The Writers Christmas Vacation

chapter 20

She shook her head. No, no, no. That couldn't be Perry. It just couldn't.

Melissa wanted to get out of her car. She really did but with what she had just seen, she was now too frightened to do so.

Besides, how did she know Perry had been alone in her house?

What if he'd told some of his troubled friends where his sister lived? That would definitely put Melissa's life in danger. Danger that could probably be avoided but in danger nevertheless.

She shook in fear. Certainly, this had to be a mistake.

Perry was in jail. She had heard the police admit that they'd arrested him.

So why had he just been found in her house?

He's a killer. His intentions couldn't have been good. Somewhere in her mind, she thought this. IT gave her a chill as the thought ran through Melissa's mind.

She shook her head, trying to make the thought disappear. She would not let herself think bad things. Not at a time like this.

It wouldn't help anything. Wouldn't change what had happened a day or two ago.

She got out of the car and walked over to talk to one of the officers. "He - he was in my house? But how? I thought you guys had people constantly watching prisoners in jail to be certain they wouldn't escape."

The female officer, Officer Melinda, answered her question before her partner could, "At one point, we did."

Melissa felt a 'but' coming. She knew these things. Knew how to tell when someone was lying to her - no matter how well they tried to hide the lie.

"But he somehow passed security." Officer Dewey, Melinda's partner, stated. He looked down at the ground, seemingly embarrassed by the recent events.

"You guys have cameras. How did people working at the police office miss this? A prisoner escaped right under your watchful eyes!" Melissa demanded. She was angry so her demand sounded more like she was screaming.

Melissa took a threatening step towards the officers. Her fists were clenched, as if she were ready to punch someone and she was snarling at the officer.

Officer Melinda looked shocked. She stepped back and spoke into her walkie-talkie. The words she said were so quiet that Melissa missed them.

Officer Dewey, who was better trained to deal with people in a crisis than Melinda, looked her in the eyes. "It's okay," He said calmly.

"No, it's not! I could have been killed tonight. By my own relative."

"We wouldn't have let that happen." Officer Dewey reassured her. He had to speak loudly since, somewhere nearby, a siren could be heard.

Melissa looked at Officer Melinda, with her eyes red - from feelings of betrayal. "What did you do?"

"What was necessary. I called for backup." The officer sad simply.

"You did what?!"