Sleepwalker [Thomas, Everyone]

"I'll talk to Anna when we're up... I think she was trying to get her mother to talk to us." I said quietly as Anna and her mom got into the elevator and we followed.

Thomas nodded in reply

Once up at the lab I didn't even have to turn to Anna, she came forward herself.
"Can I talk to you, Det. Armstrong?" she asked me, much to the dismay of her mother.
"Anna..." she said.
Anna turned and stared at her mother. "One's gotta do it, mom! I'm tired of being afraid all the time!"

"Don't talk tome like that Anna" her mom replied

Anna didn't say anything, but I could see she was mad at her mother.

Anna's mother sighed, then sat down

I glanced at Thomas and then took Anna to my office.

Thomas staid with Anna's mother

"I know mom's gonna be mad at me for talking to you, but... I just can't stand it anymore." Anna said when we got into my office. I listened to her as she told me about her abusive father.

Meanwhile Mrs. Michaels looked at Thomas.

"What else do you know about Pauley Walters?" Thomas asked her

Mrs. Michaels sighed. "She was treated, because she was sleepwalking and... well... until a year ago, she had the same fate as Anna and I." she said, looking at Thomas, not sure she could trust him with this.

meanwhile Anna told me what was going on at her home and then about Pauley, she was trying hard not to cry when I had to tell her that her best friend was gone.

Thomas nodded, "Did Anna and Pauley meet in school or while being treated?" he asked


at the same time, Anna lost in and collapsed into Haylen's arms

"Anna wasn't treated, because we didn't know she was sleepwalking, detective. They met at school." Mrs. Michaels said.

Meanwhile I held Anna close. She reminded me a lot of Lilyana.

Thomas nodded in reply, "Did you know that Pauley was being hurt?" he asked


Anna cried hard in Haylen's arms

"Well, Pauley never told me, nor did Anna, till a few months ago. But Pauley would miss school a few times, or have bruises... or other things... It's been pretty clear to me." Mrs. Michaels replied.


I did my best to comfort Anna.

Thomas nodded as Mrs. Michaels spoke to him

Anna soon composed herself

"What happens now?" Mrs. Michaels asked Thomas, while I came back into the room, letting Anna stay in my office, till she felt like facing the world again.

"We are going to look into what happened with Anna and Pauley and hopefully be able to arrest those responsible." Thomas said to her, he didn't tell her that he and Haylen were suspecting her husband

I looked at Thomas when he said that, nodding in agreement.

Anna's mom nodded, then walked over to a bench and sat down

I looked at Thomas with a small frown.

Thomas looked at her, "What is it?" he asked

"I'd liked it better if Anna's mother would talk to us as well." I said quietly.

"Aye" Thomas replied softly

I looked over at Mrs. Michaels and then to the floor. I couldn't understand why both didn't leave .