Abigail

The man in the photograph had his back to the camera. But I knew, I had always known someone had been there that night.

The parking lot was emptying around me, car engines turning on with headlights sweeping across the tarmac. I stood beside my car and stared at the blurry image in my hand.

This wasn’t in the box sent to me. There wasn’t a picture of a man bending over the car that night or the press wouldn’t have ruled it out as a single car accident.

My fingers shook. Oh my god, this was proof, undeniable proof that they were murdered, the man was evening bending over my parents car. With this I could get the police to start the investigation again.

But what about all the warnings I got?

I dragged a hand over my face, biting back a groan. Who was this person? Were they friends or foes? Why did it seem like they were trying to help me one minute but the next, they were threatening me?

Why did they keep dropping clues and won’t meet me? What exactly are we playing at?

I whipped out my phone to take several pictures of the grainy photograph. A message from Annette slid atop the screen.

Annette: Babygirl where are you? The girls are here.

We were supposed to have dinner with Sasha and Jade at this fancy restaurant and because Jade had a kid already, this was the best time she could squeeze out to have dinner with us. I glared at the picture.

I didn’t want to drag things out. I had to find whoever the hell this bastard was who killed my parents and I couldn’t do that if I was going to sit around waiting for whoever sent me this picture.

They already helped by sending me this. It’s all the proof I needed to get the police back on investigating the case, after all there was no statute of limitations on a murder case, right?

***

The drive to the NYPD precinct took fifteen minutes but getting the desk sergeant to get his ass off his seat and attend to me took a freaking hour.

"I’ve told you all you need to know, ma’am, you need to fill out the form and someone will be in touch." He grunted, like he had better things to do than the phone he was currentlh doomscrolling on.

"I want a timeframe," I hissed through my teeth, trying not to lose my shit. "I already filled the form as you just shoved it into your desk drawer. How am I sure that form will see the light of day?"

"Are you trying to tell me how to do my job? Are you calling me incompetent?"

"If the shoe fits," I shrugged.

His ears burned red, I could almost his hsi veins popping as he supplied an unbefitting response "Ma’am, we have active cases that require more attention-"

"My parents’ murderer is roaming scot-free, all around the fucking place. I don’t care how many cases you have. Add this one to that pile. I have proof that it’s not just a car accident!" I slapped my palm flat on the counter. "Please, you have to help me,"

He sighed, rolling his eyes and leaned forward. "I’ll see what we can do, check back in like two weeks or whatever,"

Damn, looks like they taught shitty attitude as a course at whatever police academy this guy went to.

I stalked out of the New York Police Department, the picture sitting pretty in my bag. The warning from that building Annette and I had gone to flashed through my head.

Be careful what you search for.

I knew it wouldn’t be easy. I just needed progress, however small. I would find my parents’ murderer and I was going to make them rot in jail.

****

"ABIGAIL KELLERMAN, YOU ARE AN HOUR LATE!"

Sasha’s voice carried across the entire restaurant as I walked in. She had her hand raised up from our table with a wine glass pointing at me.

I winced, blushing slightly when heads in the restaurant turned to us.

"Jesus Christ, calm your tits, Sash, I got held up," A grin tugged at my lips as I got yanked down to my seat. Annette arched a brow, her eyes searching my face and I gave her a small smile assuring her I was fine. I would be, once the fucker in that picture was put behind bars.

"Held up!" Sasha scoffed. "She was held up! Girls, the audacity. I should have eaten your food, I knew I should have."

Jade slid a full glass toward me. "You’re welcome."

"Gosh, I love you guys," I groaned, snatching up the glass and downing the wine. "So, what did I miss?"

"Annette was just giving us more deets about that balless ex fiancee!" Sasha hissed. "Girl, that had to be the shittiest valentine day present,"

"Tell me about it," I groaned. "The snivelling piece of shit works with the company I work for now,"

"No way," Jade chuckled, flipping her violet colored hair over her shoulder. With the piercings and tattoos she had, nobody would have guessed she would be the first to settle down. "Please tell me you set fire to his dick or something."

"Easy girl, is this how you threaten poor Darren at home?" Sasha guffawed.

She flexed her deep purple nails, her skull head wedding ring glinting on her finger. "Oh he knows better than to stick his dick anywhere else that isn’t my pussy,"

"Or your mouth," Annette snickered. "Or your asshole-"

"Okay we get it, jeez, y’all are nasty," Sasha scoffed, clapping a hand over her ears playfully. "Did you see the party Jennifer’s raving about on her Instagram? Should we go? I hear there’s a lot of celebrities showing up,"

We chatted for a while, made plans for a girls trip in a few months and when my bladder felt like it would explode, I excused myself to the bathroom.

I was halfway back to my desk, feeling light headed and much better but that was probably just the wine flooding my system when a voice came from behind me and had me stiffening.

"Good evening, Aphrodite."