Page 14 of Once a Hero

“I’m sorry?”

“I’m not sorry to see you again. In fact, I want to find you if you’re looking for this?” Jake showed her a photo on his phone.

Beatrice tried not to react when she saw the one-amber brooch.

The amber was huge. It was set in…silver?

The resolution on the phone was so-so, but the rest of the brooch wasn’t gold. What happened to the gold? Had anyone tampered with it?

“You do recognize this,” Jake said. “Let’s talk.”

“I was just thinking it looks pretty and old. Why are you showing me a photo? Are you trying to sell?”

“Not at all.” Jake put the phone back into his pocket. “In fact, I think it will lead me to Molyneux. What do you think?”

“Who?” Beatrice felt helpless. She wasn’t sure she could play this game for much longer.

Anytime someone mentioned Molyneux, it was triggering.

She killed Dad.

And maybe even Mom.

Beatrice turned toward the bay and placed her elbows on top of the railing. She did not want Jake to see her reaction.

“Maybe we can work together,” Jake said.

“Maybe not. I don’t even know you. You’re a stranger out of nowhere.”

“If you tell me your name, we will not be strangers anymore.”

Ping!

Jake flinched and touched his ear.

Beatrice noticed blood under the street light. “Whoa. What’s going on?”

She glanced around.

Raynelle was nowhere to be found.

The crowd seemed oblivious to what had just happened.

Jake stared at his wet fingers and touched his ear again. “Did someone just shoot at me?”

Ping!

“Get down!” Beatrice pulled him to the ground. The sidewalk was rough cement, and she was sure she had grazed her elbows through her long-sleeved cotton blouse. “Ken, call 911!”

The crowd was chaotic again. People running, screaming.

Beatrice spotted Raynelle in the middle of the crowd, running across the street and pointing to the second floor of a parking deck. She stopped, pulled out her Glock, aimed at the gunman, and fired.

One shot.

In an instant, Raynelle was surrounded by the local police.

Chapter Seven

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