The Stranger She Loved (COMPLETED)

Chapter 7

As she closed the door, something caught her attention. She stretched upward to retrieve a book that was carefully hidden on the back of the top shelf. Kayla took the small paper back and was surprised to see that it was the award winning book Thelma had written. Why would he try to hide that he had read the book.
Casually flipping through the pages, she came across a bended page and she stopped abruptly. On the page that showed a family photo of the victims there was a picture of the murderer.
There lying between the book pages were three other driver’s licenses and four national ids along with three passports. All documents contained the same picture of Andrew that highly resembled the man in Thelma’s book but all were issued under a different name.
She took out her phone to take a picture for Bree but it was knocked out of her hand. A broad palm, cupped her mouth and absorbed her cries for help.
“You just couldn’t keep your nose out of what didn’t concern you right?” questioned Andrew in disgust.
“Now I’m going to have to get you out of the way”
He took rope from out of the closet, replaced the book and tied Kayla. He took her phone and stuffed his rag down her throat.
He was going to have to do it really soon.
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Even though she was really worried, Bree managed to persuade herself that Kayla’s phone was probably dead or that her friend was probably busy. She allowed herself to fall into a troubled sleep and awoke at the first break of day. She skipped her morning routine and instead drove straight to Kayla’s home.
She used her key to enter the home and belted her friend’s name.
“Kayla! Kay Kayla” she screamed.
She searched upstairs and downstairs thoroughly but saw no sign of her best friend. As she came downstairs, Kayla’s mother was just arriving back home from her two day seminar. She took one look at the deathly pale face of Brianna, and took her in her arms.
“I can’t find Kayla,” she said between sobs. ”Have you seen her?”
“No hunny I thought she was with you, I just got home.”
Many persons got called and everyone began searching for Kayla. After three long and futile hours, Thelma called Dave and he put it on dispatch. It came on breaking news and then the police got a warrant for the teen girl’s home.
Just as he was about to head to Kayla’s home, an assistant handed him the results of the DNA test he had ordered. It confirmed his suspicions that the dead man’s DNA was a positive match to that found under Brianna’s nails on the day of the attack. What didn’t make sense was the other DNA sample that was around his neck it appeared he was strangled. They were similar to Andrew, but he couldn’t understand why.
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Back at Kayla’s house there was a sad cloud hanging above the family and friends.  Kayla’s dad had left work early to be with his wife and Thelma came over to be there for Bree, who was soaked in her own tears.
After a few minutes, Dave came down and set Kayla’s computer on the table in the living room.
“She sent me those”, said Bree and she looked at the last opened tabs on the machine. She unlocked her phone and showed the officers the last conversation she had with Kayla. One last picture that wasn’t sent to Brianna showed a picture of Andrew visiting an old man in prison who looked like an older version of him.
As her mind absorbed what was before her, Bree took up her phone and dialed Andrew’s number.
“Don’t tell him anything, said Dave to Bree. Let him do the talking so we can track him.
“Hey boo-“
“Don’t boo me Andrew what did you do to her?!”
“I didn’t do anything babe, I had to go check on a boat that I had fixed earlier.” He lied
“Got it”, whispered Dave as he recorded Andrew’s location.
Unable to keep it in, Brianna burst out in tears saying it was her fault.
“No it’s not dear,” said Kayla’s mom also in tears as she rubbed Bree’s slumped back.
Dave put in a call to the station and another officer called Andrew. All 10 calls to the young man’s phone proved futile and only caused the persons at the Edward home to be more concerned.
He tried calling her back several times but Bree didn’t accept any if Andrew’s calls. Then ‘Wife’ popped up on her phone screen at the next call. She didn’t allow it to ring a second time but answered it then.
“Kayla?” she said into the microphone.
“Just please listen to me Bree,” pleaded Andrew.
With wide eyes all the persons in the room looked around and Dave whispered Code blue into his walkie-talkie. When he realized what he had done, Andre ended the call immediately. He knew he couldn’t go to his boat now so he headed to Garfield Avenue to wait.

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Meanwhile, aboard Andrew’s boat”
“She’s got a pulse! Call a bus” shouted the officer who sat beside a bound and distraught Kayla.
Dave breathed a sigh of relief and called Thelma.
“We’ve got her, heading to the University Hospital”
“Yeah, love you too.”

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As soon as she ended the call and told everyone in the room the news, Thelma, Kayla’s parents and Brianna raced to the hospital.
There were tears of joy inside room 104 when both best friends saw each other. He is Pepe’s son said Kayla to Thelma.
“Sssssh……” coaxed Bree, “just relax”
“Go home and lock up the place.” Said Dave to Thelma.
They dropped the Edwards off at their home then drove to Garfield Avenue.
By then BOLO (be on lookout of) had been posted right around the city for Andrew.