Unfamiliar (Unfamiliar Series #1)

Chapter 39

The first thing I do when I get back to campus the next day is call up Officer Marshall. Part of me doesn't want to ask for her help, but to be honest, my hands are tied. She's the only one who could keep track of all of this on paper record in case anything happens to me. 

I shiver at the thought as the dial tone hums in my ear. 

"Officer Marshall of Salem PD speaking?" she inquires after she picks up the phone, her voice polite and neutral from its place on the other side of the line.

I can hear that there are other people in the background and I can guess that she's sitting at her desk at the police station. I choose my next words carefully in case her calls are being monitored as I sit in my dorm room alone, Tessa and Astrid having already gone to class. Which leaves today's investigation up to me. 

"I think I might have some information that you'll want to hear," I tell her.

"Kara, I was hoping that you would call, can I meet you somewhere to talk soon?" she asks, her tone changing, but only slightly.

I have her attention.

Which is good, she believed in my urgency.  

"Where would you like to meet?"

"There's a coffee house not too far away from my station, if you're interested, it's the Front Street Coffeehouse," she offers.

"I'll meet you there in twenty minutes," I promise.

"See you then, Kara," she replies without missing a beat as she hangs up the phone.

****

I navigate the quiet dorm building alone, as most everyone else is in class when I head out. I take an Uber over to the coffee house. The roads are narrow as the Uber takes me deeper downtown and brick-faced buildings line both sides of the street and press in close around me like watching eyes. The Uber eventually pulls up to a store where a few wrought-iron tables and chairs sit along the curb in front of a newer, brick building.

No one is sitting outside with it being this early in the morning, as the weather is particularly cold and oddly bitter. 

I draw my coat closer around myself and get out. I take a steadying breath and pull my beanie down over my ears before I hustle up to the front door. Warm air billows over me when I open the door and step inside where low music is playing overhead. The interior is a quaint split level and has dark hardwood floors and brick walls while a couple of stairs lead up to the counter where coffee can be ordered.

People are sitting at many of the tables and the chatter mixed with the whine of coffee machines and blenders being used bombard me. The overpowering smell of food and coffee makes my mouth water and my stomach clench at the thought of food. I glance around, searching the faces of the crowd as someone suddenly lifts a hand. I recognize them as being Officer Marshall as she offers a hesitant smile.

I walk over to the table that she's claimed along the wall and sit down across from her as she shakes her head at me.

"There's a sitting area out back, I wanted to sit here until you showed up and then we could move out there where it's a bit quieter," she says as her eyes dart to a nearby table where a younger couple is sitting.

I get the hint immediately, 'quieter' as in, less listening ears to overhear us.

"Did you want to order anything to eat?" Officer Marshall inquires.