Page 26 of Breathe Me In

“Maybe you should ask those girls who were murdered just for trying to have a good time.” My voice dripped with sarcasm, and both the girls’ faces dropped.

I didn’t remember being that reckless when I was their age. You’d think a double homicide at a place they worked would shake them up and make them rethink their actions. I caught Bree’s face and shut my mouth.

“Okay.” Bree stepped forward. “Thank you, ladies, for your time and help. If you find any shots of him, that would be very helpful. We’ve got another interview, so we have to get going.” She headed for the door, and I followed.

Once we were down at the car, she turned and folded her arms as I unlocked the door for her. “You were pretty hard on them.”

I got inside. “I just get frustrated when young adults can’t see how reckless they’re being. It’s an unforgiving world out there.” I waited for her to get settled and fasten her seat belt. I took a moment to study her pretty face and the curve of her jaw. When she looked up, I moved my gaze to the wheel, tossed the car in reverse, and headed out to the street with my headlights leading the way.

“I understand how tricky it can be to try to connect with these young adults. They think they’re untouchable, but that’s when they need us the most.”

“I see,” I muttered and tuned her out as a truck behind me with blacked-out windows caught my attention.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her shake her head at me. “Don’t patronize me, Brad. I’m good with kids and young adults. I know better than you how to connect.”

“I—” I started to say more but stopped when I switched lanes and the truck did as well. I swung quickly into the far-right lane and pulled off the highway as Bree yelped and grabbed the side handle. I reached for my radio but pulled my hand back when he didn’t follow.

“Well, my soul just slipped out my ass. Thanks for that.” Bree rubbed her hands over her shirt. “I could use some coffee.” She started to look around for her favorite, Starbucks, when I noticed the truck again. When it drove under the streetlight, I spotted the front grill in my side mirror and took note that it was a Ram.

“Bree.” I reached for her hand and gave it a light squeeze when the light turned red. “Stop moving for a second.”

“Why?” She tuned into my tone and looked at me. Then I noticed she looked down at my hand on hers but didn’t pull away. She leaned back in the seat. “What did I not catch?”

“Hang on.” The light turned green, and I went through the intersection, then turned onto a surface street. I tried my best to get a look through the Ram’s windshield. I couldn’t see anything, and his tinted windows made it almost impossible to see the driver, but before I could try to get a better look, the driver pulled into the traffic and started to follow us again. I grabbed the radio and held it low.

“Dispatch, this is Detective Stone, badge number five five seven nine. I need you to run a plate for a Ram.”

“Copy that, Detective Stone. What’s the plate number?”

I rattled it off.

A second later the car that was between us pulled into the left lane, and the Ram moved up on my bumper.

“I think we’re being followed.” I knew he couldn’t see us just as we couldn’t see him—that was the downfall of the deep-tinted windows on both of our vehicles.

“Okay.” She took a deep breath. “When did you notice?”

“Not long after we left Sophia’s.” I slowed at the next light and just as the left arrow turned green, I swung over and tore down an old country road. The Ram didn’t miss a beat and did the same. I hit a button on the steering wheel, and Captain picked up, and his voice flooded the car.

“What’s going on, Stone?”

“We were questioning a couple girls from the club, and after we left, I noticed a truck on our tail. It still is and not hiding the fact. I’m on Lisbon and Old School Road.”

Dispatch crackled over the radio. “Detective Stone, the plates you gave are not registered to a Ram, but to a gray Toyota Corolla that was filed as a missing vehicle three weeks ago.”

Dammit! “Copy that.”

“I’m sending backup now,” Cap said.

“Copy that.” I hung up and took a quick glance over at Bree, who held herself very still. “Glove box.” She opened it, but her hands retracted at the sight of the gun. “It’s a TASER, not an actual gun. See the little red button on the side, click that.” She awkwardly turned it on. “If you have to use it, you need to hold it tight and point, shoot, and don’t hit me,” I instructed. “But you have to wait until he gets close enough, within twenty feet.” Not that I planned to let anyone get that close to her.

“I don’t really like these things.” She held the TASER like it was going to bite her.

The truck came closer, and I picked up speed. “Well, when it comes down to you or him, you’d better choose you.”

“I don’t disagree.” She carefully pointed it toward the floor, between her legs. “I’ve just had a few bad experiences with weapons,” she whispered as I concentrated on the road and my mirror until I spotted Old Mill Road up ahead.

“Did you have this problem when you were at Quantico?” When she didn’t answer, I let the topic go. We had bigger shit to deal with. “Hold on.” I waited for the last possible second before I turned down the side road. I hit a bump, and my car jumped, and it sent a dust storm up around us that settled on the trees that lined the road on one side.