Joesph's POV

After recieving a barley audible phone call from Michael. Me, Kathrine, LaToya and Janet all rush over to his house and him and Leanne are panicking and rushing around packing things into bags.

"What's going on? Where are you going?" I frown confused. "W-We have to leave. They know" Michael stutters and I put my hand on his shoulders to stop him rushing around the room. "Just calm and tell me what's happemed. Who knows what?" I say calmly. "They found her. They found Mary" Leanne cuts in just as nervously. "What!? How!? Janet cuts in.

"I don't know he didn't say, but an officer came over and said they found her and they wanna interview us. I managed to stall him for now, but he's coming back tomorrow first thing and..."

"You can't just run away" LaToya cuts Michael off. "Well what else can we do!? We can't stay here. It's too late we have to leave now. If they come here and..."

"MICHAEL!!! CALM DOWN!!!" I yell and he quickly stops rambling. "Your sister's right. You can't just pack up and leave because when they come back and see you've left then they'll know straight away your hiding something" I say in a calmer voice.

"They already know. They know it's was me" Leanne says shakily. "Why else would they come here. Their gonna arrest me and.. "

"If they knew it was you then they would have arrested you by now" Kathrine tries to reassure her. "Exactly. Now what you both need to do right now is calm down" I say softly, trying to keep them calm "we've all been through this over and over. We knew this could happen and we've been prepared for it. Now all we have to do is stick to the story we all agreed and have been through time and time again and..."

"I can't" Leanne sobs "they'll know I'm lying. They know it was me and..."

"Yes you can" I cut her off. "Nobody's knows anything and if we start freaking out now and panicking then their go know. So we all need to calm down and go through everything we've been through before ok?" I say softly and she nods.

"Did they say anything else? Like how they found her?" I turn to Micheal. "They didn't say how just that they found her and someone had been arrested"

"Then why are you both freaking out?" Janet frowns confused. "They obviously don't think it was either of you"

"Who got arrested?" I ask "Lisa" he mumbles "some of the neighbours saw her going into the house and called the police" he mumbles "why would Lisa have been there?" I frown confused and he tells me what happened.

"And your only just telling us now!?" I snap. "But they didn't see me and..."

"That's not the point!" I snap then sigh heavily trying to calm myself. "This is all my fault" Leanne mutters then starts crying. "I caused all this and..."

"It's not all your fault" Janet tries to comfort her "But if I'd never shown up then none of you would have to deal with this and if I hadn't kill..."

"None of that matters now. It's done now and we need to deal with it. And the police think it's Lisa so you don't have to worry and.. ."

"You can't seriously let her take the blame for this!" LaToya cuts Janet off. "Why not? She almost killed them remeber? And she never got punished. Maybe now they'll lock her ass away for good" she shrugs "she shouldn't be punished for this though. She had nothing to do with it"

"Well we can't exactly tell the police she's inoccent can we? If we do then they'll know that we're hiding something" Kathrine cuts in. "I should be the one getting punished not her" Leanne says shakily and Micheal goes over and wraps his arms around her.

"Your not taking the blame for this. After what that woman did. She deserved to die. If it hadn't been you then it would have been somebody else eventually. You've been punished enough. Long before you did what you did" he says softly and pulls her close to him.

"We can't let someone else take the blame for this. Lisa's pregnant and.."

"And so is she" I cut LaToya off. "Lisa isn't our problem. They are" Janet points at Leanne and Micheal.

After calming everybody down and going through our stories and any questions the police may ask. I go into the kitchen with Micheal and LaToya while Leanne and the others are in the next room.

"We'll stay here tonight and come with you tomorrow. I suggest you both go get some rest" I say to Micheal and he nods. "Do you really think she's gonna be ok during the interview?" LaToya asks. "You've seen how fragile and you know?... unhinged she is lately"

"Wouldn't you be if you'd gone through what she has!? And she's not unhinged she just... a little sensitive at the moment!" Micheal snaps at her. "I'm just saying is she's been through alot lately and has a habit of randomly doing things. She may be ok now, but who knows what's gonna happen once she's in a room alone and they start interviewing her"

"She won't be on her own. She 17 and technically still a minor and legally they can't interview her without a parent or guardian present. So i'll go in with her and make sure she doesn't say anything she shouldn't" I explain.

"Then I should be the one going in with her. I'm 'technically' her guardian because she lives with me" Micheal says and I shake my head. "They won't let you go in with her. Most likely they'll interview you both at the same time in separate rooms to check your stories match" I explain.

"I still don't think this is gonna work. Even with you in the room. You can't stop what comes out of her mouth or from saying the wrong thing" LaToya shakes her head. "Well we don't have much choice. The best we can do is make sure her an Micheal's stories match word for word and that goes goes for us too. They may wanna talk to us so we need to get our stories straight too" I say sternly and she nods.

****
The next morning

Lisa's POV

"I've already told you all this. How many time do I need to tell you? I had nothing to do with what happened to Mary. I didn't even know she was dead until you arrested me. Now you need to let me go already"

"Actually we don't have to let you go. According to our records your on a suspended sentance for attempted murder and..."

"But I was ill at the time and I didn't kill anybody. You can't lock me up for something I didn't do!" I cut off the officer interviewing me again. "If you didn't do it. Then why were you at the house?" He shrugs "I already told you. I went to see Micheal"

"But Micheal doesn't live there and why go with Mia king if you were going to see your ex husband?"

"Because she asked if she could come and Micheal doesn't live there but he's been going there"

"Yet none of the neighbours ever saw him?" He looks at me skeptically. "Obviously their lying" I shrug. "So everybody's lying but you?"

"I'm telling the truth. I didn't kill anybody and I told you why I was there. Ask Mia"

"We did and according to her. You were the one who insisted she go to that house and claims she never saw Micheal and his name was ever mentioned"

"She what!?" I snap "She also told us that she noticed and unusual smell which you commented on saying that it was there before. At the beginning you told us you'd only been there once" he shrugs. "She Lying! She's obviously just saying that to get out of it!" I snap "get out of it?" He raises an eyebrow "we're you in it together?"

"No I just meant..."

"We also spoke to the guard who took you down for your phone call before you went in the cells. He said you called your ex husband and was saying they found Mary. Why would you say that?"

"Because I was asking him to help me, but he hung up and..."

"But you told the guard you got cut off "that's what I thought, but then I realised that he hung up and I know why. It's because he's protecting Leanne. She must have done this"

"So now Leanne's to blame?" He raises and eyebrow and I nod "what's your relationship with Mr Jackson?"

"He's my ex husband. You know that" I shrug "but we spoke to your mother and she told us the two of you were still married and you were expecting his child. She was very confused as were we"

"My mom doesn't know that we got divorced and..."

"And that he's now living with another girl"

"A 17 year old who he's sleeping with which is a crime. Why not you arrest him? He should be the one locked up" I point out. "He probably is" he shrugs "and your just gonna let that go!? What kind of police officers are you!?" I frown "the kind who are more interested in a murder case than who knocked up a 17 year old" he says sarcastically. "Which I had nothing to do with. I told you this already!" I snap "you did... but you also told us other stories. In fact you've told many people many different things it's hard to know what the truth is"

"I DIDN'T DO IT!!!" I snap. "This interview is over. We'll try again when your being a little less agressive" he says getting up. "No! You can't do this! Leanne and Micheal were the ones that killed her not me!" I snap as another officer is taking me out of the room.

*
Micheal's POV

We tried our best to try and get some sleep last night like Joesph said, but Leanne and I have been awake pretty much all night worrying about what's gonna happen and apart of us still wanted to leave, but it was impossible since Joesph was sleeping on the sofa downstairs and kept coming up to check on us through out the night.

It's 10am and the officer from last night is back. "You know it's just you and Leanne we need to speak to right now?" He comments noticing everybody.

"We're Michael's family" mother cuts in "We came over this morning to check on Leanne. She was at the hostpital yesturday and..."

"I'm fully aware of that. Thank you" he cuts her off. "Have you told her yet?" He turns to me and I nod "How is she?"

"She's shocked about what happened, but she's ok. She's just getting dressed"

"Well go and get her because we need to leave" he says sternly.

Joesph called Steve our lawyer last night and explained what was going on and when we get there he's stood waiting for us. "So who's being interviewed first?" He asks and I'm about to speak when the officer cuts me off.

"We're actually going to be interviewing them both at the same time so you can only go with one and the other will have to be assigned another lawyer"

"You go with Leanne" I turn to the Steve and he nods. Steve's been our family lawyer for years and has gotten me and my brother's out of more trouble than I can remeber so It's best he go in the room with Leanne.

"We also need an adult present while Leanne is being interviewed" Steve says "i'll go in with her" Joesph steps in. "Maybe somebody else?" The officer asks looking at little unsure "you perhaps?" He points at LaToya. "Why me?" She frowns "just do it" Joesph frowns and she sighs heavily. "Fine"

The officer walks away for a moment to check something and me and Joesph quickly walk to one side to speak alone with LaToya "do not mess this up" he says to her sternly "It's not me you have to worry about. I'm not the one being interviewed"

"Which you need to make sure she doesn't say anything she shouldn't" I say sternly and she nods.

After sorting out the lawer issue. Leanne and I are taken into separate rooms to be questioned.

*

"So how exactly did Leanne end up back living with you?"

"Her and Mary got into an argument and I went to pick her up and she's been back with me since"

"They seemed fine when they left the court. What happened?"

"She found out that Leanne was pregant and they got into an argument"

"With your baby?"

"It's not mine" I shake my head "You sure about that?" He raises an eyebrow. "Because you've admitted in the past to having a sexual relationship with her. Your last interview here in fact"

"I didn't know at the time she was underage"

"Or being forced to work on a brothel?"

"No. Not until she told me. I didn't force her or anything"

"Nobody said you did" he shrugs "we'req not here to arrest you for that. but you do know we can do a DNA test to check if your lying. So I'm gonna ask you again. Are you the father of her unborn child?" He raises and eyebrow and I nod. "Now we've got that truth out of the way. Why don't you explain what happend that night?"

"I already told you. They got into an argument and I went to pick her up"

"And when you got there. Did you see Mary?"

"Yes?"

"How did she seem when you got there?"

"She was pissed off to see me and yelling at me and her to get out"

"So she was alive when you saw her?"

"Yes"

"There's a security tape from the front of the street that shows not only you, but you father going into the house. Why was he there?"

"Because he called me and heard us all arguing and asked where we were"

"He drove an hour long drive because he heard you arguing?" He looks at me skeptically and I nod. "My father worries alot he's always been like that" I shrug "it's pretty strange that Mary would get so mad and throw her neice out like that. Especially after her testimony in court that same day. Which was what got her free in the first place. Don't you think?"

"Probably because she didn't need her anymore now she was free" I shrug "how did you feel when Leanne stood up there and said those things? She basically called you lier and took sides with her aunt. And you weren't the slightest bit mad at her?" He asks skeptically. "Mary has a tendency to manipulate people and obviously that's what she did with Leanne. She's been really vulnerable since her parents died an Mary knew that"

"So you don't think she was threatening her?"

"No. Leanne would have told me if someone had threatened her"

"I'm gonna be right back" he says getting up from his seat and him and the other officer leaves.

A few moments later he comes back. "So tell me again what Mary was like the last time you saw her"

"I told you. She was pissed off and yelling and telling us all to get out"

"So she was definitely alive when you left?"

"Yes"

"During the argument did things ever get physical between any of you?"

"No"

"What's your relationship with Lisa Jackson?"

"She's my ex wife. Why?"

"The same ex wife that almost killed you and your current girlfriend in a fire?"

"Yes"

"Do you and Leanne have any contact with her?"

"No. Why would we want to?" I frown "How about Mary? Did she?"

"I have know idea" I shrug. "Lisa claims she went to meet you at the house the day she was seen leaving with Mia King. Do you know anything about that?"

"No"

"Have you been to the house before other than to pick Leanne up?"

"Once. After Mary was forced to sign over the house and other stuff her parents left Leanne in their will. She wanted to go back and see the house she grew up in"

"So if we checked. Your finger prints would but in that house and the CCTV cameras will show only the those two times you going into the house?"

"Yes"

"Do you not think it was strange that nobody had seen or heard from Mary in all this time? Did you ever look into where she was?" He asks and I shake my head. "I've been more concerned with taking care of Leanne and concentrating on getting our lives back on track. I wasn't even thinking about Mary or how she's doing" I shrug. "And Leanne? How's she doing? Because we heard she was taking into hostpital yesturday"

"She's fine now"

"Was she self harming before she came back to live you or is this a recent thing?"

"She's been self harming ever since her parents passed" I lie "there's no records of her being taken to hostpital other than this one time. Something must have happened for her to do it this bad"

"It's never been that bad before, but it was her grandmother's funeral yesturday and we think maybe that's what's caused it because it was unexpected like it was with her parents"

"Apart from the selfharming. Has Leanne ever acted out of character before? Or seemed a threat to others?"

"No"

"And what about her day to day routine? Is she ever left for long periods of times?"

"No. She helps me run the hotel I own so she's always either at the hotel or comes to my office to see me and my siblings or with my parents"

"So she's never alone?"

"No. She doesn't like being on her own"

"And her where about can be verified by others?"

"Yes" I nod and he doesn't say anything for a moment. "And what about you?"

"What about me?" I shrug "you hated Mary too. Just like I'm pretty sure Leanne did after everything she's put her through"

"Alot of people hated Mary. What's your point?"

"But only one person killed her. It's strange that after everything this woman has put you both through, you'd both just forget all about it and not care that she was free to walk the streets"

"I did care that she was free, but like I said. I was more concerend with my own life and we hadn't seen or heard from her since that night"

"And that's the last time you were in that house?"

"Yes"

"And Lisa? Had she seen her since then or been to the house?"

"I don't know. Like I said before. I don't talk to her so I don't know what she does or who she talks to"

****
LaToya's POV

I'm sitting in the interview with Leanne and so far things have been going ok, but the longer their keeping her here the more nervous she seems to be getting.

"Why don't you tell us again why you and your aunt were arguing?" The officer asks "she found out I was pregant"

"How?"

"I was in the shower and she went in my room and found the sonogram picture and started yelling and..."

"Who's the father?" He cuts her off. "What difference does that make?" I ask "it is Micheal?" He turns back to Leanne ignoring me and she shakes her head. "So how come Micheal said he was? He admitted the two of you slept together many times. He even told us he used to come an see you alot when you were working in your aunt's brothel"

"Micheal's still being interviewed so how would you know what he's saying?" I ask and he turns back to Leanne. "He's not gonna be in any trouble. We're just trying understand what's going on and what happened?"

"He didn't know how old I was at the time. I told him I was 18" Leanne says "how did he find out?"

"We started getting close and I told him because I didn't wanna lie to him anymore"

"Before or after you slept with him?"

"After"

"Is Micheal the father of your baby?" He asks again "She already told you he's not the..."

"Yes" Leanne cuts me off "did your aunt know he was the father?" He asked and she nods nervously "It's ok he's not going to get in trouble. We're already fully aware of the situation" the officer smiles at her through pursed lips. "If you know already then why would you ask her?" I frown confused. "Because we've heard Michael's version of what happened and I wanted to know hers" he shrugs then turns his attention back to her.

"What was she like when Micheal came over?"

"She was yelling and telling us to get out"

"Why did Joesph come over?"

"He called Micheal and could hear everybody arguing and he got worried and came over"

"Was Micheal arguing with Mary?"

"We were all arguing?"

"Did he get physical with her in any way?"

"Micheal would never hit a woman" I cut in "Ms Jackson. If you don't mind. We need Leanne to answer these questions" he says sternly and I nod. "Did anything physical happen?" He asks again and she shakes her head "nobody did hit anybody"

"He must have been pretty angry with her to be arguing and yelling"

"He didn't hurt her. Micheal wouldn't hurt a woman"

"Maybe not usually but sometimes when people get mad we say and do things we wouldn't normally. Or if Mary was attacking him for example and maybe he pushed her off him only he pushed her a little to hard and she got hurt perhaps?"

"He didn't touch her an Mary never attacked him"

"Was Micheal or his father ever alone with your aunt during this argument?"

"No"

"Not even for a minute or a few seconds?"

"No"

"Does Micheal ever go out of town for long periods of time? Maybe for a day or a few hours?"
"No why?" Leanne looks at him confused. "I was just wondering" he smiles at he through pursed lips.

"When was the last time you saw your aunt?"

"The night we left"

"And you haven't tried to see her since?" He asks skeptically and she shakes her head. "She made it pretty clear she didn't wanna talk to me anymore"

"Seems a little strange since it was you that help get her released from jail. Do you remember the things you said it court that day?" He asks and she nods "do you remeber talking me before today?" He asks and she nods. "You interviewed me before the trial"

"and do you remember what you said in the interview?" He asks and she nods. "So which one was a lie? The story you told me or the story you told in court?"

"The court" she mumbles "why would you lie to help someone who treated you so cruelly? We're you threatened in any way?" He asks softly and she shakes her head "then why?"

"Because she told me it wasn't her fault and that she was being forced to do those things and at the time I believed her"

"You truly believed her? Or you wanted too?" He asks and she doesn't say anything for a moment. "I didn't wanna believe she'd do those things just because she wanted to. Other than my grandma she was the only person I had left and I didn't even know I had a grandma until recently. As far as I was aware Mary was the only family I had left and now my grandma's gone too. And I wanted to believe she was telling the truth"

"You have Micheal and his family. He seems to care alot for you" he says softly. "I care about him and his family too, but it's not the same. Their not my blood. Nobody is... not anymore" she mumbles that last part. "I'm just going to give you a moment" he says and gets up an leaves the room with the other officer.

"What the hell are you doing!? Why would you tell them about Micheal being the father!?" I snap in a hushed tone. "He already told them he was"

"Of course he hasn't. Their just saying that he admitted it so you would" I frown.

"Can I go home now?" She turns to the lawyer. "Lets just finish the interview and then we can all go" he says softly and she nods and I go to speak, but he cuts me off. "It's probably best you don't say anymore. Your stressing her out" he cuts me off and I sigh heavily and don't bother to say anything.

A few moments later the two officers come back. "I'm sorry about that" he smiles at her slightly. "Can I go home now?" Leanne asks. "I'm really tierd"

"Are you feeling ok?"

"She's not long since got out of hostpital and should be at home resting" the lawyer says. "We're aware of what happened yesturday, but we do need to do this" he explains and Leanne nods. "Don't worry. It's only a few more questions and then we'll let you go get some rest" he smiles at her through pursed. "Do you have any contact with Mia King or Lisa Jackson?"

"No"

"Did Mary?"

"I don't think so" she shrugs "Mary never mentioned them? And you never saw them come to the house?"

"No. I was only their the day we came back from court. I hadn't spoken to Mary or seen her since then"

"Could Lisa or Mia have spoken to her after you left?"

"I guess. I don't know who Mary spoke to after we left"

*****
Leanne's POV

After a few more questions the officer lets us go and Micheal is in the hall waiting for us. "Are you ok?" He asks wrapping his arms around me "LaToya's really mad at me" I mumble "why what happened?"

"She told them you were her baby's father after they said you told them and she stupidly believed them" LaToya says walking up behind us. "I did tell them that" he shrugs

"You what!? Why would you be so stupid!?" She snaps. "Why happened?" We hear Joesph and turn and see him and Janet coming over to us.

"They know about the two of them and about the baby. They both admitteded it" LaToya frowns. "It's kinda obvious she's pregnant Toy" Janet giggles "but she's 17 and he's 27 an... "

"I'm almost 18" I cut in "that's not the..."

"What about everything else?" Joesph cuts in "everything else went fine but.."

"Then that's all that matters" he cuts her off "not really. They still broke the law and..."

"Do you really think they give a shit about that? They have a bigger problem to deal with right now" Micheal cuts her off. "So does this mean the two of you can come home?" Kathrine cuts in and I nod. "They said they still might have to ask us some questions another time so we can't leave town while their investigating" Micheal explains an we all make our way back home.

****
Detective's POV

After interviewing Leanne I get Michael's interview tape from Carl my co-worker and we're going through them along with Lisa's and the rest of the evidance we have so far.

"Did she say anything when you left the room?" Carl asks and I shake my head. Micheal's sister was talking, but nothing to say Leanne did anything wrong and Micheal kept his mouth shut while he and his lawyer were alone. They must have realised the tapes were still on" I sigh heavily.

"I still think it was the boyfriend" Carl says and I shake my head. "I thought it was too, but after their interviews it's pretty obvious he's just protecting the girl"

"Leanne!? She's a little kid. I doubt she'd be able to kill anybody. The girl jumps and gets scared if someone moves too fast"

"And why does she do that?" I raise an eyebrow. "I've interviewed her before and when she was telling me what Mary put her through you could tell she was telling the truth, but this time she was different and that goes for Micheal too. Comparing these interviews with ones they did in the past, it's clear someone's coaxing them on what to say"

"Probably their lawyer. They allways tell their clients what to say. I still think it's the boyfriend or the ex" Carl says confidently and I shake my head. "You've only been doing this job for about a month. I've been doing this job for 40 years. I know what I'm talking about. I've seen in happen more times than I want to remeber. Young girl gets abused then one day snaps and murders the abuser"

"So why not arrest her if your so sure?" He shrugs. "Because we need actual proof and so far all we have is a jealous ex girlfriends word that she did it"

maybe if we arrest Micheal he might start talking or maybe she'll confess. He admitted to sleeping with a minor. We can arrest him on that" Carl shrug and I shake my head. "We arrest him and he's not gonna cooperate with us"

"But he's not talking now anyway and neither Leanne"

"Which is why we need some kind of proof or a slip up" I say frustrated as I go over their interviews again.

"And how can we prove it? We have their finger prints around the house, but that's it. We can't arrested them for going into a house that one of them owns. Plus we still don't have a weapon"

"Which is why we need to find it"
"We've search all the house dug all outside and even checked Lisas's place and nothing"

"We need to get a warrant to search the Jackson's. And not just Micheal's house. I want to check the family too and their buisnesses everything. I know Leanne was the one that did this. I just know it"

"So what do we do with Lisa? Do we let her go?" Carl asks and I shake my head. "We keep her here until we can prove she's inoccent"

"But you just said you don't think she did it" he looks at me confused. "Well right now she's the only suspect we have and until she can get an alibi and we have proof on Leanne then Lisa stays where she is plus she's on a suspended sentance for attempted murder once before"

"So now you think she did it?" He says confused and I sigh heavily. "I'm not sure what to think about Lisa. That woman has told so many lies. I doubt she even knows the truth anymore"

"I still think it was Micheal. He hated the woman and he had a motive. He abused the girl he's dating. I think he flipped when Leanne sided with Mary and killed her"

"He has a motive to lie about being the father of her baby and to lie about seeing Mary alive when he went to the house, but he doesn't have a good enough motive to kill. Leanne on the other hand does. Look at this" I say showing him a file.

"What's this?" He frowns confused "Micheal did a little work for some other detectives and helped them on an undercover investigation. In exchange they gave him files to Leanne's parents and wouldn't be arrested for him sleeping with Leanne. Any charges he had in the past were dropped" I explain.
"But he said he didn't know how old she was at the time" he shrugs "which I believe, but look what else in the file about what happened to Leanne's parents" I say showing him the page.

"Are you serious!?" He widens his eyes and I nod. "Did they catch who it was?"

"Nope, but considering the day that happened. Mary took Leanne from school and started abusing and pimping her out in a brothel. It's pretty obvious now who it was. And it's a pretty good motive for Leanne to seek revenge on Mary. She had more motive to kill Mary than anybody. Now we just need to find the weapon to prove it"