The Killer Fix

Chapter 4

The snowfall carried on all through the night and has left the campus white and chilled. A year ago around this time Riley was shopping for Christmas decorations in the city with college friends, enjoying her normal life. She didn't even visit her family at the house in Long Island during the holidays, instead Carrie came to her. 

But now the December celebrations are the last thing on her mind. As she makes her way from her last class to the parking lot she plans the next step in her investigation. God, please don't let that license plate be a dead end, she wishes. 

As she reaches her car she suddenly feels herself lose her footing on the ice. A split second later she's down. 

'Careful, the weather's traitorous.' The familiar voice floating on the icy breeze towards her is bitter and disinterested. 'Bryn.' 

With difficulty Riley pushes herself up and brushes the snow off her jeans. Bryn doesn't look any more forgiving than she did last night. 

'I've decided something.' She begins, seeming determined as she moves her hand through her mesmerizingly long, blond hair to clear her face. 'I'm really mad at you, I think I will be for a while. But I'm still going to help you find Carrie's kidnapper. For her, not for you.' 

Riley carefully attempts to look her in the eye. 'Are you going to tell Sofia?' 

'For now I'll keep your secret. But out of respect for Carrie I seriously urge you not to start anything with Aaron during this whole ordeal.' 

Before she can answer Bryn's eyes wander past Riley and her bitter looks intensifies. 'Speak of the devil.' 

Riley turns to see Aaron approaching. 'Hey, I traced the license plate. The car belongs to a rental place in Queens.' He hands her a scrap of paper with an address on it. 

'Are you sure you want to keep pursuing this? I mean, with that girl being killed...' Aaron starts, but Riley quickly cuts him off. 'I'm not giving up.' 

Seemingly annoyed, Bryn escapes from the scene and into the car. 'I should go.' Riley says, avoiding the worry in his eyes as she turns her back to him, not letting it reach her. 

Right there she decides she can't tell anyone about the threat she received last night. Aaron will just try to stop her, and she doubts Sofia and Bryn would approve either. That is, if Bryn still cares...

∾

Luck does not appear to be on their side. As Riley parks the car on the empty lot in front of the rental place, the sign saying 'FORECLOSURE' practically screams in their faces. 

'Great, what do we do now?' Bryn's clearly irritable mood is increasing by the minute. Riley gets out of the car and begins to circle the building, checking every door and window. 

'Jesus, this place is run-down.' Bryn scolds. After braving the chilled winter air, she has now taken a stand in the middle of the lot as she throws dirty looks at the building. 

'What are you doing?' Riley begins climbing onto an empty wooden crate on the side of the building as Bryn walks over.

'That window up there, it's cracked. I could get in through there.' Riley suggests.

'And then what? I don't think much is going to be left in there.' Bryn counters.

'Didn't you see the date on the foreclosure sign? It was shut down last week, from what I can see through the windows they haven't cleaned the place out yet.'

As Riley tries to find her balance on the wobbly crate she reaches for the window. 'It's still too high, can you boost me up?' Bryn sighs loudly before stepping onto the crate and holding her hands down for Riley. 'Ouch! Would you just hurry?'