Kiara moved swiftly toward the bus stop. The streets were quiet, but her instincts buzzed with tension. She needed to get out of town before the long arm of the law caught up with her. Her only hope lay in her father. If anyone could help her navigate what she had done to Jim, it was him. But to get there, she had to disappear, now.
Her hand instinctively brushed against the small blade tucked into her jacket. After ten years of training, she wasn't helpless, but adrenaline coursed through her veins, sharpening her focus. She'd already killed one person tonight, she didn't want to encounter another person that would meet the same fate if they crossed her path.
Then Kiara heard it, a car creeping behind her, headlights off, moving at a snail's pace. Her instincts flared. She didn't turn around. Looking back would tip them off that she knew. Instead, she kept her stride even, her mind already racing for an exit plan.
Aunt Charlotte's voice filled with grief rose in her mind, recounting the day her mother vanished without a trace. Kiara's jaw tightened. She refused to be a ghost story. Not tonight
As soon as she reached the corner she pivoted quickly and ran, before she slid quietly into the shadows. She moved from one side street to the other each time the distance between her and the car widening. She checked her watch. She had five minutes till the bus from San Antonio to L.A. pulled up at the terminal. Her only ticket to freedom and family.
When the terminal came into view, she stayed in the shadows, eyes scanning the perimeter. The car was gone…for now. The bus had just arrived, its doors open and waiting. Briskly she made her way to the bus, up the steps, paid her fare, and headed straight for the back.
She slouched low in her seat, hood pulled forward, fingers resting lightly on the blade in her jacket. She checked through the dark reflection in the window. No sign of the car.
As the bus pulled away, her shoulders loosened slightly. They were moving. Only then did she allow herself to exhale. She stayed that way for several minutes before finally straightening in her seat.
Kiara slipped in her earbuds, but didn't play any music. Instead, she studied every passenger, cataloging movements, scanning for oddities. This was going to be a long twenty-seven hours, and she wouldn't let her guard down.
When she finally stepped off the bus in L.A., it was 1:00 a.m. Her muscles were tight, her stomach growled, and her eyes burned with fatigue. The city pulsed even in the dead of night. She pulled out her phone and opened the Pink Ride app, exclusive to female riders. After what happened with Jim, she wasn't taking any chances with unwelcomed male encounters.
She waited under the flickering bus stop light. Her breath fogged slightly in the cool air, and she wrapped her arms around herself, part for warmth, part for comfort. She kept her head down just in case the police had already begun to circulate her photo for Jim's murder.
Fifteen minutes later, a sedan pulled up. The female driver rolled down the window. "Hi there, are you Kiara?" she asked, her voice warm.
Kiara double-checked the license plate and the driver's photo. "Yes, that's me," she said cautiously.
"Great! I'm Jessie," the woman replied. "Hop in."
Kiara got in, grateful for the silence Jessie offered as she drove. No small talk, no probing questions. Just the hum of engine and the city rushing past. Eventually, the car slowed to a stop.
"We're here," Jessie said.
"Thanks," Kiara murmured, transferring the payment before stepping out.
Standing in front of the office building bearing the name Bertarelli's Law Firm, Kiara pondered her next move. Now that she knew where her father worked she needed to occupy herself until 8:00 a.m.
She walked until she stumbled upon an all-night burger joint. She entered to find only a handful of patrons lingering. Taking a seat, she was soon approached by a middle-aged waitress with kind eyes and the name tag "Donnie".
"Hey there, sugar. You're out late tonight. Everything alright?"
Kiara offered a weary smile and blurted out. "I just got into town. My aunt passed away."
Donnie's face softened. "I'm really sorry to hear that, sweetheart. Your aunt will always live in your heart."
Kiara nodded, unsure of how to respond.
Donnie handed her a menu. "Choose anything you want, it's on the house. You look like you need some comfort food."
"Thank you," Kiara said quietly, ordering a bacon burger, curly fries, a soda, and ice cream.
Fifteen minutes later, Donnie returned with two trays and slid into the booth across from her.
"Mind if I sit? Just to keep you company."
Kiara shook her head. "I'd like that."
Donnie leaned in, voice lowered. "Don't look now, but the guy two booths down behind you? He's been staring since you walked in. Don't worry. He won't get near you with me here."
Kiara discreetly glanced at the man's reflection in the mirror overhead. She couldn't see his face since it was hidden in the menu he was reading.
"Thanks for watching out for me," she said. "It means a lot."
Donnie smiled and bit into her burger. "So, sugar, tell me a bit about yourself…"
Kiara took a breath. Then began, "I'm looking for my father..."