Lakewood✔️

They say with small townspeople are close-knit. They know everything about you, including your deepest, darkest secrets. For people that grew up in these small towns, it's normal. For the ones that are outsiders, it's different.

You are an outsider. The people make you feel like you're an outsider. You're not one of them, and you both know it. They also know you can expose their secrets, and that's what scares them. The problem with small towns is the secrets don't stay secret with an outsider invades their quiet existence and exposes them.

******
"Evening Sheriff."

"Evening Detective."

"We'll take it from here."

"Very well," the sheriff walked away and talked to his deputy while the detective examined the crime scene.

"Hey Joe," another man said, walking up.

"Hey, Charlie."

"What do we have here?" Charlie crouched down and picked up the sheet.

"Teen girl, about seventeen, brutality stabbed," he said, looking at his notes. Charlie looked around at everyone then replaced the sheet over the body.

He stood up and looked at Joe, "what's their deal?"

"Small town. Nothing ever happens here. You know, typical bullshit," Joe said.

"Nothing, huh? Then why is this the third murder in the past month?"

"It seems Lakewood carries a lot of secrets."

"Yeah, too many if you ask me. Something is fishy here, and I don't mean with the lakes," Charlie said.

"Yeah, my thoughts exactly."

"Good thing, Gabe is transferring here," Charlie said.

"When's he suppose to arrive?"

"Next week sometime."

"I can't believe he wants to leave Detroit to come to a hole in the walled town like this," Joe said.

"I guess he was tired of all the homicides Detroit had to offer and wanted something a bit quieter," Charlie responded.

"Too bad those homicides have decided to follow him, especially having a teen daughter of his own," Joe said.

"Yeah, well, let's keep this under wraps until he arrives. As of right now, everyone is a suspect in this town," Charlie said with a low voice.

"Even the local sheriff ?"

"Even the local sheriff."

******
"For he's a jolly good fella, for he's jolly good fella, for he's a jolly good fella, no one can denyyyyy," everyone sang.

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Now I guess I have to make a speech," Dad said.

"Nah, I think we heard all your speeches, Lieutenant," a guy yelled.

"Just for that, Roscoe, I'm putting you on bathroom duty," Dad said, causing everyone to laugh. "But seriously, thanks for everything. You guys and gals are the best officers I ever had the pleasure of working with over the years. I will miss your ugly mugs."

"Not as much as we won't miss yours," Roscoe yelled.

"And make that second-floor bathroom, too," Dad said, pointing to Roscoe.

Roscoe waved Dad off.

"Now, who wants cake?"

*******
"Baby, I'm home," Dad yelled, opening the door carrying a storage box of items.

I walked into the kitchen, and Dad set the box down, "Mal, where's your mom?"

"Upstairs," I said, getting a cup down. Dad kissed me and went upstairs. He walked in to find mom packing boxes. "Hey, babe."

"Hey, honey."

"How's the packing going?"

"It's good except," Mom said, stopping.

"Except what?"

"You need to speak to Malia. She's not too happy about this," Mom said, giving Dad a look.

Dad sighed, rubbing his head, "Okay." Mom gave Dad a look, "Okay, I'm going." He walked down the stairs and back into the kitchen.

"Mal?"

"Yeah, Dad?"

"You're mother says you're giving her a hard time about the move?"

I gave Dad a look, sighing.  "Dad, we're moving from a big city to a small town. It's a known fact no one likes people that aren't from the same town."

"Mal, it'll be fine. Plus, it will be nice to be in an area where we don't need bars on our windows, and I don't have to worry constantly about you and your mother when I get a late call," Dad said, trying to reassure me.

I nodded as Dad pulled me into a hug. I know Dad just wanted to do what was right with us, but I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread with this move.  Honestly, why did we have to move way up north?  But I get it.

"Now go up and pack. The movers will be here in two days, and we take a few bags in our cars," Dad said. I just nodded and went up to my room. I walked in, and I packed most of the place already. I just had to finish up a few things.

I looked around and saw the bars on my windows. I guess it would be careful not to see those.  Our house was older than most, and something was always breaking. According to my parents, they found a more newly constructed home near the lake.  The previous owners decided to sell to move to Florida.  The timing couldn't have been more perfect.

As I finished packing, I couldn't help but think how different my life was going to change, and I had a feeling it was about change even more.