Page 22 of Pied Sniper

I stripped down in the utility room and threw my clothes in the washing machine to soak. I didn’t slip in blood like Lily, but the dog had red streaks on his muzzle that he transferred to the insideandthe outside of my t-shirt and sweater during his frightened snuggles. I swiftly ran upstairs before bad luck ensured the doorbell would ring and a visitor would catch me in my underwear. Dammit, I wasn’t even wearing the good stuff.

After ten minutes of sluicing under hot water, my thoughts preoccupied with everything I’d seen tonight, I stepped out, combed my hair and pulled on my squirrels-in-rollerskates pajamas. As I hurried downstairs, the scent of something delicious wafted towards me.

“Wine is in the living room,” called Solomon when I stepped into the entry. Smiling with anticipation, I headed into the living room where a large glass of merlot waited for me, along with a blanket and the television remote. The snacks, however, were missing, so I made a mental note to reevaluate my husband’s perfection status. I clicked the TV on and settled under the blanket, taking a large swig of wine as Solomon ducked his head around the door. “No news on Lily yet. I checked,” he said.

“They should have released her by now. Why isn’t someone helping her?” I asked, wondering why Jord wasn’t knocking heads together until she got out. Even Maddox would know Lily couldn’t possibly be guilty of anything.

“Everyone is helping her.”

“Hmph.” I untucked my feet, swinging them down to the floor, ready to go over there and right this wrong.

“You can’t go back to MPD. You can’t help her right now.”

I tucked my feet under again and took another sip. The news anchor was talking. “...And in local news, online influencer and popular vlogger, Tiffany Rose was allegedly shot and kidnapped from her apartment right here in Montgomery by mystery assailants. We’ve got a clip of the footage of two unknown persons entering Ms. Rose’s abode…”

“Oh, no,” I groaned as a zoomed-in clip of a very fuzzy-looking me appeared on screen, followed by Lily. The footage was at an odd angle so I guessed it came from the camera that was still livestreaming when we entered the apartment. In the low light, and with the camera screen cracked, it was hard to make out my identity, yet someone obviously recognized me since Abigail managed to find me. I hoped that nugget of information wasn’t being spread all over the internet. I liked my incognito life, plus, it was easier to conduct investigations when no one knew who I was. I really didn’t need a news van turning up to trace my every move.

“The identity of the two persons on the scene has yet to be ascertained but sources say they were both taken into police custody earlier this evening. If you have any information, our tip line is on the screen now. Chad, over to you…”

I sighed, picked up my phone and dashed off a text to my parents. It read:I’m fine.Despite the fuzziness of my picture, I figured that would pre-empt whatever they had to say the moment someone in their extensive network finally identified me.

My mom replied almost instantly:Are you being passive-aggressive because I offered Serena the use of my new InstantPot?

Dad’s came next:Great game on tonight. Got chips.

Then another one from my mom:WHAT DID YOU DO? MRS EMMET SAYS YOU KILLED A WOMAN.

I sighed again.

“Big sigh,” said Solomon, depositing a tray of snacks in front of me.

“Mom thinks I’m a passive-aggressive killer.”

“Seems an oxymoron.”

Another text came through from Mom:I will raise the baby. She will only know love, and right from wrong.

I rolled my eyes.

Dad’s next text read:Look out for the escaped tiger. Probably getting hungry by now.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked my husband and Solomon shrugged.

When my phone rang, Lily’s name flashed on the screen, and I grabbed it. “Are you okay?” I asked breathlessly.

“I’m fine. I’m out! I’m freeeeeee!” trilled Lily. “This must be what that guy fromThe Shawshank Redemptionfelt like!”

“I think he was inside a little longer than you were.”

“The Scottish guy fromBraveheart?”

“Foughtyearsfor his country.”

“That time we snuck out of junior math class and went to the mall and nearly got caught by Mr. Murphy?”

“That’s a more reasonable comparison. Where are you now?”

“Jord is driving us home. He’s hopping mad. And too red to talk. I’ve never seen him like this. I think it’ll be really exciting to…”

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