Page 89 of Fighting Conviction

The investigator pulled her up by her handcuffed arms, pulling them out of socket and Ellie yelped.

“Help…. Someone…. Help.” Virginia’s sobs tore at Ellie’s heart. When the investigator attempted to shove her in the back seat of his patrol vehicle, Ellie finally kicked and screamed against him, knowing if the investigator was dealing with her, he couldn’t bother with Virginia.

All we need is time. Just a few more minutes until someone comes to get us.

Ellie fell on the ground and it took her a second to stop screaming and realize why the investigator had dropped her. He cleared his throat and aimed his gun at Virginia. Ellie stilled, every muscle in her body so tense she felt like she’d snap at any moment.

“Get in the fuckin’ car. Now. I ain’t playin’ no more games. If you don’t get in there right now, I’m gonna actually finish her off.”

Ellie shut her mouth and backed awkwardly into the car, desperate to keep that barrel off Virginia.

Sirens blared in the distance and relief flitted across Ellie’s chest. Even if it was too late for her, hopefully it wouldn’t be too late for Virginia.

The investigator paled even more. His face poured sweat despite the chill in the air. “Looks like we’ll have company soon.”

“Please, somebody…help.”

Virginia’s weak cries were strong enough to give Ellie hope until the investigator’s face hardened.

“Can’t have that either.”

“C-can’t have what?” Ellie asked, not sure she wanted the answer.

“Guess she’s gonna have to come with.”

“What? No! You said you’d leave her!”

“Welp. I lied. Can’t have loose ends. She seems like she might make it.” He kept the gun pointed on Virginia and seemed to be thinking as he talked to himself out loud.

“They want women, Cici. One more and we’ll be set…”

“Who are you talking to?” Ellie asked before she could stop herself.

Instead of answering her, he nodded to himself and slammed the door on Ellie. He turned and picked Virginia up, grabbing underneath her arms and dragging her limp, eerily silent body to the front of his police car.

“What are you doing? Stop! Just leave her!” Ellie kicked at the cage separating her from the front of the car as the investigator shoved her friend in and slammed the passenger door.

He slid into the driver’s side and Ellie shifted to kick behind his head.

“You can do that all ya damn well please. Won’t do ya no good.”

The car jolted forward and Ellie screeched as she fell to the floor. The sirens became deafening and Ellie screamed as loud as she could to be heard over them. With every turn and brake, Ellie moved until she finally sat upright and realized the cop was using his own lights and sirens as he sped through Ashland to God knew where.

Ellie dedicated every part of her to driving the investigator crazy. But as he ignored her and kept up a steady stream of chatter with someone who wasn’t there, she wondered if he already was.

“We’re here,” the investigator finally screamed over her.

The old brick sign for Hatcher Gardens Neighborhood with its missing white letters passed by and Ellie stopped screaming. The investigator had turned off the sirens and lights too, and the eerie silence inside the car made Ellie’s heartbeat thunderous in her ears.

Panic and confusion crept over her bones like a freezing mist. They definitely weren’t going to a police station—not that she’d actually thought they would.

Where are we going?

For the first time that day, her best friend responded in her mind.

“Looks like we’re about to find out.”

Chapter Thirty-Three