Then Who?

"His eyes blazed," sounded like such a cliché, but they did! He was so angry, the gold flecks in his hazel irises looked like sparks. The spittle flying from his bristling beard, and his aggressive gestures only added to the effect. He looked like he was about to explode.

"I'm telling you," Karl's shouts were punctuated by steps forward, "I didn't do any of that stuff!"

Sandy took a pace back, and another, corresponding to his. Like a reluctant dance.

She was cross with herself for giving ground, but he was much bigger, and in his fury, seemed to tower over her.

Her heart kicked up a notch, a flighty hummingbird thrumming in her chest. Her anger had shrunk, abandoning her when she most needed it, crowded out by Doubt, and leaving room for Fear. Karl's outrage seemed genuine. She believed him, yet it felt wrong, weak, to bend when he was being so aggressive.

She dashed tears away before they could spill, drew herself up taller. She felt tiny, still, like an angry kitten.

Well if you didn't do it, who did?

I don't know! Maybe Wyatt. You've ruined that kid. He's a spoilt little shit.

Sandy's eyes went wide, and her jaw dropped.

"He's a child, Karl!" she seethed, her anger rising again in a wave to meet his. "You seriously think he would leave a KNIFE by Matty's bed?"

"You think I would?"

No, she realised. Of course not.

They were both panting, the waves receding.

The question was stamped on his face, and reflected in her watery eyes.

Then who?

Karl pulled her into a hug, enfolding her under his beard so she wouldn't see the tears in his own eyes.

"It'll be okay," he muttered, his voice gruff. "We'll get him to a psychiatrist. It'll be okay."

She would have stiffened again, pulled away, indignant over the insult to her eldest son. Energy had left her, though. She sagged against his chest. Shaking her head, wiping her face across his t-shirt, she confessed, "Wyatt doesn't have the imagination to do this..."

Karl was thoughtful. "Why don't you just video it?"

"I tried. Last night. The camera got tipped over somehow."

"Let's try again tonight."

She sniffed.

"Okay."