Set Me Free

by Melissa Pearl

  I gave Zach a fleeting smile before turning back to Alex. "I don't know exactly what time it was, but it was dark outside. We'd just finished eating and Mom sent me down to the basement to get ice cream from the freezer." Alex's face blurred as I pictured myself walking back up the stairs, the cold tub pinched between my fingers. "I was about to head into the kitchen when..." I blinked. I'd forgotten this part. "Mom and Dad were talking and he was really worried about something. I could hear it in his voice. I felt bad for eavesdropping." My breath hitched. "But then the doorbell rang." I licked my bottom lip. "I went into the kitchen with the ice cream and my dad gave me one of those reassuring smiles, the ones you just can't buy into. And then he heard the man at the front door and his face just changed," I whispered, reliving that terror-filled look in his eye. "Hide, he said." My voice vanished.

  Hide. That was the last word he'd ever said to me.

  My chin trembled and I covered my mouth with my hand. Zach squeezed the back of my neck, pulling me towards him and giving me a kiss on the side of my forehead.

  "Where'd you hide?" Alex's voice was quiet, but firm, I knew I had to answer him. He wasn't quitting on this interview just because I was struggling.

  "I ran back to the basement, but I wanted to see what was going on, so I just hid on the top step and watched through the crack in the door."

  "Could you see everything okay?"

  "I could see enough to get a clear picture."

  "What happened next?"

  My brain protested, spiking with pain. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to relive it. My breath hitched and I pressed my ear to my shoulder, trying to wriggle away from it. My knee bobbed erratically and I squirmed in my chair.

  "Lucy. Calm down." Alex tapped my arm. "Lucy, just breathe and talk your way through it."

  I sucked in a long breath, held it for a minute then slowly expelled it. My eyes crept opened. "Mom started screaming. Dad was yelling at this guy to let her go."

  "Who was the man at the door? Had you seen him before?"

  "It was that guy in the photo, William Tenner. I'd never seen him before." Pressing my fingers into my eyes, I tried to hold back the tears. "Dad always kept his work stuff really private. He worked in an office so it's not like he was a field agent with a partner or anything. We didn't...I'd never met any of his colleagues." The word colleagues brought bile into my mouth. I was still reeling over the fact that he'd been killed by one of his own.

  Alex let me sniffle for a few minutes, but not long. He soon cleared his throat, forcing me to gather my composure.

  "We can stop if you need to," Zach said.

  "No, we should keep going while it's fresh in her head."

  I opened my eyes to see the tail end of Zach's glare.

  "It's okay. I can...I'll try." Pressing my lips together, I pinched the bottom of my chin and forced the memories back. "The guy had a gun...it had a long silencer on it. He shot Mom first. No. He didn't. He had her by the throat. It was Dad. He was trying to call the police. He shot Dad in the shoulder and stamped on his hand... and kicked him in the face. There was blood." I sucked in another quick breath. I had to get this out before I completely lost it. "Mom was yelling and the man was asking something. I can't remember his words, but Dad didn't know or shook his head and Mom got shot. In the leg. She screamed. It—" I shivered. "It was really scary. She was in so much pain, you know?" The words were punching out of my mouth in erratic bursts.

  "What did the man want? Try to think of his words." Alex's voice was so calm. How could he sound so level-headed when my emotions were pitching so high? I felt like Dorothy on her way to Oz.

  "He wanted to know something about Dad. I—" Shaking my head in frustration, I tried to recall the words. "I can't remember."

  "Okay, that's fine, just keep going. It might come back to you. After your Mom got shot...what happened?"

  "Well, then he shot Dad."

  "So, you're Mom was still alive?"

  "No. No, Mom was dead."

  "So, she died from the bullet wound to her leg?"

  "No." I slumped back into my seat. "He shot her in the head."

  "And what about your dad?"

  I rubbed the side of my face, wiping the salty tears into my skin. They were streaming in torrents from my eyes and dripping off the bottom of my chin.

  "Lucy, did he kill your father after that? Did he shoot your father?" It was a struggle for Alex to ask. He almost looked guilty as he uttered the questions.

  A quiver jerked down my spine as I remembered what came next. "I don't want to do this anymore." I fumbled out of my seat, my hands hitting the floor. I sprung up and dashed from the room, making a beeline for Zach's bed. I wanted to bury myself beneath the covers and never come out, because what came next terrorized me.

  I know you have a daughter too, Jack. She's here, isn't she.

  William Tenner's voice rang out through my head. He sounded almost gleeful as he stood over my dad's limp body and called out, Lu-cy. Come out, come out wherever you are.

  I squeezed my eyes shut against his sing song voice...the one that meant death if he ever got his hands on me.

  Chapter 8

  ZACH

  "You can't keep pushing her like that. She's fragile." Zach slapped the table and stood, hating the image of his bereft girlfriend stumbling out of the room.

  "She's stronger than you think. Once she gets these memories out, she can move forward and we can end this."

  Zach shook his head and let out a heavy sigh. "It's killing her. Watching her go through this is killing me!"

  He jerked out of his chair. Placing his hands on his hips, Zach paced to the island in the kitchen and back to the table again.

  "Look I know it's really hard, okay, but she's doing great. We need the details, every single speck of truth she can give us."

  "Yeah, yeah, I know it'll make her testimony that much more powerful." Zach flicked his hand in the air.

  "That's not just it, little bro."

  "What? What do you mean?" Zach paused on the kitchen floor, the tiles suddenly feeling like quick sand.

  Alex grimaced. "You know I hate to admit this, but..." He scratched his stubbly chin. "She's the prime suspect in this case. We can't ignore the speculation."

  "But she's also the key witness." Zach ground out.

  "Yeah." Alex's nod was slow and unconvincing. "But I don't think her testimony will be enough. As far as the public is concerned, Lucy Tate murdered her parents."

  Zach's eyes flashed with anger. Alex jerked in his chair and raised his hands. "Hey. It's obvious to me she didn't do it. But we have to somehow prove that. Then we can clear her name and dump Tenner right in it. We need details in order to do that, Zach."

  The hard edge dropped from Zach's expression. Damn it. He was right. Lucy's testimony wasn't going to be enough on its own. "So how do we prove these people wrong? Where's all the evidence?"

  "Probably buried under a shit-pile of lies." Alex threw his hands in the air. Zach knew how vehement his uncle could get over these things. He was one of the strongest advocates for justice Zach had ever met. That's why he became a reporter. He knew the power of the press and his zeal for the truth made him a pit bull. Zach had always found it so inspiring. He reminded himself that he wanted to follow in his uncle's footsteps...at least he thought he did. His uncle could be pretty relentless when he wanted to be. He couldn't help worrying that it might end up scaring Lucy away.

  Alex's stormy expression calmed suddenly as he looked up the stairwell. "What do you think finally stumped her?"

  Zach shrugged.

  "There was something. She had a memory that froze her up."

  "Maybe it was watching her dad die."

  "Yeah, although she relived her mom's. Not easily, but she still did it. No, there must be something more."

  Clearing his throat, Zach stepped back to the table, unable to deny his spark of intrigue. "She said to me last night that she'd seen him again and that he'd been looking f
or her. Do you think he spotted her that night?"

  "Only she can tell us that." Alex's gaze drifted back to the stairwell.

  Zach closed his eyes, hating the idea of pushing her more, but knowing his uncle was right. They needed Lucy to finish her story so they could uncover the truth.

  With a reluctant sigh, he headed for the stairs, but stopped short when he saw his puffy-eyed girlfriend descending.

  "He knew about me." She swallowed. "Wil—Tenner—was calling my name. He was looking for me. Dad fought him and...lost." She breathed out a shaky sigh and wiped away the last of her tears, looking slightly stronger as she came down the last few steps. "I don't know why he wanted me....or I can't remember, but William Tenner has not stopped looking for me. Maybe he thinks I have something or maybe he wants to punish me for something my dad did. I wish I could remember what it was, but my mind has just been living off terror. I can picture the scene so clearly, but some of the words are fuzzy. Right now, the only thing that is crystal clear in my head is Tenner calling my name and telling me to come out from wherever I was hiding."

  "Hmmm." Alex's head tipped to the side. "So you still think he's after you? Even after all this time?"

  Lucy's gaze was hard. "I saw him less than a year ago and he was pretty pissed and determined then."

  "So something's still driving him."

  Lucy frowned as she made her way back into the kitchen.

  "He must have killed your parents for a reason. He took a huge risk doing it. Maybe he wanted something from your dad. They worked together, right? Maybe your dad did something to him at work and it was revenge."

  Lucy swallowed, looking ready to throw up. "My dad was a good man, he would never hurt anybody."

  Patting her arm with a soft smile, Alex shook his head. "I didn't mean it that way. Maybe you're like unfinished business for Tenner."

  "But why? If his beef was with my dad then he's finished! He killed him! Shot him dead! Why come after me too?"

  "Hatred is an ugly demon." Alex shrugged. "It can drive people to do insane things."

  Lucy cringed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

  "Look it's only a theory, I'm just trying to understand the guy."

  "Either way, it doesn't change the fact that he killed her parents and we need to prove that." Zach pointed to the open file on the table. "What do we need to make that happen?"

  "Irrefutable evidence." Alex sighed.

  "Does my testimony count?" Lucy's eyebrows lifted.

  "Maybe. I mean, we'd have to prove you are actually Lucy Tate and somehow prove that you were there that night...and then also prove that you weren't guilty of the crime." Alex cringed.

  Slumping down next to Zach, she rested her head in her hands. "I can't believe they think I did it."

  "Technically your testimony should align with the evidence found at the crime scene, right? So if we can see the evidence, maybe your testimony could hold up in court."

  She swallowed, her skin turning a sickly, pale color. "Court?"

  Alex nodded, not looking up from the file. "As long as it hasn't been doctored." He flipped over the picture and smushed his thumb into William Tenner's face. "If this guy was working the case, we can't rely on anything. We really need to look over those reports. We need to compare your memories with his notes so we can figure out just how doctored the evidence is."

  "How do we get access to those?" Lucy asked.

  "Well, the crime's only five years old, so there'll definitely be records of it."

  "Computer records?" Zach sat forward.

  "Yeah." Alex nodded.

  Grinning at Lucy, he reached for his phone on the edge of the table. "I know just the guy who can help us."

  Chapter 9

  LUCY

  Elliot showed up within fifteen minutes, which I thought was a little miraculous since Zach's call actually woke him! He fumbled in the door, his rumpled clothes and tussled hair making me snigger. He flashed me a half smile that was forced and sat down, placing his laptop gently on the table.

  "Who's coffee is this?" He reached for the cup.

  "Mine." Zach looked bemused as he stood beside me.

  Elliot grabbed the cup and skulled it quickly.

  "He's not a morning person," Zach whispered.

  "Then why is he here so quickly?"

  "Because I want to save your stupid butt." Elliot growled. "Now stop talking behind my back and tell me what you want me to do."

  Alex chuckled, slapping Elliot on the back and taking a seat beside him. "Nice to see you again, Mr. Strickland."

  With a grunt Elliot opened up his laptop then grabbed a few other devices. I had no idea what they were. Zach and I took a seat opposite Elliot, letting Alex do the talking.

  "So, Lucy...," his blue eyes flickered over mine before landing back on our computer geek, "...has remembered a few things."

  Elliot's brown eyes, usually so hard hitting brushed over me gently. "Lucy. Nice."

  I grinned, but it didn't stick around for long.

  After a second Elliot paused, his forehead crinkling as if he remembered something. I dipped my head. Zach must have shown him the files. Was he about to lose it and storm out? I could hear him shouting, "Like hell I'm working for a parent killer." The door would then slam shut and I'd be left wanting to cry, yet again.

  But none of that had a chance to transpire, because Alex drew Elliot's attention with a squeeze to the shoulder.

  "She says her father was murdered by...a powerful man."

  "Yeah." Elliot nodded. "A cop, right?"

  Zach cleared his throat and reached for the photo. "Not exactly. He's Special Agent William Tenner of the FBI."

  "The FB—What? You can't be serious." I kept my gaze steady on his, until his cynical glare popped wide and he slumped back in his chair. "Woah. Heavy."

  "Yeah. Yeah, it is man." Alex shuffled in his chair. "Can you find out a little about him for us?"

  That wasn't really why Elliot was here, but I did think it was a good idea to ease him in slowly. Besides, it was probably good that we found out a little about the man we were trying to take down.

  Elliot's fingers clicked over the keys, the staccato sound making me nervous. A minute later he was wincing at the screen, making it even worse.

  "What?" I didn't mean to snap.

  "Um...Well, Mr. Tenner is now Special Agent in Charge of the San Francisco branch of the FBI."

  My heart sank through my chest and into my stomach. I could feel it drowning in my belly acid. I dropped my head into my hands. "That's how he found me so easily in San Fran. Shorty would have started asking around the...well, the criminals." I tipped my head. "In his position, Tenner would have his finger on the pulse of everything that goes on in that city and if he killed my parents then surely he's involved in other criminal activity, right?" I felt a spark of a memory try to push through my wall, but it faded before I could snatch it.

  "Most likely...unless this was a crime of passion that he's trying to cover his tracks on." Alex clicked his fingers. "Maybe he wants you gone because he sees you as a threat. He must have worked out that you were in the house that night. You're probably that last loose thread in this case."

  I frowned. "Either way, he must have huge influence in the city...maybe even the whole bay area. There's no way we can get this guy."

  "But the crime didn't happen there." Zach squeezed my hand. "It happened in L.A. and Special Agent Jackass doesn't work there anymore."

  "He's still part of the FBI."

  "Yes, but he won't have his eye so closely on L.A. activity." Alex's grin sparked with pride as he looked across at his nephew. "Elliot can you try doing some sort of search to find us the police reports on the Tate's investigation?"

  Elliot's eyebrows rose. "You mean FBI crime reports?"

  "Yeah, from five years ago." He scrambled for the file, flipping through the articles. "Anything to do with Jack and Edith Tate in February 2009."

  Hearing the details rattled off wit
h such detached efficiency made me feel sick. In spite of that, I was starting to feel a tad calmer. Reliving their deaths had been hideous, but there was a certain sense of release. I'd held the details locked in for so long and getting them out seemed to lift a weight off me. I didn't feel that pressure in quite the same way, although I still felt like there was more.

  I tried to relax my brain, see if more would come forth, but I was obviously still scared. My brain muscle seemed to bunch in protest every time I reached for it. It was damn frustrating.

  "You know I can't just Google that information, right?" Elliot lifted his eyebrows.

  "Yeah, we know. That's why we called you." Alex's eyes were fiery as he prepared himself for Elliot's reaction. "We need you to hack into the FBI."

  The air went still around us as everyone held their breath. It was like Elliot had frozen in time, the only thing to move were his eyeballs, which darted from one corner of his eye to the other. Finally, after an age of waiting, a laugh burst from his mouth.

  "Bring it."

  He swiveled in his seat and bent over the keyboard, losing himself in a flurry of keystrokes.

  "I'm gonna try activating a couple of backdoor sleepers that I nabbed from the underground guys."

  I had zero idea what that even meant, but was completely fascinated watching Zach's friend. His eyes ran over the screen, frenetically taking in whatever code he could find. Sometimes he'd frown, other times he'd snicker and half an hour later, he slumped back in his chair with a triumphant smile.

  "So, Dani-girl. What do you need to know?"

  "You did it?" My mouth dropped open.

  "Of course I did it."

  "But it's the FBI."

  "And I'm Elliot Strickland." An arrogant smile stretched across his lips, making Zach laugh.

  "You're such a douche bag."

  Elliot just winked at his friend and shuffled around in his seat. The smile disappeared from his face as he looked up at me. "Come here."

  I nibbled the bottom of my lip as I edged around the table, past Alex, who was already scanning the screen.