Chapter 6

When Mr. Bruce pulled up in front of the house everything was quiet. That was not unusual at Gran’s. Often when Amaris came home Gran was out helping someone who was ill, or she would be out in the woods or on the mountainside picking herbs or digging roots for some of her medicines that she made. Even from the outside you could see the house was warm and happy, but not fancy, just comfortable and welcoming.

Amaris led Mr. Bruce into the house through the side door that leads into the kitchen. The house still smelled of Gran’s chocolate cake, which was still cooling on the center of the wooden kitchen table. However, once Amaris entered, she could see that the kitchen was a shambles. Every cabinet and drawer was open with their contents torn out. The pantry door was open wide and the contents of many of the jars that were stored in there, both food and medicine were smashed on the floor.

Amaris’ hands flew to her mouth as her eyes moved across the room. Mr. Bruce reached forward and pushed Amaris behind him as he saw the mess in front of her.

“Stay here while I check the rest of the house. Where is your grandmother?”

“I, I don’t know. She was supposed to be home when I got home from school today so that she and Grover and I could celebrate my birthday. However, she was gone when I got up. She had left me a note that she was called out to help someone, and that she would be home for dinner tonight.”

Mr. Bruce silently nodded and moved through the kitchen into the rest of the house. He was gone for some minutes while Amaris waited frozen in the kitchen.

When he finally came back he seemed shaken. “Amaris I need you to tell me where your Grandmother might be. She is not here. “. He said looking her in the face very seriously.

Amaris bowed her head in thought, shaking it back and forth. “ I don’t know. If she isn’t here she must be out helping someone who is ill.” Amaris started to move past Mr. Bruce. He reached his arm out in front of her and stopped her. “You do not need to see the rest of the house. It all looks like this. I have called the police and they are on their way. Best if you stay here.”

“But I need to get some clothes and wash up. It looks like you could use some bandaging as well. I know where Gran keeps the first aid items.” Amaris said as she tried to move past Mr. Bruce. His arm was back in front of her again. “You do not want to go in there Amaris. I did not want to tell you this but your grandmother’s friend Grover is dead. It looks like he surprised who ever did this and they hit him on the head. I’m sorry.”

Amaris just stopped pushing against his arm and stood there staring toward the doorway. NO NO NO!!! Not Grover!!! She thought. That was the final straw. Amaris crumpled to the floor in a ball and began to weep uncontrollably. She wrapped her arms around her legs and hugged them to her and rocked back and forth and she buried her face in her knees and cried. Why was this happening? What do these people want? What could she have that would be worth killing for? Had they killed Gran too? At that thought Amaris sobered.

She raised her head and stopped sobbing. Mr. Bruce, was now squatting down next to her and was rubbing her back.  Amaris looked at him and in her head she thought ‘Why can't he just tell me what is going on here!’.  So many people had been hurt and Grover was dead.  These people were clearly looking for her.  She needed to know why.  Sucking in a deep breath she looked him in the eye and said in a commanding voice, “I want answers and I want them now!”