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"Please let him be gone," she whispered to herself, her voice shaky with fear.
She heard footsteps pass by her hiding place, and she held her breath, frozen in terror.The footsteps faded, growing more distant, and Erin slowly released her grip on her own hands, trying to force her fingers to stop shaking.With agonizing slowness, she crept forward, her eyes straining to see through the misty haze.
The road was barely visible in the gloom, but there, making his way down the middle of it, was the man.He seemed to have given up his search, walking away from her with a casual swagger.Relief washed over Erin like a tidal wave, leaving her weak-kneed and gasping for breath.
She'd lost him.For now, at least, she was safe.
"Thank you," she whispered, tears of gratitude streaming down her face.But the danger was not yet over—she still needed to get home and avoid crossing paths with the man again.
Backing away from the road, Erin's thoughts raced as she tried to plan the safest route home.The concern for her roommate weighed heavily on her mind, as she would undoubtedly be worried by now.
"Kenzie's probably pacing the apartment like a madwoman," she muttered to herself, feeling a pang of guilt for breaking her promise to be home sooner.
As she took another backward step, reluctant to turn her gaze away from the man lest he vanish before she laid eyes on him again, her head collided with something solid.Startled, Erin reached up and felt what seemed like a tree branch, but the texture was off—it felt like leather.She turned around, curiosity mingling with a faint sense of dread, and found herself staring at a shoe.
"Wh-what the hell?"she stammered, her eyes following the shoe to the leg, the body, and finally the gruesome sight of the body hanging lifelessly from the tree towering above her, a noose around the young man's throat.
She was still in shock, desperately trying to process this, when the wind picked up and the tree began to shift.The body swayed…and so did three other shapes, all of them swinging in unison.
Then Erin finally found her voice as she screamed for all she was worth.
CHAPTER ONE
The cold steel of the security checkpoint bars sent shivers down Sheila's spine as she stepped into the entrance of Blackridge Penitentiary.She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, a mix of anxiety and anticipation coursing through her veins.The sterile smell of the prison hung in the air, reminding her just how far she was from the familiar comfort of her apartment downtown.
Sheila couldn't shake the image of Rayland Bax from her mind—his mugshot staring back at her from the countless articles she had researched about him.This man, currently locked away for armed robbery, might be the key to unlocking the truth about her mother's murder.The thought terrified her as much as it excited her, but she knew she had to find answers.Henrietta Stone deserved justice.
"Next," called one of the security guards in a gruff voice, snapping Sheila's attention back to the present.She approached the X-ray machine, placing her belongings in a plastic bin as the guards eyed her with disinterest.They had seen countless visitors come and go, and apparently she was no different in their eyes.
The hum of the X-ray machine filled the air as Sheila's bag and jacket disappeared behind a heavy curtain.She glanced around, observing the other equipment scattered throughout the room.There were metal detectors, pat-down stations where guards examined visitors for contraband, and even a drug-sniffing dog sitting obediently by its handler.
"Arms out, please," instructed a guard, waving a handheld metal detector over Sheila's body.She complied, trying to keep her anxiety in check as the device beeped and whirred around her.She needed to keep her composure if she was going to face Rayland Bax and get the information she needed.
The security guards at Blackridge Penitentiary were an intimidating bunch—tall, broad-shouldered, and clad in dark uniforms.Their faces remained stoic as they scrutinized each visitor, ensuring that no threats made their way into the maximum-security facility.As one of the guards inspected Sheila's belongings, he suddenly paused and held up a small pocket knife.
"Miss, you can't bring this inside," he said gruffly, his voice betraying a hint of annoyance.
Sheila's cheeks flushed with embarrassment."I'm so sorry.I didn't realize...This is my first time visiting a prison, you see."She stopped, hoping for a bit of understanding.
The guard raised an eyebrow but said nothing, tossing the knife into a nearby bin designated for confiscated items.Sheila felt her face growing even warmer under his gaze.
Trying to salvage the situation, she attempted to make conversation."You know, I just started training to be a police officer a few weeks ago," she said, her voice wavering slightly."So, I guess you could say I'm still learning the ropes."
The guards exchanged unimpressed glances, remaining silent and focused on their duties.It was clear that they had little interest in engaging with Sheila or hearing about her aspirations.She swallowed hard, feeling increasingly isolated within the cold, sterile walls of the penitentiary.
Tough crowd,she thought.I just hope Rayland is a bit more talkative.
Her footsteps were loud in the empty corridor, making her feel even more alone than she already was.She couldn't help but wish her dad could be there with her.He'd always been her rock, and his presence would've provided her with a sense of comfort that she desperately needed at that moment.Unfortunately, he was recovering from knee surgery, leaving Sheila to face this daunting task on her own.She knew she had to rely on her own wits, strength, and determination—qualities she'd honed throughout her years as an Olympic kickboxer.
Sheila soon found herself inside the visiting room.Its stark, barren walls were painted a dull gray, devoid of any warmth or welcoming atmosphere.The prison guards had taken care to remove anything that might be used as a weapon, leaving nothing but a few bolted-down chairs and tables scattered around the room.
Taking a seat at one of these tables, Sheila exhaled slowly, trying to calm her nerves.She looked around the room, doing her best to memorize every detail in case it proved useful later.Meanwhile, she went over the questions she planned to ask Rayland Bax, wondering if he held the key to solving her mother's murder.
"Did you know my mother, Henrietta Stone?"she whispered under her breath, practicing her opening line."Were you involved in her death?"
No, that was too abrupt—she couldn't just ambush him with a question like that and expect him to stick around to talk.She had to coax the answers out of him, find something he wanted, and dangle it in front of him like a carrot.But what could she offer?
Her heart skipped a beat as the door behind her opened with a heavy groan.The same guard who had led her to the visiting room entered, his face unreadable."Miss Stone, you need to come with me," he said gruffly, gesturing toward the door.
