Matthew Casey

A/N – I hope you like the start this new story; it's a pre series piece that starts in October 1997 and will finish in 2012. It's probably quite ambitious of me but I hope it'll be enjoyable to read, as it has been thinking about it, and I hope it is as accurate and realistic as possible!

Mom Killed Dad

Matt groaned when his alarm clock chimed, he battered the offending object blindly hoping to end the ceaseless racket and it fell to the floor. Despite his efforts the alarm continued to blare. His feet hit the cold floor when he swung his legs out of bed. The heating wasn't on; his mum usually switched it on when she woke. He dragged himself from the bed, bent down and switched off the alarm and he changed without bothering to look in his mirror, after his sixteen years he'd given up trying to make his blond hair sit flat. He chucked his homework in his bag before going downstairs for breakfast. The kitchen was empty, his mom must still be asleep, perhaps she wasn't at work today. He grabbed a box of cereal but just left it on the side deciding that he better make sure his mom wasn't supposed to getting ready for work, they couldn't afford for her to oversleep.

"Mom?" he questioned softly outside her closed bedroom door but he heard nothing, "Mom?" he called louder and knocked.

After a few moments she responded, "I'll be down soon Matthew, make sure you have breakfast," he held back a retort, he was old enough to get himself ready for school.

He turned the radio on when he re-entered the kitchen and poured some cereal and milk into a bowl.

"… Can you believe it's October the 22nd? Where has the year gone Ken?" the DJ spoke jovially.

At that point Matt knew nothing about how significant the date was going to become in the future. He sat, still not fully awake, swirling his cereal around with the spoon.

Before he finished his cereal there was a knock on the door. They never had many visitors and it was even more unusual as the clock on the wall said it wasn't even 8am, who would be knocking so early? He dropped his spoon with a clang when he realised his mum had still not left her room and was not going to be in a fit state to answer the heavy knocking at the door.

Two uniformed police officers were stood in front of him when he opened the door, a bewildered expression lay across his face, "We're looking for a Nancy Casey? Is she your mother?" the large balding officer asked.

Frowning he replied, "Yes... why?"

"We just to need speak to her," the officer explained, "Can we come in?"

"I guess…" he stepped back and allowed them inside; he didn't really have another option.

"Go and sit down hun," the female officer indicated to the kitchen table.

Matt didn't move, "Why? What's happened?" he demanded.

His questions went unanswered as the officers, now joined with two others that had entered through the backdoor, went upstairs. He slumped down onto a chair a the kitchen table, he looked disdainfully at his now soggy cereal, he wondered if the police were going to be here long, he needed to get going soon or he'd be late for school but only a second after that thought he heard movement on the stairs.

He stood up immediately. "Mom?" he questioned as he watched her being escorted by two of the police officers, "Mom!?" What the hell was happening?

"It's all right Mathew, everything's all right now," his mum spoke to him calmly as she was led away, a small smile was spread across her lips. She looked odd, she looked tired, exhausted even, she had no make-up on and her hair was a mess, she always kept up appearances even after late nights out.

"Mom?!" he yelled, unable to do nothing as she was escorted out of the front door to one of the awaiting police cars. He watched as she was put inside, it was only then he noticed the handcuffs.

The two other police officers were now stood by him. "They're taking to her down to the police station, you're Matthew right?" he nodded as he watched the police car drive off with his mother inside, "We're going to follow her down there, do you have a bag you can bring a comic in, your homework or something? You might be waiting for a while."

"I have school," he stated dumbly. He didn't even like school but he wasn't sure what was worse following his handcuffed mum to the police station or spending a long day at school being called names and getting shoved into walls. Following his mom to the station was definitely the better option.

"Not today, we need to speak to you and your mom," the officer replied.

Without a word he went back to his room, slipped a hoodie and some shoes on. All his thoughts were rushing around his head, he had a thousand questions. He grabbed his backpack before heading back downstairs where the two officers were waiting. He went to lock the backdoor but his keys weren't where he'd left them, instead he took his moms set from the hook by the front door.

The officers followed him to the police car, was he supposed to sit in the back like his mom? He wasn't being arrested, was he? Why had they handcuffed his mom? What had she done? He wanted to ask all these questions but he didn't, he just stood in silence.

"I'll sit in the back with you," one of the officers stated as he opened the car door.

The journey to the police station was spent in silence except for the spatter of radio noise that the officers ignored. Once at the station the car door was opened for him and he was led inside. They took him upstairs and left him in a large room, full of desks, the atmosphere was chaotic. Matt sat on one of the many seats around the edge of the room, his bag on the floor tucked between his legs, he looked around anxiously at his surroundings, the area was incredibly busy, people were coming and going, some in handcuffs, escorted by officers and plain clothes police.

As soon as he saw the officer who had driven him over to the precinct walk by he stood up and walked over to the desk he had just sat behind, "Excuse me," he began quietly, "Do you know when mom's coming back? Or can I leave?"

The man looked up, "We just need to ask you some questions…"

"About what?" he questioned, "Can I see my mom?"

"We're still waiting for a representative from child services, we can't ask you any questions without an adult present…" the officer began but Matt, who still had no idea why he was here and why his mom was being questioned, was fed up now, he didn't want explanations with no real answer.

"Can't you just call my dad?" he asked, "I can give you his number."

"No-one's spoken to you yet?" the officer questioned with concern.

"I've been sat here waiting since I was told to sit there and wait," he said sternly, his mom would have told him off, told him to stop his backchat.

The officer was still looking up at the kid, at his young face, bright blue eyes and bright blond hair, another innocent kid. He hated this part of his job even more than he hated the seemingly endless amount of paperwork. He sighed heavily and stood up, he felt like he towered over the boy even though he was only a few inches taller, "Come with me," he took Matt to the break room, the interrogation rooms were unwelcoming, cold and dark and all in use, "Sit down kid."

"I'm not a kid," Matt scowled as he sat down on the worn sofa.

"Sorry," the officer stated as he perched on the coffee table so that he was at eye level, "Do you prefer Matthew or…"

"Matt," he replied quickly, "What's happened? Can't you just call my dad?…"

"Matt…" the officer began softly, he was about to change the boy's life forever, "Your dad died early this morning."

It took a few moments to comprehend what he had just been told. "What?" his voice cracked, "No… I was with him yesterday... he was fine… he's not dead…"

"I'm so sorry Matt," the officer said sincerely.

"You're sorry? You don't know him. You don't know me… Where's my mom?" he was standing up now, his voice raised.

"Matt sit down, yelling in a police station is going to do you any good, sit down and I'll explain what's happened, why you and your mom are here," the officer said to calm him.

Slowly Matt sat back down, "My dad's dead?"

"I'm sorry," he nodded.

"My mom was arrested, she was in handcuffs when she was led out the house," Matt stated putting the information together.

He nodded again, "She's being questioned about your father's death," he didn't tell him she was accused of murdering him; he didn't want to tell him that he had lost both his parents today.

"Ok..." Matt breathed, trying to take it all in but the only thought running around his head was the concept that he'd never see his dad again, he wasn't a perfect man but no-one was and he was his dad.

"Ok," he replied quietly, "I'll wait with you in here whist we wait for DCFS," he said kindly because if this was his kid he wouldn't want him waiting in the middle of precinct, "I'll just go and get some of my work, do you want a drink or anything?"

Matt shook his head and questioned, "DCFS?"

"Like I said you need an adult representative when we take your statement about last night," he replied.

"Ok..." Matt replied simply.

It felt as though he were no longer in the room, he was no longer anywhere, he felt incredibly light yet heavy at the same time, he could hear the inexplicable sound of his own heartbeat pounding in his chest and suddenly he wished he'd left for school early that morning, he could have lived without the knowledge of his father's death and his mother's arrest for a little longer. Had his mom killed his dad?

When the officer returned Matt asked, "Does my sister know? Has someone told her?"

"We've left a message at her college, it's not the sort of thing we want to tell her over the phone," the officer replied.

"It'll take her hours to get here, can I tell her?" he thought aloud.

"That's up to you," the officer said.

It was hours before a social worker arrived, the officer sat with him had offered him lunch but he'd declined it. It felt like he was living in some sort of surreal universe, he wasn't hungry. He didn't think he'd ever be hungry again. He had managed to choke down a few sips of juice when the officer insisted that he at least had a little something to drink.

"Hi Matthew, my name's Helen Somerfield, I'm with child services, I've been told what's happened to your parents, I'm sorry for your loss," she said as she entered the room. her empathy was rehearsed and he wondered how many times she'd done this. Matt didn't say anything so she took a seat next to him, "I'm sorry you've been waiting around most of the day. I'm going to sit with you now whilst we wait until the police are free to take your statement. Do you have any questions? I'm here to help you and make sure you understand what the police tell you."

"He simply shook his head.

It only took another half hour before Matt was sat in one of the interrogations rooms with the lady from DCSF who had informed him that this wasn't an interrogation, and that he didn't need to worry, this was just a private room.

Matt was glad it was the same officer who had sat with him in the break that entered the room. The man placed a dictatorphone on the steal table, "This is Officer Jenkins, it's the 22nd of October 1997, 2:44pm. I'm interviewing Matthew Casey. Helen Somerfield from DCSF is also present. Can you talk me through your night Matt?"

He glanced at Helen who told him, "You're not being accused of anything."

"Erm…" he began to recall last night, "I went to my dad's house after school, I don't do anything after school on a Wednesday so it's one of the only nights I go there, my mom likes me be on top of my homework but I don't have to do it when I go to his, I watched TV, he got home from work and…" he trailed off and let his eyes drop down away from the officer.

"And?" the officer questioned when Matt didn't continue.

Matt looked up from the table, "And he drove me home later that night, it was dark and it's not a great neighbourhood."

"Did your dad just drop you off outside?" the officer probed.

"No," Matt replied, "He took me to the door."

"Did he go inside with you?" he asked.

"I went straight upstairs," Matt responded.

"Your mom was home?" he questioned.

"Yeah…"

The officer then asked, "Did your parents argue?"

He nodded, "They always argue…" then he added quietly, "Argued…"

"You knew they'd argue so you went upstairs?" the officer assumed.

"Yeah," Matt replied.

"Do you know what they were arguing about?" he pressed.

Their argument had been one of their usual's, it had been about him, "No. Couldn't really hear them."

"Ok. One last question. Does your mom have a key for dads place?"

The realisation hit him. He hadn't misplaced his keys. He'd left them on the side when he got home and his mum must have used them, "Oh God…"

"Matthew?" Helen questioned.

"I… mom must have used my keys, she doesn't have a set… You think she killed him... did she…" he trailed off.

"Thanks Matt, that convenes the interview at 3:03pm," the officer switched off the dictator phone.

"What happens now?" Matt asked, "Can I see my mom?" he wasn't sure he wanted to see her, had she really killed his dad?

He was sat across from his mom, an identical steel table to the one he'd been sat by when he was questioned separated them, her handcuffs had been removed, they'd been sat in silence for at least five minutes before his mum asked, "Does your sister know what's happened?

He ignored her, "Did you kill dad?"

"He was hurting all of us Matthew," she replied almost serenely, "Tell your sister what has happened."

"Me?" he questioned.

"Please do it for me Matthew, better her hear it from family than a stranger…"

Matt frowned, "What? Like I did?"

"Oh Matthew I would have told you if I could. I'm so proud of you for being so brave through all of this…" she began.

"You killed him," his voice cracked, "You're a…"

"I've saved us," she said firmly.

The lady from DCSF took him to an emergency shelter since they knew of no immediate family. They had called by his house to get a few more clothes and belongings and it was getting late by the time Matt arrived. Helen left him with another lady who showed him to a shared room, "This is where you'll sleep tonight," she explained.

"How long will I be here?" he questioned as he looked at the dull room, there were bars on the windows, paint was chipping off the metal bed frame and the blanket that lay on top of the white covers looked incredibly itchy.

"I can't say at this stage," she replied frankly, "This isn't a prison; you'll continue to go to school and live your life. This is temporary until we found you something more permanent."

"My mom's pleading guilty..." he muttered, "I'll never go home again… Can I use the phone?" he asked.

She nodded, "Of course, it's in the office, you just to ask to use it in the future."

As he followed her back to the office she explained a few rules about the home and then gave him some privacy to call his sisters dorm room, he anxiously waited for her to pick up the phone, "Hello?" Christie's cheerful voice answered after six agonising rings.

"Hey... It's Matt…" he began unsure of himself, wishing he had written something down, something to tell him what to say, a script so he wouldn't lose the composure he'd kept all day.

"Why are you calling me? I don't have a lot of time, I've just rushed in and I need to go back out to meet…" she said quite breathlessly.

He stopped her from continuing, "Christie…"

"What's wrong Matt?" she asked lightly when she sensed his trepidation.

"It's dad…" he started quietly.

"Matt?" she urged when there was only silence through the line.

"He's… he's died…" he stated, "… He's dead…"

"What? You can't joke about something like that…" she began disdainfully.

"Christie…"

She gasped, "Oh God…"

"You need to come home… and you need to get me..." he bit his lip, "They've put me…"

"Get you? Why aren't you with mom?" she questioned, he could tell she was crying by the way her voice had become strained.

"She…" he didn't want to say it; he didn't want to tell her.

"Matt?" she questioned.

"She killed him," he stated, "Mom killed dad."

TBC