Set Me Free

by Melissa Pearl

  Elliot's tongue darted out the corner of his mouth for a second. "They haven't found us yet. We still have time." He sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. "I didn't know your parents, okay. And you probably think I have no right to be talking about them, but I know you and..." He swallowed. "And I actually think you're kinda awesome, which means they must have been pretty cool."

  Lucy's eyebrows shot up, her blue eyes growing wide. Zach was pretty sure his face was doing the same thing. Elliot was never this nice to people. Zach knew his marshmallow interior existed, but the guy never let anyone else see it.

  Elliot walked up the first three steps so his eyes were in line with Lucy's. "Let's just forget about the whole FBI thing for a second and focus on why we're really doing this."

  Her forehead creased.

  "Because your parents...and you...deserve justice. If it were me, I'd want to honor them, and you can do that by exposing their killer."

  Lucy's hands were shaking as she let out a sigh and gripped her forehead. "I want to, but it's too hard. He's too powerful. He'll win."

  Flicking a look down the stairwell, Elliot pointed at Zach. "Isn't there some sort of quote about the hardest things to get, being the most rewarding or something?"

  There was a stunned pause in the room, before Lucy suddenly snickered.

  "You're such an ass, Elliot." She pressed her palms into her eyes and dropped onto the stair. "Why do you have to be right?"

  Spinning on his heel, he slumped down beside her, throwing his arm over her shoulders.

  "Zach and I are with you all the way...and Alex. You know none of us will be able to let this rest now. And you know we'll have a stronger chance of beating this jackass with your help. He won't win, because we're not going to let him. The little mishap today has just added a certain urgency to our quest."

  "Little mishap?" Lucy looked at him incredulously.

  "Yeah, well..." Elliot tipped his head. "Okay, a pretty, big, shitty mishap, but still....nothing we can't overcome."

  Her jaw shifted to the side as she closed her eyes. "What if you guys get hurt?"

  "We'll heal."

  "What if he kills you?"

  "Then we'll die fighting for something we believe in. That's a worthy death, Lu—"

  "You don't understand anything about death!" She slapped his leg. Her lips quivered as she drew in a breath. "Have you ever seen life leave someone's body before? Have you been there when they took their last breath?"

  "Yes."

  Elliot's quiet response made Lucy's face drop. Her anguished crinkles vanished, replaced with a look of sympathy that only she could really muster.

  "I watched my grandmother die." Elliot swallowed. "She was only fifty-five and she'd been raising me since my mom split. She was the closest thing to a mother that I had. And she was beautiful and awesome. Her death was slow and painful. I was nine-years-old and I can still picture it like it was yesterday. I was holding her hand when she passed and it wasn't lovely and romantic like they make it out to be. It tore my heart out."

  Lucy gently slid her fingers over his hand. "I'm sorry."

  With a shake of his head, Elliot cleared his throat and sat up straighter. His final sniff let them all know that the conversation was coming to an end. "You might disagree with me, but it almost doesn't matter how you lose them. It kills your soul, regardless." He shook her fingers off his hand and pierced her with a stern look. "I just don't see how you can sit back and let this guy win. I mean what if he takes someone else's parents. Hell, Lucy, he probably already has. You can't keep hiding behind your fear. It's selfish. If anyone ever threatened my family I would go after them and tear them apart any way I could."

  The vehemence in Elliot's voice made Lucy flinch.

  "That's enough, man. She's got it." Zach stepped towards them, glaring at Elliot.

  "He's right, Zach," Lucy whispered. "I am being selfish."

  "No you're not." He hunkered down at her feet, squeezing her right calf muscle.

  Blinking at tears, she pressed her lips together and looked from Alex over to Elliot then finally rested her gaze on Zach.

  "We've got even more reason to keep going now. If we can expose Tenner then that will explain what were trying to do today. Prove my innocence, prove his guilt and we might score ourselves a get out of jail free card." Her watery smile squeezed at Zach's heart. She had to be the bravest person he knew.

  He nodded back with a proud grin. "So, what's next then?"

  They all turned to Alex whose eyes were fixed on the carpet at his feet. "Time for more research, I guess. Let's find out everything we can about William Tenner. There's bound to be something we can snag him on, right? If Jack Tate can find goods on Tenner then so can we."

  Elliot, Lucy and Zach rose in unison and descended the stairs, heading for the dining room table, which quickly became their command post. There was a current of energy pulsing through all of them now. Their mission had moved to a critical point and they couldn't afford to give in or screw up now.

  Chapter 15

  LUCY

  "Okay, so William Tenner is the Special Agent in charge of the San Francisco branch of the FBI. We already know that."

  My fingers froze around the mug of coffee in my hand. It was starting to dawn on me that the guy had been living right on my doorstep this whole time. The idea of pulling all those cons in the city he lived in made my skin crawl.

  "It says here he has one son, fifteen years old. Billy Tenner. "

  Oh my gosh, had I met him? What if I'd run a con at his school?

  "You alright?" Zach nudged my knee with his as I watched Alex scribble Billy (William Jr.) on the large sheet of paper we'd pinned to the wall. He put a box around it and drew an arrow back to William Tenner.

  "Where does he go to school?" Alex poised his pen against the paper.

  I tensed, my muscles straining tight as I waited for the answer.

  "San Francisco University High School."

  I held in my relieved sigh and gave Zach a sharp nod, but he didn't buy it.

  It was getting close to dinner time. I was tired, wrung out and in desperate need of sleep, but I couldn't let it show. These guys were working their asses off for me. Elliot had already tracked William Tenner's past from L.A., to Sacramento and then across to San Francisco.

  "What is it?" Zach's hand glided up my arm, squeezing my shoulder.

  "I saw him in San Fran. The day he killed Shorty. He was at our apartment. He nearly got me, but I managed to run..." I closed my eyes, hearing the glass shatter around me as I threw myself through the ranch slider and then over the balcony.

  "When did this happen?" Alex's voice was mercifully soft.

  "December." I swallowed. "Just after Marlin was taken."

  "Did he talk to you?"

  I sipped at the coffee, delaying my response to Alex's question. "A little, he was pretty triumphant at finally catching me. I've become a game for him. He was mad that he didn't get me the night he killed my parents. Your revenge theory might be spot on, you know. Not for my parents, but for me." I shook my head, knowing I sounded completely confusing. "I don't think he meant to kill my dad that night, well not when he did anyway. He was really pissed when that the gun went off. He wanted that information. Whatever my dad had found out obviously scared him. That's why he was threatening my dad with the thought of hurting me. If he'd got to me that night, I have no doubt in my mind, that he would have tortured me in front of my father until he had every scrap of evidence Dad had on him." I gripped my now empty coffee mug until the pads of my fingers started hurting. "When he first saw me in Sacramento after all that time and then realized it was me, I think it must have sparked something within him. Maybe he could never let that night go, knowing there was even a chance I was out there."

  "Your testimony could bury him." Alex nodded.

  "Only if it were believed, which he could easily make sure never happens."

  "Then why the obsession?" Zach squeezed the back of
his neck, obviously struggling to hear me talk about this all so openly.

  "It's like he needs closure on this case and my death will be that for him. He told me that he's a man of his word. He promised my dad that he'd make me suffer and I don't think he'll rest until then."

  Alex's eyes rounded as he ran a hand through his wayward curls. "I'm surprised he hasn't started a nation wide manhunt for you."

  "I've often wondered that too, but I think he just wants to do this quietly. Find me alone one day and end me...all by himself. Like if it doesn't happen that way, he's somehow lost the game."

  The stillness that followed my blunt statement was unnerving and I was actually grateful when the doorbell rang. Zach jumped up from the table, checking his watch as he headed for the door. Alex scrambled to pull down the sheet of paper, sliding it behind the curtain then leaning against the wall to cover the remainder sticking out the end.

  I held my breath as Zach eased the door open.

  "Hey, Jae." The cheer in his voice was forced. We all heard it and looked at each other as we waited for the red-headed firecracker to walk through the door.

  "Where have you been? I called you like five times yesterday."

  "Yeah, sorry, my phone ran out of battery."

  "That's why you recharge it, dumbass." I saw a flash of her curls as she chuckled, playfully punching Zach in the arm. "So, where've you been?"

  "Um..." Zach let out a breath. "I...uh...well, you know, Elliot and I decided to spontaneously head to L.A."

  I closed my eyes as Alex let out an irritated huff. "What is he doing?" he whispered to Elliot.

  "You try lying to her." Elliot flicked the bangs out of his eyes.

  "You went to L.A? Without me? What the hell, Zach? I've spent the last two days hanging out with the lovebirds on my own! AJ's been off work for two days straight. Do you have any idea how painful that is? I needed you guys!"

  I heard a slap and an oomph then held my breath as quick steps approached the dining room.

  The second she saw me she stopped and crossed her arms.

  "Oh." She threw me a dry glare before her eyes landed on Alex. "Oh. Hi." Her smile was dazzling as she drank him in.

  "Evening." Alex grinned back at her, his charming smile making Jaeda titter.

  I scratched my forehead and forced a grin as she pulled out the chair beside me.

  "New hair."

  I touched my dark locks, her tone more of an insult than a compliment. "Just wanted to try something different." I shrugged.

  Her gaze was hard and unrelenting as she studied me. "Let me guess, you went too, didn't you?"

  I didn't want to respond so I flicked an SOS to Zach who was standing behind his irate friend. He looked a little helpless although if I read him right, I sensed he wanted to spill the beans. My stomach knotted in an instant, my head jerking to the side. No way. It was bad enough that these guys knew. I wasn't drawing anyone else into this dangerous snare.

  "Okay, what's going on?" Jaeda slapped the table. "I know you guys are hiding something from me." She pointed an aqua painted nail at Alex. "He went to L.A. too, didn't he? What were you guys doing there?"

  "Look, Jae, it's kinda complicated..." Elliot began, looking in pain over the fact he couldn't say anything.

  I held my breath, unwilling to give in even though I knew it would probably dispel the vexation radiating through the air. Zach looked at me, slightly pleading, but I dropped my gaze to the tabletop.

  "Has this got something to do with you running away?" Jaeda's blue nail was now aimed at me. It thrust towards my face, making me recoil.

  "Ease up, Jae." Zach reached for her shoulder, but she flicked him away before he could touch her.

  "What is she getting you guys into?"

  No one could look at her, their eyes skittering every surface, but her face. Talk about losing our cool! I wanted to shout at everyone to pull it together. Alex, the charmer in the FBI warehouse was speechless against her scrutiny. It was ludicrous!

  "Jaeda—"

  "Shut up. You don't get to talk, okay? You're the one who's causing all these problems right now. Coming back here and driving a big wedge through our group. What are you trying to do here? We have one summer left before we all flit off to college and we're supposed to be having fun. You coming back is ruining everything. You are a selfish, thoughtless bitch if you think you can just waltz in and out of Zachy's life. He deserves better than you!"

  My confidence fled as her words hit me full force. The lie I had woven about why she wasn't invited evaporated in my brain. I sat like a stunned mullet taking in her fiery gaze and feeling futile.

  "That's enough." Zach's voice was soft, but stony.

  "I'm not finished."

  "Yes, you are." He wrapped his fingers around her arm and pulled her from the chair. It looked forceful, but I could see his grip wasn't overly firm. "You don't talk to her like that."

  "Oh great, so you're standing up for her now?" Jaeda wriggled free of his grasp and stepped away from him. "We're family Zach and you're throwing us all away...for her. You barely know her!"

  That accusing blue nail shot my way again, except this time it was shaking. I met her gaze for a split-second and wished I hadn't, the hurt and frustration mingling together turned her daggers into cannon balls. I looked back to the table and kept my eyes steadily on the wood, not looking up until the front door slammed shut.

  "I knew she was a spitfire, but phew. That girl knows how to leave a mark." Alex let out a breath, his eyes dancing as he spun around and started re-sticking the sheet to the wall.

  Elliot sat in morose silence, his face hard. If he were frozen in time at this moment, people would study him and see a wounded soul wrestling with something intense. He was caught in a battle and he didn't know which side to fight for.

  I hated myself in that moment. Jaeda was right, they were like family and I was pulling them apart. I was a selfish bitch!

  I wanted to ask Elliot if he was okay, but he opened up his laptop, his dark eyebrows bunched tight and muttered, "She'll get over it...eventually." He threw a pointed glare at Zach who was about to sit down.

  Shunting his chair back with a groan, he spun towards the door. "Back soon."

  As the door slammed shut for the second time that night I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to ward off yet another layer of guilt.

  "Hey, don't worry about it." Elliot looked up from his computer. "She's Jae, she bounces back."

  "Then why do you look so distraught?"

  He gave me a hard glare, putting on his tough exterior and straightening his shoulders.

  "You saw the way she looked at me."

  "She's a fiery personality." Elliot clipped.

  "I've never seen her that mad before."

  "You know..." Elliot pursed his lips. "That anger would evaporate in a second if you just told her the truth." Although his words were spoken softly there was a blaring undercurrent that could probably be heard on the east coast.

  "I don't want her to get involved, it's already dangerous enough. I'll tell her everything once this is over."

  "You better, because she's been hurt, you know. Her Dad just up and left when she was like eleven and her older sister, who she adored, chose to go with him. They walked out of her life. Zach and the rest of us, we're her family and we're more precious to her than anyone. No-one hurts our Jaeda."

  "Then why aren't you the one chasing her down right now?"

  Elliot shifted with a grunt. "Zach has a softer touch; he's always been able to talk her 'round better then I ever could."

  I squashed my grin, knowing just how awesome Zach was at getting to people. He didn't deserved to be lumped with my crap, none of these amazing people did!

  "I'm sorry, Elliot. I really am. Maybe I should just walk aw—"

  "Don't even!" He raised his finger at me. "I'm not putting up with all this shit so you can just quit. I've only got so many of these don't give up speeches in me, so just shut the hell up and
focus so we can nail this prick to the frickin' wall. Are we clear?"

  "Yes sir." My body pinged straight. "I mean..." I closed my eyes and cleared my throat. "Yes, we're clear." I bit the inside of my cheek and nodded submissively, fighting a sudden urge to laugh. It didn't help that Alex was snickering in the corner, his shaking shoulders totally giving away the fact he was internally laughing up a storm.

  With a final snort, he shook his head and smiled. Pulling off the top of his marker, he turned to Elliot. "Okay, let's finish this."

  Chapter 16

  ZACH

  "Jaeda, wait up!" Zach chased her down the street, finally pulling her to a stop before she crossed the road.

  "What? What!" She wriggled free of him again, debilitating him with a strong glare.

  "I—I just wanted to check that you were okay."

  "Of course I'm not okay! My best friends are lying to me. How do you think that makes me feel?"

  "I know you hate it, Jae. I'm sorry. I want to tell you everything, but I can't right now."

  "And how the hell did you get Elliot involved? He's the most level headed of us all! You told him something. Something you're not willing to tell me." Her expression buckled, nibbling at Zach's resolve.

  He clenched his jaw and looked down.

  "Please, Zach. Don't shut me out."

  Guilt ripped through him. He swallowed and kicked the pavement with his toe, anything to avoid having to look at Jaeda. That cute little face of hers would break him. He had to stay strong.

  "Why are you doing this for her? She's been in your life for less than five months." Stepping forward, Jaeda grabbed Zach's shoulders, forcing him to look at her. "I've been there for years. How can you write me off so easily?"

  Her eyes were starting to glisten, stripping Zach's willpower down to a piddly thread. He was going to break soon, spill the beans and then have Lucy hate him.

  He ground his teeth together and stepped out of Jaeda's grasp.

  She tutted, her long curls dropping over her shoulder as she looked down at her bright pink toenails. She was wearing her flower toe ring, the one with the purple gems. Zach had bought it for her for Christmas the year before. "I'm so over this." She crossed her arms. "First she breaks your heart and now she's back and you're willing to just do anything for her. What's she hiding, Zach? I know it's dangerous. I can feel it."