they? They know I am here, and I'm gonna get nicked!" Hayley was near hysterics.

"Hayley, you've done nothing wrong, they don't know you're here, and they are NOT going to arrest you. OK? You are innocent, and together, we're going to prove it. OK?"

When Hayley looked at Marigold, she saw determination written all over her friend's dark, pretty face. Slowly, Hayley felt her doubts lift. A great weight was lifted from her shoulders.

"OK, tell me what you have got."

Marigold grinned. "I think I know why he did it. I am also certain that it could only be him, and no-one else."

"OK. So will we ever be able to convict him?" Hayley asked, a smile playing about her full lips.

"If I have got anything to do with it!" Marigold smiled at her thoughtfully.

"So you stopped him when he began to go too far?"

"Yeah. He got the message finally, but he wasn't happy. Not happy at all." Hayley winced at the thought of the time when Donald had tried to seduce her. Hayley grimaced. "It's obviously him, Marigold. He hates me, and he hated Louise. Why he had to take her life, I don't know. One kiss isn't worth that much!"

Seeing that Hayley was on the verge of tears, Marigold tried to change the subject. "Yes, I agree, erm, what would you like for tea tonight?"

Hayley frowned at Marigold. "Stop trying to change the subject." she said, "it makes everything ten times worse." Seeing Marigold's surprised face, she hastened to soften her words. "Erm, pie and chips will be fine."

She watched as Marigold went quietly out of the room to prepare the food.

"Marigold! Wait! I'll help too!"

Marigold turned and smiled. "Good. I wanted some company!"

Hayley and Marigold made their way downstairs arm in arm. Best friends never could be upset with each other for long.

Donald was thinking about Hayley. What would he do if she found out? She would never forgive him. Never in a million years. It was then that he realised what he had done. He had KILLED Louise Parker! KILLED her! He sat down on the wicker chair in the corner of his room, and it creaked under his weight. He killed her. He felt tears prick his eyes. How could he? He was in love with Hayley when he killed Louise. He wouldn't have cared if she said yes, but she said no, so he killed her. Why? Why did he even think of it? And he had lost Hayley into the large city, and for all he knew, she could be dead, ill, in prison, starving on the streets, or anything! He felt a pang when he remembered Hayley's love and devotion. He felt tears in his eyes when he remembered her long brown hair sweeping across his face, and the softness of her lips on his. He remembered the time when Hayley had fallen asleep with her head on his shoulder in the city. By the time he had woken up, she was gone. He remembered the anxiety he had felt when instead of feeling her stir beside him, he had only felt her absence, hard and cold, a block of ice.

He remembered when Hayley had asked him to help her find the murderer, the guilt of seeing her so frightened and frail. He got up, and opened the drawer in his desk, and took out a hardback notebook. He had written in it regularly for the past six months.

'Dear Diary' (he wrote)

'It's driving me crazy. I only began to feel guilty today, but it was only today, I realised really what I did. I can't believe I did it, really, oh how could I have done it? I took away Louise Parker's life, for what? A kiss. One measly kiss. A KISS for God's sake.'

A tear ran down his face, and fell onto the paper, blurring some of the words.

'How could I have let Hayley take the blame? How could I? Sure, she wouldn't sleep with me, but I should have respected her for it, not give her a criminal record, for God's sake! Oh, God what have I done? I killed Louise Parker, so I should pay for it. I've only myself to blame, but I don't want to give myself in. Oh God, what on earth have I let myself in for? I wish I'd never been born. In fact, I wish my parents had never been born. Either that, or I wish I was dead. Poor Louise.'

Donald closed the notebook with a snap, and capped his pen. He put them both back in his drawer. He felt determined. He wasn't going to let Louise Parker be on his conscience. He'd give himself in. Well, not today, maybe tomorrow....

"That's brilliant, Marigold!" Hayley cried. "If we could pull it off, I would be a free woman by next Saturday!" She'd been away from home for nearly two weeks, and no one had caught her yet. She and Marigold were going to see to it that she was never caught. And that Donald Howard would be behind lock and key very soon. Hayley sighed with happiness. It wouldn't be long before she could ride Kenny again. Kenny was her black horse, strong and powerful, and she missed galloping around on his back. Still, she'd be with him soon.

Yes, you're right," Marigold replied, "but we're going to have to act fast. Go and put on your sunglasses and we'll go." she said.

Hayley ran up to the spare room obediently, and placing the sunglasses on her nose, she headed for the door "Let's go!"

'MERSEYSIDE NAVY' read the sign above the door. "Yep! This is it, Hayley! Your freedom is just around the corner!" Marigold said, flashing her friend a grin. "Let's go and get it!"

Hayley and Marigold straightened their faces, and walked inside. They were greeted with attractive women sitting behind glass panels and a very comfortable looking reception waiting room. All the women's faces had the same fixed, glazed grin plastered on them. In one voice they all greeted the two bewildered girls. "Good morning, how may we help you?"

The strange greeting put the girls off guard and they looked at each other. Marigold recovered quickly, and marched up to one of the women at the desk.

"We'd like to know where to find Donald Howard. It's very important. He's expecting us." Marigold told her firmly.

The woman tucked her hair behind her ear. She leaned forward onto her elbows.

"Donald Howard. Let's see now," she said in a smooth, calm voice. She sat up, and turned to her computer, and typed in the name with lightening speed. "OK. You got a pen and paper handy?"

"Yes." Hayley came up behind Marigold.

"OK then, it's 17 Church Street, Merseyside." She said looking into Hayley's sunglasses.

"Thank you. Let's go, Sophie." Marigold told Hayley. "It's time we got on the road."

They left the building, the women exchanging sly smiles.

They sat on a low brick wall to look at the street map. The morning sun was shining brightly and it seemed to illuminate Church Street.

"That's lucky, isn't it Marigold?" Hayley asked. "We're practically on top of Church Street!"

Marigold giggled. "When we get Donald behind bars, remind me to buy a bottle of champagne to celebrate it with." she said.

Hayley gave a delighted grin, and the two set off down the road side by side.

Ten minutes later, when they arrived at 17 Church Street, the house was empty. The two girls sneaked around the back, and to Hayley's delight, found the door open.

"Just like Donald!" she said, as the two crept in, and searched the house looking for anything that would give him away.

"I'll start on this floor, you go onto the first floor." Marigold instructed Hayley.

"Aye, aye, Captain!"

It took a long laborious 30 minutes before either of them found anything.

"Marigold! Marigold, come here!"

Marigold raced to where Hayley was. "What is it?" she asked, her face red from running.

"There's a spider up there!" Hayley joked.

"WHAT? You brought me up here for a spider?" she paused, and saw Hayley's face, "Oh you cow! What's really the matter?"

Hayley grinned a secret smile. "It's his diary. He actually wrote down that he killed her! Oh, Marigold! I'm as good as free!"

"OK, then, we'd better get out of here and scram. We don't want Donald finding us here!" Marigold had to sigh to stop herself crying out in joy.

They made their way out of the small house, and crept through the shadows, Hayley clutching the diary, and out into the sunshine.

"GO! GO! GO!" Hayley heard a voice shout. She looked around and saw that a policeman with dark hair and shaggy eyebrows, holding a radio transmitter in his hand, was crouching behind a car.

"GO HAYLEY! RUN!" Marigold yelled. She saw several police officers leap out from various places, and chase after Hayley, who had run off with Donald's diary. When Marigold saw Hayley drop it, she tried to run back and pick it up, but seeing two men running after her, she turned to run, leaving the diary lying on the ground. As she turned the corner, she saw Hayley run straight into a policeman's arms, which locked hers like steel.

As Marigold turned around again, she heard a loud bark, and tried to locate it.

"RUSTY! Go boy! Where's the diary?" She yelled. But Rusty was too excited at seeing his owner that he didn't listen.

She saw the dark haired policeman pick up the diary, and look at it, and she groaned. At that moment, someone grabbed her, pinning her arms to her side. She screamed, and struggled to look at her attacker.

"LET GO!" She screamed, but the police officer held her all the tighter.

"So you're Marigold. Are you usually friends with murderers?"

"AAAAARRRRRRGGGHHH! Let GO!"

"No. You're coming with us to join your murderer friend at the police station." said the man.

"LET GO!"

Her scream pierced the air, but Marigold knew she couldn't run.

"So you say that Donald Howard killed Louise Parker." repeated the Inspector.

"Yes! Look. What's happened to that diary that I dropped in the street? There's practically a confession in there!" Hayley tried to be calm, but felt as though she would scream if he didn't believe her.

The diary was brought forward and Hayley flipped through the pages to the last entry. She spun the book round for the Inspector to read.

"It's driving me crazy. I only began to feel guilty today, blah, blah, blah, how could I have done it? I took away Louise Parker's life, blah, blah, yeah." He muttered. Then he spoke aloud to Hayley. "Where exactly did you find it?"

"Find what? The diary?"

"Yes. Where did you find the diary?" the Inspector began to sound impatient.

Hayley hesitated. "Erm, well I, I went into his house and found it in his drawer. And, well, I came out, and there you were, ready to catch me, and it dropped out of my hands."

"So. I see. OK, we'll give it a rest now, your parents are here to see you."

"My parents?"

The Inspector gave a stiff smile. "Yes. Hawkins, take her to see them, will you?"

"Mum!" Hayley cried as she saw her mother get up from the hard seats in the waiting room.

"Oh, Hayley! Where have you been? I've been sick with worry!" Hayley's mother's eyes were streaming, and she took a handkerchief to dry them.

"It wasn't me, Mum. I promise. I've got evidence, too, only the Inspector has it at the moment. It was Donald. He did it. He killed Louise, not me!"

Her mother gave a weak smile. "You don't know how glad I am to hear you say that!"

Hayley had been released from police custody the day before, and she was so happy, she felt like she'd died and gone to heaven.

She hadn't seen Marigold for a few days, and longed to speak to her, but that day was to be spent resting, and settling back into her home. The next day, however, was her birthday, and she was looking forward to spending it with her family and friends, whom she had missed during the two weeks she had been away from home.

The next day came, and as she walked into the living room in her dressing gown, everyone jumped out

"SURPRISE!"

Her friends and family surrounded her, and she then noticed Marigold in the crowd, which was parting to make way for her, and as she came closer, Hayley could read the icing on the gigantic cake that she was carrying. 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR FAVOURITE JAIL-BIRD'

Hayley burst out laughing, and hugged Marigold.

"Happy birthday, Jailbird!" Marigold said, and signalled for Jenny Wright to come up.

"Nice dressing gown!" Jenny said, and pulled out a bottle of champagne. "Happy birthday!"

Hayley laughed. "Thank you!" she cried, and grinned at Marigold. "You sneaky so-and-so! You never told me about this!" She looked around the room with laughing eyes, and smiled at all her friends and family. Then she realised that someone was missing.

"Where's Donald?"

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