The One I Knew

Chapter 7

**Picture is of Susan Sullivan cast as Avery Smith**

* Ring Ring Ring*

Moaning, I leaned over and glanced at my phone.

Caller I.D: Michael Cabyl

I blew tangled wisps of hair out of my face and answered. "Hello?" I coughed, my throat soar.

"Rose...I'm so sorry..." Michael said, his voice shaky.

"What are you to be sorry about? What happened?" I asked, sitting up in bed. I winced when my injured ankle touched the ground. I shoved the phone between my ear and shoulder and bent down to take the wrap off.

"He's dead. Rose Joshua is dead."

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"What?" I asked finally. The phone had fallen from my shoulder and hit the phone with a clatter. My fingers fumbled numbly around the wrap. I leaned over and shoved the phone back under my ear. "What happened?"

"We found him in his cell. A...A gunshot through his head."

"He killed himself?"

"That's what we think, but we're not sure. I want you to come down and check it out."

"Alright, I'll be there in half an hour," I sighed, running my hand through my tangled mass of hair.

"See you then," he said. Then with a click, the call ended. I tossed my phone in the middle of my bed and stood up, putting weight on my uninjured foot. Daring a glimpse, I saw that my ankle was completely swollen with black and blue bruises. I sighed deeply and limped into the bathroom. I didn't even bother to try and cover up the bruise and cut lip with makeup. I knew that with however much I used, it would still show. Instead I just added eyeliner and brushed my hair. I carefully slipped my legs through a pair of comfortable jeans and threw on a black, button down shirt.

Walking out of my bedroom, I sat down at one of the chairs and wrapped my ankle up again. Leaning across the table, I grabbed the bottle of pain killers and downed a couple. I stepped  into a comfortable, light pair of flats and  headed to the door. Grabbing my badge, keys, phone, and a jacket I headed out. Hopping into my car, I drove down to the precinct. 

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"Where is he?" I asked as soon as I stepped inside. Michael jogged up to me, his hair a mess. Without a word, I followed him to the other side of the precinct where we kept the cells. Upon entering, a cool, uneasy chill caused a shiver to run down my back.

"I hate it back here," I whispered, more to myself than anyone. Michael nodded and led me to one on the left. Stepping inside I found Joshua laying on his back. Leaning over, I found a bullet hole right through his temple. "Immediate death, but it wasn't suicide," I noted.

"How do you know for sure?" He asked, surprised.

"Joshua was right-handed, the wound is on the left side. It would be difficult to maneuver your hand that way, almost impossible. So not a suicide. Someone shot him and planted the gun on him to make it look like a suicide."

"Who would that be? Who would want him dead?" Right then I remembered the text from last night.

"Eric," I said, showing Joshua my phone.

"He contacted you," Michael said, anger flashing through his eyes. "Rose you're becoming more in danger everyday that we work on this case-"

"Don't. Don't try to take me off this case, just because you're worried about my safety. Malissa was my friend, so was Joshua. Kathryn is still out there and I an determined to find her. Even if that means putting myself at the front lines," I said, my hands resting on my hips. Michael just nodded, not saying a word. He didn't need to. His now slouched stature told me he was saddened and not happy about me staying. His eyes gave the same conclusion, but also showed that he understood why I needed to stay.

"Guys! You better get in here!" One of the other detectives, Derek, called. We ran out of the cell room and found everyone crowded around one of the computers.

"Pull it on the large screen," I called over. Now that Joshua was dead, Michael and I were in charge. Derek obeyed and clicked pulled up a disturbing video.

"H-He says that if y-you keep up the investigation, h-he'll kill me," Kathryn stuttered. Her face was covered in blood, bruises, and was tears stained. Her blue eyes glinted with fresh tears as she relayed the message he was no doubt showing her from behind the camera. Her hands were tied behind her and the chair she sat on, her feet tied to the chair legs. My heart jumped to my throat.  I had to save her and fast.

"Rose Phillips, please. Oh god, please save me," she cried. I looked up at the screen, my heart beating hard and fast. She didn't know me, how did she know my name? "Rose please. He says that if you give yourself up to him he'll set me free..." She stopped, her eyes looking past the camera. The darkness of an idea  flashed in them. "ROSE DON'T DO IT! HE'LL KILL US BOTH, DON'T GIVE YOURSELF UP! SAVE ME. ROSE. SAVE ME. HE'S TAKEN ME TO THE PLACE-" She screamed, but the live video ended before she could finish. But she had given me all the information I needed. I looked over to Michael, he mouth open wide in shock.

He looked over at me and realization dawned upon him. He reached over and tried to grab my arm. I dodged him and ran.

He knew what I was going to do.

Something stupid.

Something brilliant.

Something that would inevitably get me killed.

The only thing I could do,

Go to  the place where everything started.

I finally figured out who Eric was.