Chapter One
As they reached M18, they could see that all traffic had been stopped and from far they could see thick black smoke pummeling in the early morning air. Something must have caught fire, but what? There was a tense silence in the car, as they reached nearer.
Brittany informed the officers who stopped their car from going forward that she received a call from Assistant Chief Constable Michael Clarke from the South Yorkshire Police Department. They called up Michael Clarke, after checking their identities. After about a few minutes, Michael Clarke arrived on his motorcycle.
They parked their car and climbed on to the bike with him as he took them to the accident site. The whole atmosphere was hot and choking, as smoke could be seen covering the area as the Yorkshire Fire brigade had already doused the flames by the time they arrived.
As they approached the area, Brittany gave a cry of horror and she fainted at the spot. She couldn't take in the sight of her father's blue Audi, in a charred heap in front of her. The lady police officers carried her to their van further down the road to revive her and call the paramedics.
The other officers had cordoned off the area, taking pictures and collecting evidence. The three bodies, charred beyond recognition, were being taken to the forensic laboratory for post mortem.
Brittany's grandpa, old Jon Summers couldn't take in the scene. In front his eyes lay the charred bodies of his eldest son, daughter-in-law and grandson. Haggard and feeling double his age he croaked in a hoarse voice, "How did it happen?"
The officer shrugged, "Two trucks hit the car badly. One from the front and the other from the back. The severe collision caused the engine as well as the gas tank to take the major hit and the car was up in flames. The trucks have managed to escape," he said as grandpa sat down on a makeshift chair that they arranged for him, considering his age.
"Was it an accident or murder, officer?" He asked quietly. A hit and run case didn't have two simultaneous collisions.
"It's difficult to say at this point. Let the forensic reports come in, investigation is on. We were informed by the traffic officers patrolling the area. They're checking out the CCTV footage, but the cameras in the vicinity are all sabotaged. So we're not ruling out murder as yet," he said as grandpa sat down deep in thought.
"Mr Summers, will you accompany your granddaughter to the trauma centre of the nearest hospital? We need to take her immediately," said the lady constable.
"Yes, I'm coming with you," he said with all the courage he could muster. He had to be strong for the girl. She had lost her entire family in one night.
On the way, he called his second son, Robert, and summoned him immediately to Boston. He couldn't deal with this alone, he knew it.
They took Brittany to Rotherham Hospital nearby, to the Urgent and Emergency Care Unit where the doctor checked her as her grandpa looked on helplessly. The doctor spoke to the lady constable as Jon Summers was not in a condition to provide much help. They admitted both Brittany and her grandpa under trauma care, for observation. Brittany was given a sedative when she gained consciousness and put to sleep to help her deal with her loss without suffering from a nervous breakdown.
Jon Summers knew that he couldn't do anything before the post mortem report was released, so he simply waited for his son Robert to arrive. He couldn't leave his granddaughter alone, so he too lay down, and waited for her to gain consciousness.
Brittany gained consciousness the next morning, while her grandpa was talking to the officer in charge about any progress on the case. The post mortem would require time as the bodies were charred beyond recognition. They wanted any dental record available of Brittany's dad, mom and Brian. It would help the DNA tests and identifications faster.
It took Brittany a few minutes to realise where she was, then she recalled seeing the charred remains of her father's Audi. It was then that her eyes fell upon her grandpa. "Grandpa," she croaked softly but her grandpa clearly heard her as he came and sat beside her, stroking her hair and giving her some water to drink.
"What happened grandpa?" She asked with terrorized eyes.
"Nothing sweetheart. We will go home now," said her grandpa.
"I remember grandpa. Please tell me," she begged.
"Your parents and brother met with an accident the night before last," he explained as Brittany widened her eyes, her face pale with horror.
"How bad was it? I know the car got burnt. Did they?" She choked unable to continue any further.
"They're no more. We're waiting for the post mortem report," he said as he hugged Brittany, trying to comfort her.
She took in the information, like a statue, without any emotion, too shocked to move. "How?" She asked when she finally recovered from the shock.
"A hit and run case maybe. The engine took the hit and blew up," he lied. He couldn't afford to terrorise her only granddaughter and lose her. He knew it was a cold-blooded murder.
"It's my fault. I shouldn't have let dad drive at night," she said to herself nodding her head in self mortification.
"No sweetie, it was destined to happen. It's no one's fault," he tried to comfort her.
"Let's go home grandpa. I'm fine," she said bravely getting up and standing. She had to cope up with her loss. She couldn't afford to sit and cry herself sick. It wouldn't bring her family back. She decided then and there that she would speak to the officer in charge personally and find out exactly what happened. She would then have an investigation done and punish the culprit for his rash driving which caused her to lose her family.
Her grandpa summoned a nurse to help him with the formalities. After the doctors certified that they were well enough to be released, they went home.
