Free Rebel Princess - Book 2 (The Hope Saga) by Chrissy Peebles Page B

pages, I could openly vent about how trapped and isolated I felt, as a result of our controlling government. I could say all the things it wasn’t safe to talk about. My feelings and all my pain were only between me, my pen, and my paper, and that brought me clarity, helped me to focus. The journal was truly a window to my soul, a safe place for my innermost desires. I wanted to feel that my life mattered, that I could truly make a difference in our new world, and writing it all down in my journal helped me organize my messy thoughts. I enjoyed those moments when I could be alone with my thoughts, but I would die if anyone ever found that book and read it. 
    Rachel tapped on my door. “You ready?” she asked.
    I quickly shoved my journal into my bottom drawer and locked it. “Yep.”
    After we left my place, we delivered a few supplies to Annie’s mom. I wasn’t sure how else to show my support to a woman who’d just lost her daughter to the cruel hands of the Asha strangler, suppose I figured it was the least we could do. The poor, grieving lady’s hair was disheveled, and I couldn’t help but notice the black circles under her eyes. My heart went out to her. No one should have to outlive their child, I thought. She didn’t say much while we were there, and I completely understood.
    ”Girls…” she finally called out, just as we were making our way out the door.
    “Yes?” I said. “Is there something else we can do for you?”
    “I heard that you and Rachel are trying to find the murderer, that monster who killed my baby.”
    “Yes. I didn’t mean to stir up anything. It’s just that—”
    “I just wanted to thank you,” she said. “Mr. Tams is useless, and the authorities aren’t doing much. My poor Annie was strangled, murdered, and none of the adults around here are doing anything about it. It means the world to me that you want to help, but I don’t want you to make targets of yourselves in the process. If that killer harms either of you or anyone else…” she said, trailing off and shaking her head as a tear formed in her eye.
    “You want us to stop?”
    “Well, someone has to figure this all out, but I’m afraid you’re putting bulls’-eyes on your backs.” She pointed down to a pile of papers haphazardly strewn about the kitchen table, then to several notes scattered all over the coffee table. “As you can see, I’ve been doing a little investigating of my own.”
    “We haven’t found any solid leads,” I replied, “but we’ve been talking to everyone.”
    “That’s not a good idea, Sky.”
    We talked for a few more minutes, then left. I understood why she was frightened about our involvement, but I didn’t want to stop our investigation. As Rachel had asked her questions, I’d sneaked a few peeks at her notes, and what I’d read had floored me. When we were a good ways down the corridor, I stopped and said, “She had some interesting ideas scribbled down back there.”
    “Like what?”
    “Well, for starters, the killer apparently took a swatch of Annie’s hair. Also, her turquoise ring is missing, a ring she wore every day. If we can find who has that ring or her hair, we’ll find our killer.”
    “Ew! Her hair? That’s pretty disturbing,” Rachel said. “I didn’t even see you reading those notes back there.”
    “Yeah, well, just call me Little Miss Inconspicuous. It helps when I’m there with you blabbing away,” I said with a wink.
    “Very funny,” she said with a smirk. “But the killer’s taking trophies from his victims, huh?” she said, wrinkling up her forehead as if she was struggling to make sense of it.
    “Yeah. He’s obviously a sicko,” I answered. “When killers keep mementos like that, it’s usually so they can fantasize about the crime.”
    “Ew!”
    “I know. We’ve got a maniac on the loose, that’s for sure.”
    Her eyes widened in horror. “That’s so gross. Who could keep souvenirs of something like that? Who could enjoy