Free Still by Angela Ford Page B

dark and late. Do you remember what
happened to your sister? I know you’re a police officer and carry a
weapon, but what the heck were you thinking? I’ve already lost one
daughter.” Audrey furiously rambled on as Brianna entered the house
and closed the door.
    “Mom, I’m okay,
and yes I carry a weapon. I found him. Well, at least I found him
but he ran away. But the creepiest part is that he knew me. He
called me by name.”
    Brianna kept
walking toward the kitchen as she explained what happened. She
headed straight for the coffee pot. She knew her workaholic mother
always had a pot of coffee on in her house.
    “You’re not
making sense, Bri. Who are you talking about?” Audrey stood in the
kitchen in confusion.
    “Lisa’s killer,
I lured him myself.” Brianna turned to her mother and took a sip of
her coffee.
    Audrey plumped
herself down in the chair at the kitchen table. “Are you sure? How
did you find him? And how does he know you? Who is he?” One
question came after another. She didn’t give her daughter time to
answer in between. Brianna joined her mom at the kitchen table and
set her cup down. She reached over and placed her hand on top of
her mom’s.
    “I’ve no idea
who he is. It was dark. I only saw a shadowed figure for a few
minutes before he ran. He came up behind me and I felt a sharp
point in my back. I smelled whiskey on his breath when he whispered
in my ear, ‘It’s your turn.’ But I startled him with an elbow hit
to the ribs. When I turned, he said my name. Then he ran off like a
coward.”
    Audrey gasped
and raised her hand to her mouth. The fear in her eyes scared
Brianna. “Are you okay, Mom?” Audrey shook her head no and tears
filled her eyes. Her hands were shaky and Brianna tried to comfort
her. “Mom, talk to me.”
    Audrey inhaled
quickly and wiped the tears from her eyes, “I’m just worried you’re
in danger. We’ve just lost your sister. I don’t want to lose you,
too. Promise me you won’t go out on your own again. Promise me.”
Audrey pleaded with her daughter. Brianna nodded in agreement to
reassure her mother. Something didn’t sit well with her. She knew
there was something her mother wasn’t telling her.
    Brianna’s phone
rang.
    “Who would be
calling you at this hour?” Audrey questioned her daughter.
    Brianna looked
at her phone and then at her mother. “It’s Peter Collins. I
messaged him on my way here. I need his help.” She answered by the
third ring, “Hi, Pete. Sorry to bother you at this hour but I need
your help.” Brianna excused herself and walked toward the family
room to finish the call in private. She didn’t want her mother to
hear the happenings of her night all over again. It appeared to
have shaken her up a bit. Brianna told Pete what had happened in
the park because of the information she’d found on Lisa’s
tablet.
    “What the hell
were you thinking, Bri? You know better than to go in without
backup.” His tone struck her as more worried than upset. For a
moment she wondered if he really cared about her. It had been five
years and she’d only met up with him again the night Lisa was
murdered. She confided she’d been put on a leave from work. “My
inspector thinks I’ve let my sister’s murder get personal,” Brianna
laughed.
    “This isn’t
funny, Bri. I think he’s right. Maybe some grieving time is what
you need. Let the police deal with the murder.” Peter’s tone was
authoritative yet caring.
    “I am a cop. I
need to find my sister’s killer. I tracked the murderer down. Then
I lost him. I need your help in tracking him again.” Brianna’s
voice was dead serious.
    “What can I do
to help?”
    “Your
expertise, you’re the computer genius. Help me track this hidden IP
address, because I know for sure he won’t answer on the chat group
again.” Brianna pleaded for his help. There was only one thing on
her mind and that was to find her sister’s killer.
     
    “Thanks for the
coffee, Mom. And the