Jack & Clara

Strangers

At night, Jack and Clara with his grandpa were having their dinner when they heard the doorbell “Ding dong!” “Go check who is at the door son,” Jack’s grandpa said to Jack. As Jack was walking to the door, his grandpa changed the TV station to watch the news.

“Who is there?” Jack asked as he stood close to the door. “Is the sheriff, open up!” the sheriff said from the outside. Jacks quickly opened the door and let the sheriff in. “Hello Jack,” the sheriff greeted Jack. “Evening Sheriff,” Jack returns the sheriff’s greetings. “I would like to have a word with you,” the sheriff said to Jack.

Jack’s grandpa on hearing this turned and asked, “What have my grandson done?” “Is he under arrest?”Jack’s grandpa asked the sheriff from his couch. “I don’t mean to bother your rest tonight,” the sheriff said to Jack’s grandpa in a respectful manner. “I just want to question your grandson, Jack,” the sheriff added.

Jack's grandpa, immediately stood up from the couch and started walking towards the door where the sheriff was standing with Jack. “What is this all about?” Jack’s grandpa asked the sheriff. “An emergency call was placed to my department,” the sheriff said. “Emergency call about?” Jack asked with curiosity. “Mr. Philip was found dead in his workshop,” the sheriff replied. “He was skinned,” the sheriff added.

“Oh my gosh!” Jack exclaimed. “And you think my grandson did that?” Jack’s grandpa asked the sheriff without relenting. “That is not my point sir,” the sheriff replied. “He visited Mr. Philip’s workshop and I was wondering if he did see anything or heard anything that could help my investigation,” the sheriff added. “I am sorry sheriff, but we left immediately after my grandpa’s car was fixed,” Jack replied. “I wish I could be of any help. Mr. Philip is like a family,” Jack added.

“Is alright,” said the sheriff as he turned to leave. “Make sure you find whoever that did this,” Jack’s grandpa said to the sheriff. “I will do my best,” the sheriff said as he wears his cowboy hat.

Jack closes the door and asked, “Who could have done this?” “Mr. Philip is a quiet man and mostly makes friends rather than enemies,” Jack added. Clara walks up to Jack, holding his shoulder she said, “I am sorry you lost your friend.” “Let’s finish up before the food gets cold,” Jack said to Clara as he walks to the dining table.

Early in the morning, Jack was up with his chores as usual, Clara offered to help him with the horses. “Make sure you guys don’t ride far?” Jack’s grandpa echoed from his window as he saw Jack and Clara mounting on one of the horses.

They rode near the mountains and stopped to relax close to a waterfall; Jack offered Clara a rock to sit on while he sat on the ground facing Clara. “I really need to know about you,” Jack said to Clara. “Is there nothing you can remember about you?” Jack asked Clara. “I am sorry dear, my memory is blank,” Clara replied with a sad look on her face. “Maybe we should run a brain taste on you,” Jack suggested politely. “This will help know where you are from or where your families are,” Jack added. “That sounds good,” Clara replied as she smiles. “I think we should head back now before grandpa get’s worried,” Jack said to Clara as he offered Clara his hand to help her up.

Jack and Clara were getting close to the farmhouse when they saw the sheriff's department at the front of the farmhouse using the police tape to circle the main house. Jack quickly charged with the horse and as Clara was about fallen off from the horse, Jack used his left hand and held unto her and positioning her in the horse.

Reaching the police line, the sheriff's department resisted Jack from crossing the police line, “This is a crime scene,” one of the deputies to the sheriff said. “This is my house and I have the right to get in there,” Jack replied. “Not anymore: at least for now,” the deputy replied. Not quite long, two Para-medic was seen coming out from the house carrying a stretcher. “What the hell happened here?” Jack asked as he struggles to cross the police line but was been restricted by the sheriff’s deputies.

The sheriff walked out from the house, seeing Jack struggling with his deputies called out and ordered his deputy to let him through. “Where is my grandpa?” Jack asked the sheriff. “I am sorry, your grandpa is dead,” the sheriff said to Jack as he points his attention to the stretcher.

“No! No!” Jack said as he stepped backward. “He is the only one I have. He can’t leave me,” Jack kept saying. Clara tried consoling him but Jack started sobbing and goes down on his knees. The sheriff walked up to Jack and said to him in a low tone, “He was skinned just like Mr. Philip.”  Jack lifted his head up and said to the sheriff, “Can I see him?” “Sure you can,” the sheriff replied as he ordered the Para-medic to let Jack through.

“I am sorry grandpa,” Jack said as he continues sobbing. “I wish I would have never gone far,” Jack added. “It’s not your fault,” Clara said as she walks up to Jack. “I have not seen you around here,” the sheriff said as he stared at Clara sternly. “Let her be,” Jack angrily said to the sheriff. “Do your job and find my grandpa’s killer,” Jack added. “Very well then,” the sheriff replied. “I will need you to follow me to the station to sign some papers,” the sheriff added.

“Wrap it up boys,” the sheriff echoed as he turns to Jack and Clara, “You two ride with me,” the sheriff said. A few minutes away from the farmhouse, the sheriff broke the silence saying, “Is there anything you are not telling me, Jack?” The sheriff asked. “If there is anything you wish to know just ask, sheriff,” Jack replied. “Maybe you should start by telling me who your girlfriend is,” the sheriff said as he looks through the rear mirror to see the reactions of Jack.

Jack looked at the rear mirror, seeing the sheriff observing him, Jack said: “You should watch where you are going, sheriff.” “I don’t think I will do more if you don’t let me in,” the sheriff replied as he was still looking through the rear mirror.

Suddenly Jack saw a man and a woman standing in the middle of the road and he yelled for the attention of the sheriff, “Look out!” The sheriff was about hitting the man and woman standing in the middle of the road when he quickly swerve the steering to the left. The sheriff’s patrol car headed towards the woods and the sheriff at this time has lost control of his patrol car. Jack and Clara screamed for their life while the sheriff was trying his best to control his patrol car but unfortunately, he totally lost control and hit a tree.