Page 50 of Silent Trail

Natalie frowned but didn't push further. Instead, her gaze followed Sheila's to the scene unfolding before them. The college girl they had saved was sitting on the back bumper of an ambulance, wrapped in a thermal blanket as a medic checked her vital signs. Her eyes darted nervously around, still trying to process the nightmare she had just escaped.

A short distance away, the killer – his face twisted with anger and defeat – was being roughly ushered into the back of a police car. His hands were cuffed behind his back, and two officers flanked him, making sure he didn't try anything desperate. As the door slammed shut, Sheila felt a chill crawl up her spine—that man could have easily become the last person she saw alive if she hadn't been careful.

Amidst the chaos of flashing lights and bustling emergency personnel, Sheila took a deep breath and savored the metallic scent of the crisp night air. Her heart still hammered in her chest from the adrenaline, but as she glanced at Natalie and Finn, she felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

"I'm still trying to piece everything together," Natalie said, looking puzzled. "What happened? How did you know to find him here?"

Sheila hesitated for a moment, replaying the events in her mind. "Well, I just got the sense that Kyle Benedict wasn't the type of person to physically attack someone else—he seemed more like the kind to attack them anonymously and stop there. So I went back to his blog, trying to see if I was missing something, and I came across some really hateful comments someone else had written about the victims, even threatening to harm them."

She swallowed hard before continuing. "I reached out to this person, and he...well, he sort of hinted that he was the one who'd killed them. He invited me to meet with him, said I could 'pick his brain,' so I agreed."

Natalie shook her head, looking troubled. "You could've gotten yourself killed, Sheila. We might never have known what happened to you."

Finn chimed in, a proud smile stretching across his face. "But she didn't, Nat. She did great police work, even if it wasn't exactly by-the-book." He slapped Sheila on the shoulder, making her wince slightly. "The bottom line is about getting results, and she did just that."

Sheila felt warmth spread through her chest as Finn's words settled in. She knew her methods hadn't been conventional, but the outcome spoke for itself. And with Natalie and Finn standing beside her, she felt invincible. They were a team, and together, they had managed to bring a killer to justice.

"Thanks, Finn," she murmured, her gaze flickering between her sister and the deputy. "I couldn't have done it without both of you."

Natalie's gaze softened as she took in Finn's praise of Sheila. "Alright, point made," she said with a small smile. "In fact, I think it's time for you to officially become a police officer."

Sheila blinked in surprise, her heart skipping a beat. "Are you sure?" she asked cautiously.

"Of course. You'll have to go through training, but I think you'd be great for the job. Besides, it would make Dad proud." Her eyes held a hint of sadness, and Sheila couldn't help but think it was because Natalie, now confined to a wheelchair, wasn't the cop she used to be anymore.

Before Sheila could respond to the invitation, the college girl they had rescued approached them nervously, her eyes filled with gratitude. "I...I just wanted to thank you," she stammered, looking at Sheila. "You saved my life."

Sheila felt a rush of humility and gestured to Natalie and Finn. "It wasn't just me. These two did just as much to save you."

The girl smiled, tears brimming in her eyes. "Thank you, all of you," she said, her voice wavering with emotion.

"What's your name?" Finn asked gently.

"Brooke Fowler," she said, wiping away a stray tear.

"Nice to meet you, Brooke. I'm Finn, this is Sheila, and that's Natalie," he said, introducing the trio.

A vehicle pulled up a short distance away, and for a brief moment, the headlights fell on Sheila's face, casting stark shadows across her cheeks. A man and a woman got out, their expressions etched with concern as they scanned the scene. Brooke's gaze followed theirs, and her eyes widened with recognition.

"Those are my parents," she whispered, her voice wavering.

"Go to them," Sheila said, her heart swelling with empathy for the family reunion unfolding before her. "They must be worried sick."

"Thank you," Brooke said again, looking from Sheila to Natalie and Finn. "I don't know how I'll ever repay you." With that, she hurried over to her parents, who enveloped her in a desperate embrace. The sight of their relief made Sheila grateful for their small victory in the larger battle against crime.

As the Fowlers shared their tearful reunion, Natalie turned back to Sheila, her wheelchair humming softly as it pivoted. "So, about becoming a police officer... Take some time to think it over, okay?" Her eyes searched Sheila's face for any signs of doubt.

But Sheila didn't need time. She had found new purpose in this line of work, and the thought of saving lives and making a real difference in the world filled her with determination. "I don't need to think about it," she said, her voice steady and resolute. "I want to become a cop."

Natalie's eyes widened, but then a proud smile spread across her face. "You're sure?"

"Absolutely," Sheila said, and she could feel Finn's approving gaze on her as well. As his hand landed on her shoulder, he gave her an encouraging nod. The sense of validation warmed her from within, and she knew without a doubt that she was on the right path.

"Alright, Sheila," Natalie said, her voice softening. "We'll start the process as soon as possible."

"Thank you," Sheila replied, and she meant it with every fiber of her being. The moment was bittersweet, but she knew that this was the beginning of something important, not just for her but for everyone whose lives she would touch along the way.

Natalie maneuvered her wheelchair expertly, the faint whir of its motor blending with the distant sounds of the authorities still working at the scene. "I'm heading home to get some rest," she said, casting a concerned glance at Sheila. "You should do the same."

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