Page 62 of Killer of Mine
Freya holds up her middle finger. “Screw you, Eli.” She heads for the front door and the sight of her walking away has me panicking.
“Do not leave this house,” I order, steel in my voice.
She stops at the door, her hand resting on the knob. She shakes her head then looks back at me. “Screw you, too.” She opens the door and steps outside.
Eli and I stand in silence, staring at the front door, until Jude and Oz jog downstairs.
“Why did I just see Freya walk out by herself?” Jude asks.
I grind my jaw. “She’s upset.”
He looks between Eli and me. “What did you do?”
“I’ll explain later. Oz, give her five minutes then pull up her tracking details and follow her.”
Oz nods at me.
I turn around to face Eli. For the first time since we brought Freya in, a shadow of guilt darkens his features. We lock eyes.We just fucked up.
Freya’s right. My instincts are telling me she didn’t have anything to do with Posy and Camilla’s murders. She had no motive, little opportunity, and underneath her tough exterior, I honestly don’t think she wants to hurt a soul.
She could have run again, instead she offered her help. And I may have just ruined our best chance at catching the man who killed Eli’s mother.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Freya
LIKE THE CRIMINAL Eli and River think I am, I swiped the spare key to Jude’s car this morning.
I felt guilty at the time, but now I’m glad I did it because it only takes me twenty minutes to get to the mall. I messaged Carmen when I was stopped at a traffic light telling her to go ahead with the drop off. I almost backed out after last night with Jude, but she messaged again this morning and wasn’t taking no for an answer.
Carmen’s dislike of authority borders on anarchy. I’m amazed she hasn’t busted me out of here herself.
It feels weird being at a mall, like it’s too normal a thing to be doing after the week I’ve had. I check the time on my burner phone and look around the busy food court. I’ve no doubt River will have sent one of the guys after me. I won’t have long before they catch up.
My foot taps a rapid beat against the tiled floor. I’m trying to focus on my surroundings - the lines of people at each food station, the smell of junk food in the air - but River’s words play over and over in my head. Each replay cuts into me like the scars on my body. I knew he didn’t trust me, not fully, but I didn’t think he’d go so far as to accuse me of hurting Posy. I blink away the image of his face.
A young boy with Beats headphones slung around his neck scans the food court. He’s just the sort of kid Carmen would use for a drop off. I straighten up, ready to push off the pillar I’m leaning against, when a thin figure in a black hoodie and sunglasses stops next to me.Carmen.
I throw my arms around her before I can stop myself and she stumbles back a step. Carmen is a tiny thing really and still appears around my age even though she’s ten years older.
She hugs me back fiercely then grabs my shoulders and looks me up and down. She pulls the sunglasses low on her face and pins me with a disapproving stare. “What the hell sort of trouble have you got yourself into this time, kid?”
“You weren’t supposed to come yourself,” I say. “What if someone sees you?”
Carmen waves a hand through the air. “I’m a ghost. Disappearing’s what I do best remember?”
I bite my lower lip, sudden tears pricking at my eyes. “I missed you.” I hadn’t seen Carmen since I enrolled in the police academy six years ago. Part of keeping my identity a secret meant cutting ties with her, but prior to that I lived with Carmen for almost a year. She’s the closest thing to a big sister I have.
Carmen hooks her arm around my neck and tugs me close for another hug. “You too, kid.”
I bury my face in her shoulder, breathing in the sweet scent of the Twizzlers Carmen’s so addicted to.
She taps my anklet with the toe of her boot. “Tell me again why I can’t just break this thing off you right now and get you out of here?”
My laugh comes out as more of a sob and I pull back from the hug, shaking my head. “I have to do this. They’re my best chance at catching him.”
“They fucking collared you,” Carmen growls.
