About time

7pm evening news, I’m 17 now so mums always wining at me to pay attention to what’s going in the real world not just my world .I pass dad his plate and grab my own to join him in the lounge. we are in between renovating the dining room so we eat in here for now. “1 body found 3 still missing 20 thousand dollar reward for any information leading to an arrest” not paying much mind to the news I clear my plate and head to clean the kitchen and get ready for bed, I have to help dad knock out the bricks in the morning so I’m in for an early night.

“Good morning Annabelle” said dad sarcastically he hates when I sleep in. It’s 6:06am dad has always been so particular about time. Bed by 8pm up by 6am no exceptions doors locked, windows shut, lights out. He handed me the hammer and told me to get a move on as he had other things to do. Mum and I got to it ,we start swinging and smashing bricks the hardest part was the fireplace between the lounge and dining area one last huge swing and I did ,it I knocked down the fire place “well done “ said mum while walking to grab us a bottle of water.

Moving the bricks and rubble aside I noticed a partially burnt black book it looks like dads office books but where the label would be has Burnt away. I open the little black weathered packet book and see the date 11/2/2015 and time 12am followed by another two dates and time 11/3/16 12am, 11/4/17 12am . Startled,I hear dads truck pulling into the driveway I grab the book and continue cleaning the bricks , after a few more hours of helping Mum we finally sit down for tea once again in the lounge. “20k reward for any information leading to an arrest to the person responsible for the body found on the 11/2/2015” that date sounded familiar I continued watching “ 11/3/16 and 11/4/17” it clicked, those are the dates in the little black book, there’s no way it could be a coincidence.

The next morning getting ready for school I packed the little black book we have access to computers during lunch. Typing in all 3 dates an article about the 1 body found and 2 others missing appears, time of death 12am on the 11th of February 2015, there is no way. I continue reading there is a person of interest sketch. Dusty brown hair, glasses ,white male 5”7 there is something about the glasses I just can’t put my finger on it.

I printed the article and sketch to show mum ,this is just crazy there is no way it’s not connected this little black book has the dates these people went missing and it was in my house !. Jumping off the bus with the article in hand I rush to show Mum.”hmm I doubt it’s related Annabelle ” Mum said rolling her eyes at me , she isn’t one to get involved in thing like this but I just could not let it go.Dad bought this house back in 2014 We have only lived in our house for about a year so how could it be dads little black book. It’s a Friday afternoon no school tomorrow so dad let me go for a walk alone, I’m normally not allowed to go anywhere without himself or Mum I shoved the book in my track pants “you know the rules Annabelle do not leave the block” I new he would be timing me like I said he has a thing for time.

This was my chance I walked until he couldn’t see me anymore and I ran, I sprinted the police station was only 2 blocks away so if I ran I could make it back in time.. “Hello sir my name is Annabelle smith I just wanted to talk to you about the body found and the two people still missing “ he looked at me funny as if I was joking “ok love, what would you like to know” he said sarcastically as if I was just being a nosey teen. “It’s not what I want to know sir it’s what you want to know” I said as I passed him the little black book he opened it and looked amazed. Explaining I found the book in my fireplace and realised the dates where the same as on the news I thought it best to hand it in just incase.

Scribbling my name and address on a notepad for the officers after dropping off the little black book I left promptly to try and get home before dads timer went off. Running around the corner ,through the ditch and over a fence I started to casually walk, dad normally stands and waits out front to watch me walk from the end of our street. There he was hands on his hips “you look hot Annabelle” he said raising his eyebrows at me I quickly said I hadn’t felt the best at school and thought fresh air would have helped.

“7pm news there has been a lead in the case we are hoping an arrest is made soon” I looked at the tv to see our local police station in the background, “see mum!it must be the little black book I new it had to have something to do with it” mum looked at me and smirked in disbelief.. “What do you mean Annabelle ,what black book “ dad snapped

Before I could answer a police car pulled into our driveway lights flashing and sirens on. Before I could blink dad shot up grabbed his keys and glasses of the bench, It clicked why those glasses in the suspect sketch where so familiar they are the same as my dads . Before dad could leave the garage the officer had his gun drawn “Mr smith get on the ground you are under arrest” mum was hysterical crying and confused I was in shock they put dad in the back of the paddy wagon he just looked blank he didn’t say a word almost like he just new the gig was up.

A few days passed reporters will not leave our lawn, mums still in disbelief. We have been keeping our curtains drawn to keep anyone from seeing inside. We hear a knock at the door Mum refused to answer so I did, it was the same officer I handed the little black book to at the station. “Your information has helped lead to the arrest of the person responsible for the murder and suspected murders off the two people still missing how would you like to collect your reward” I was confused completely forgetting about the money reward upset and confused I said “ cheque please” and shut the door. My dad was the killer and I handed him in. Upset and confused I sat down next to Mum “how did we not know “ she said staring into Space ,it all made sense now everyone had to be in bed by 8pm door locked and lights out. We had always thought it was for our protection in an over cautious way ,it wasn’t it was for his own protection so we wouldn’t find out what he was doing. At least with the 20 thousand dollar reward Mum and I will be okay until we get on our feet again.