In the Dark

Chapter 3

Hazel Peters' POV

I left the room Eden was crying and tightly holding onto Olly who had cried himself to sleep. My heart ached for them they had just witnessed their parents being arrested and realised they had committed a horrible crime. Detectives Michael Simpson and Josie Smith had been assigned to the case, I had heard Detective Simpson was particularly hard and difficult to work with.

"Mrs Peters I'm Detective Simpson and this is detective Smith." I shook both their hands. "What have they said so far? Will they talk to us? We have many questions we need answering."

"Just their names. What they knew about the baby and where they were going. They are very distressed as you could imagine. I don't want to push the questions just yet."

"Of course not. What have they said so far?" Detective Smith asked. She seemed a little more compassionate, caring more about the welfare of the children than about getting 'answers'

"They believe the baby was born to their Mother this morning and that they were moving for their fathers job."

"Do you believe them?" Detective Simpson asked, I'm starting to dislike him already.

"Of course I believe them."

"Right well I will make up my own mind. We really do need to speak to them now." He walked passed me and into the room, detective Simpson gave me an apologetic look and followed him, I signed and went back in.

Detective Simpson was now sitting in my seat looking at Eden and Olly, he was still asleep on his sisters lap. I took the seat next to the children.

"Eden is it okay if Detective Simpson and Detective Smith ask you some questions?" I pointed them out as I spoke to her. She just nodded, her eyes were red and puffy from crying so much.

"Okay." Detective Simpson started "Eden why don't you start by telling me a little about your home life. What did you do on the average day?"

"M-my dad would go to work and mum would teach us." Her voice was hoarse from crying so much, she didn't look ready for this yet.

"You were home schooled?"

"Yes."

"Why were you not in mainstream school?"

"My parents didn't want us to be."

"And why was that?"

"They didn't like us going out much, especially alone."

"Why not?"

"They said the world was full people who did bad things." Her voice broke a little at the end.

"So they didn't let you go out?"

"We would go to the park sometimes in the evenings."

"What were they like as parents?"

"They were great parents. A little overprotective but that was because they love us."

"Did they ever get angry at you?"

"Not really. I only remember them telling us off once."

"What was that for?"

"We were playing in the street with the other children about a year ago, they found and shouted. They were just really scared when we weren't in the house."

"Did they ever hurt you or touch you in a way you didn't want them to?"

"What? Why would you think that? of course they didn't hurt us, their our parents." She started to cry again.

"Okay Detective that's enough for now," I said.

"Mrs Peters we need to ask these questions."

"I understand but their welfare is my top priority and they have had enough for today. This can wait." He sighed heavily.

"Fine." He got up and gestured with his head for me to follow.

"I'll be right back Eden okay?" She nodded, tears silently pouring down her face. Detective Smith closed the door behind us.

"Mrs Peters-"

"Call me Hazel." I cut him off a little abruptly.

"Very well Hazel. Here's what's going to happen I'm giving you one day to sort things out for them, then I will be asking all the questions I wish."

"You will give me two days Detective. I have found a family that will take the children but they need some time. I don't think you appreciate how difficult this is for them."

"Difficult? Believe me Mrs Peters I understand completely, but right now I have a kidnap case on my hands and I need as much information as possible."

"You can ask them anything you wish in two days Detective." With that I turned my back on him and went back in the room.

Eden's POV

We were alone again. Hazel and the officers were outside, probably talking about us. I couldn't stop crying my body felt so heavy and all my joints were stiff, I just wanted to see my parents. I needed to hear it from them, it hurt so much. Why would they take a baby? Why did the detective think Mum and Dad would hurt us? Nothing made sense anymore.