Hadley Foxx
First my best friend, and now my parents? I couldn’t understand what I’d done to deserve such a great amount of loss and heartbreak. My life was such a mess right now that I didn’t even know if I could handle it or not. “I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, Miss Foxx.”
“Who are you anyway?” The venom in my tone was unneeded and unintended.
He was obviously caught of guard, but replied, “I’m Axel Wilder.”
“Why were you the one to tell me of my parents death and not Detective Andrew?”
“Because he’s in the hospital in critical condition.” His answer stuns me. Critical condition? What does that even mean? “He asked me to personally tell you. He also wanted me to keep a watchful eye one you, make sure the same people who took your parents don’t take you, too.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.” I spit. The anger stage. The school psychologist said that this was a stage of depression. It was a common thing, especially after losing someone important to you. Well, Dr. Barnes, I just lost three.
“Miss Foxx, I don’t doubt that for a second, but Detective Andrew is worried about you. He wants you to be my top priority, so now you are. I apologize for the inconvenience.”
“Apologize all you want, but it won’t change anything. You can’t bring my parents or Rinka back. You can’t make it better Axel Wilder.” I turn to go.
“I’ve already enrolled into your school. I’ve requested the same schedule as you, and I have just received a confirmation letter. I will be with you twenty-four seven. I have clearance with the high school, the local police and Detective Andrew to keep you with me at my apartment.” I stop, turn.
“I’m not staying with you. I’m staying at my own house where all of my things are, where my family is.”
“Miss Foxx, we’ve already had all of your things transported to the apartment complex we’ll be sharing. It’s already been decided.”
“Are you telling me that I can’t make decisions in my own life?” I look at him in disbelief. “You’re unbelievable.” I say incredulously, a breathy laugh escaping my trembling lips.
“I will be your escort until the police have found the people who killed your parents.” He continues, leading me into the backyard where everyone is seated and the minister is speaking. There are two empty spots; one in the very back, and one next to Don at the front. I walk to Don quietly, thankful that I don’t have to sit next to Axel. What kind of name is that anyway? I sit down, Don looks at me and smiles. He takes my hand in his, kisses my knuckles gently, then just sits and watches the minister speak all of his nonsense words.

I sat in my new room, in my new apartment, watching new people come to the door and give things to Axel. The apartment is only a five minute walk to my old home, so everyone already knows me. They’re sorry, sad, regretful. They knew Rinka, too. Everyone loved Rinka.
I loved Rinka. I loved her brown hair and hazel-green eyes and light skin. I loved her outgoing, funny, amazing personality. I loved everything about Rinka. If I weren’t straight, I’d have dated her. That’s how much I loved Rinka. We were like sisters – joined at the hip and shoulder. Where she went, I went, and vice-versa. We were never separated for long, and when we were, we were on the phone, talking and laughing and being us.
Nobody understood Rinka like I did, and nobody understood me like she did. Only Lyrica. We would have three-way conversations at one in the morning, and stay up until we had to get ready for school.
Lyrica had been my best friend since I moved here to Temecula. Then Rinka came, and it was immediate. The three of us were meant to be best friends from day one. We were the three musketeers, with Rinka as the leader. She was never conceited though. That’s another reason why I loved Rinka – she was the sweetest person on earth. Everyone liked her, and she adored everyone else. She wouldn’t have been able to look you in the eye and even think about lying.
That’s why it hurt so much to think that she could have told me or Lyrica what was wrong. She could have told anyone what she was feeling. But she didn’t. She didn’t even tell me. She hadn’t said anything to Don or her parents, and she was close with all of them.
She would never be able to tell us now. To fix our broken hearts. But she knew we’d be able to do it ourselves. She had rubbed off on all of us. That was Rinka for you.
I didn’t notice again when someone entered the room until I heard the bed creak. I turned my head to see Axel sitting on the edge of the bed, looking intently at me. “Can I help you?” I muttered, looking back at him into those incredibly blue eyes.
“Yes. You can help me unpack your things.” He stood and walked over to me, his eyes soft and sweet. It was too easy to fall into his eyes. “I want you to be comfortable, Miss Foxx.” Why did he keep calling me that? I wasn’t any older than he was.
“It’s just Hadley.” He nodded. “How old are you anyway?”
“Seventeen.” I blinked. He was only a year older than me. “Why do you ask?”
“I just think that it’s strange for someone so young to be working as a cop.”
“I’m an undercover agent with a group known as Bishop. We’re specially trained to deal with situations like yours.” I tilted my head.
“Like mine?”
"Yes. Exaactly like yours."

Axel Wilder
How could someone like her ever understand how much trouble I was going through just to make sure she was safe, let alone happy? That last part I didn’t care so much about; she was just another case. Another sad girl with a now sad life because her parents had made sad, hard choices growing up and made the wrong enemies. Dangerous enemies. But, that couldn’t be helped, but Hadley could be.
Her life could be turned around for the better after all the crap she’s been through; first her parents’ disappearances, then the death of her best friend, and finally, the cherry on the sundae, the finding of her parent’s dead bodies. What a rough life. Even worse than mine growing up, and I deserved all of that because I was a child who tormented his parents.
But Hadley Foxx certainly didn’t deserve it – a life so cruel, so punishing, should never belong to a girl like Hadley.
But, hey, who am I to judge?

“I’m not leaving.” Hadley said, pushing the cereal around in her bowl. It was probably soggy now, though it didn’t look like she cared much.
“Hadley, I can’t home-school you. It isn’t my place.”
She busts up laughing. “Your place?! It wasn’t your place to take me from my home, it wasn’t your place to tell me about my parents, and it sure as freaking hell isn’t your place to tell me to go to school or not.” She’s still chuckling when the doorbell rings. I sigh. It’s been a long week with her; she’s done nothing but hide in her room and listen to her iPod. Or argue till the break of dawn with me.
When I answer the door, it’s Detective Andrew standing there. “Andrew! Aren’t you supposed to be – ”
“In the hospital, yes. But I had to come and see Hadley. She’s had a tough six months, what with the disappearance and recent death of her parents along with her best friend, I think the girl needs someone she trusts.” He eyes me. “And from what I’ve heard, you’re not doing a very good job. I put you on this case because you’re her age and you can relate, Axel.” He pauses, then straightens and narrows his eyes at me. “She’s not just another one of your cases.”
I moan. “Andrew, she’s just so difficult. How am I supposed – ”
“Aw, that hurt my feelings Axey-waxy!” Hadley’s voice is cold and her words sting for whatever reason. I’d have time to look into that later. As of now, I had to get her to school and home again safely.
I turn on my heel to face Hadley to see that she’s standing literally inches from me. “It’s true; you’re stubborn, thick-headed, and you irritate the living daylights out of me,” she raises her eyebrows and goes to say something before I continue, “But, you’re my responsibility, so, while you’re staying with me, I expect the utmost respect and courtesy from you.” She snorts and shakes her head.
“You really do think that highly of yourself. Why, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were some snotty rich kid with a trust fund and enough money to feed the entire freaking population! Do you know how many people need more help than I do? Almost half of the human population! So, next time you try and spout your shit about protection to me, try thinking of something other than saving your own ass!” She grabs her bag and stomps out the front door.
“Did that really just…” I trail off, looking after her.
“Yes, it did.” Andrew replies, clapping me on my shoulder. “Good luck reigning her in.”

Why did she have to be so difficult? My other cases – She’s not just another case… That’s what Andrew had said. What the hell could he possibly mean by that? Of course she wasn’t like the other cases; none of them were ever exactly the same, but everything about hers – from the evidence supporting the idea of some sort of gang violence to the possibility that her parents weren’t as innocent as they seemed – was different. In every single little way.
And she was different, too. A lot less willing to comply than the other kids I’d helped out. She was so much more stubborn and bullheaded than the others. I liked that; it meant that if she ever got kidnapped, they’d bring her back immediately.
I’d bring her back, too. Wouldn't I…?