Page 12 of Critical Witness

“Let’s go,” Will said to Pierce. “Tank? What’s the latest?” he asked over the long-distance comms.

“I lost her a few blocks from the apartment. Never picked her back up. I’m out front keeping watch. No sign of her.”

Will felt his frustration simmering just below the surface. They’d lost her, and the apartment had given them nothing–other than that she told the sleazy landlord that her name was Hannah. Will looked back at the photo he held from the bedroom at the smiling eyes of a young Melanie Byers.

“Who are you?” he mused out loud to the picture.

CHAPTEREIGHT

Hannah parkedon the street around the back of her apartment building. She was probably being paranoid thinking that she was being followed earlier, but anything was possible. She’d spent the morning at the Screaming Peach, responding to a few nibbles on her video offer from the news stations.

The conversation with KBC was especially promising. They seemed willing to work with her on a job, and they had a local affiliate, so she wouldn’t have to move.

Things were definitely looking up. When she rounded the back corner of the apartment, the busted door made her stop in her tracks. Her heart kicked into overdrive as she stepped gingerly over the front mat and pushed the broken door open.

“Hello? Is anyone here?”

Trina worked nights at the gas station, but she’d been spending her days with her boyfriend, and Hannah hadn’t seen her in the last week or so. But what if she was here when the break-in happened?

Hannah grabbed a heavy vase from beside the door as she walked through the apartment. It probably looked ridiculous, but having the heavy object made her feel a bit safer. She could at least chuck it at the bad guy before running for her life.

It didn’t take long to verify that the one-bedroom apartment was empty. After she set down the vase, she looked around in confusion. Didn’t most burglars steal stuff? But the television was still on the flimsy stand against the wall, and her roommate’s bike still sat in the corner.

With an eerie feeling, she reached for the picture frame that was on the kitchen counter. It had definitely come from her nightstand. Dread filled the pit of her belly.

She walked into the bedroom. Maybe the thief just stole their underwear or something equally creepy.

She flinched at the realization that without a lock on her door, there was nothing to stop Clyde from coming in whenever he wanted. The thought made her sick to her stomach. She couldn’t stay here. She had to get out before he realized what had happened. He’d probably try to make her pay for the broken door anyway. Just one more thing she couldn’t cover.

No, this was the end of her stay at Riverside Oaks Villas. The name always felt like a cruel joke. It sounded more like some luxury condo for the snowbirds from Minnesota who spent the winters here.

With a resigned sigh, Hannah grabbed her things and stuffed what she could into a backpack. With Clyde on the prowl and Lord knows who else roaming around, a broken door was basically an invitation. She’d be safer sleeping in her car.

As she took one last glimpse around the room, she realized what was missing. Trina’s computer had been on her bed this morning when Hannah left. Why would someone break in and leave all the other things but steal her roommate’s ten-year-old Dell?

Hannah laid a hand back on her bag, reassuring herself that her own computer was still there.

She sent a text to Trina, letting her know about the break-in and that she was done. She’d even let her have anything else she left behind. Hannah wasn’t going to bring it with her into the next phase of her life.

She pulled the “Don’t Worry, Bee Happy” sign from the front door with a soft smile. She’d spent her last $5 on it at the dollar store, but it made her happy. Maybe she’d hang it on her office wall at KBC.

Hannah loaded her things into the car and pulled out her laptop. She asked Mr. Lloyd from KBC to call her as soon as possible to finalize everything. He’d seemed eager to meet, so maybe by this time tomorrow, she’d be on her way to her new job.

* * *

When Will answered his phone the next morning, Joey’s voice on the other end of the line was breathless. “Problem.”

They just got back from the gas station after getting coffee. They’d spent the entire night watching the apartment building, waiting for Melanie to show up. “What is it?”

“I’ve been monitoring the burner email. She’s got a meeting set in thirty minutes. Someone from KBC Florida.”

“Okay… that could be good right? We can intercept her before the meeting.”

“Well, maybe. But the problem isn’t that she has an appointment. It’s that she has a meeting with someone that I can’t verify even exists, let alone works at the Florida affiliate of KBC.”

“So it’s a trap?”

“That’s my guess,” Joey offered.

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