Page 68 of Silent Prayer

Groaning, she reached for it, squinting at the bright screen. It was a message from dispatch, marked urgent. The message was brief, but it made Sheila's blood run cold:

Vehicle matching description of Eddie Mills' car spotted at gas station off Highway 50. Driver fled when approached by highway patrol. Matches Mills' description. Heading east toward the state line.

Sleep forgotten, Sheila sat up. Eddie Mills, the man she believed responsible for her mother's unsolved murder, was within reach. After years of dead ends and false leads, this could be her chance to finally bring him to justice.

Without hesitation, Sheila got dressed and grabbed her keys and badge. As she headed for the door, she paused, looking back toward Star's room. She couldn't leave without saying anything.

Quickly, she scribbled a note:Star, had to go out for work. There's food in the fridge. Call if you need anything. — Sheila

She slipped the note under Star's door, then rushed out to her car. As she pulled out of the driveway, her phone buzzed again. It was Finn.

Just got the alert about Mills. Want me to meet you at the station?

Sheila paused, her hand hovering over the phone. She thought about Finn, about their conversation earlier. About the future they'd talked about building together. She couldn't betray that now.

Yes,she wrote back.Thanks, Finn.

As she merged onto the highway, Sheila felt a familiar determination settle over her. The Coldwater Confessor case might be closed, but her own personal mission was far from over.

"I'm coming for you, Eddie," she muttered as she pressed down on the accelerator. "It's time to finish this."

As Sheila's car disappeared into the night, the quiet streets of Coldwater held no hint of the storm brewing on the horizon. The town had weathered one nightmare, but for Sheila Stone, a new chapter was just beginning.

And this time, it was personal.

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