Nearly Free

Rachel steps into the squad room to find it back to its typical chaotic mess. Some officers hustle to and fro while others listen to twisted versions of the truth.

"I swear that's what happened, officer," a young teenager says as she walks past. Rachel then sees the amusement on the rookie's face. Shaking her head, she chuckles. 

It must've been a whopper of a tale for Stoneface to look like that.

 His colleagues gave him a nickname because he's always so stoic. Trudging to her desk, Rachel collapses in her chair.

Jerry looks up from his report. "No theatrics this time?" He snickers, recalling her fit of rage.

"The last one wore me out." She falls across her desk. "I'd give just about anything for a good night's sleep."

Jerry chuckles. "Little Joe will be sleeping through the night soon. 

Rachel yawns. "I hope it starts tonight." She yawns again.

"Did you find out anything?"

Too exhausted to sit up, she turns her head his way. "The lady at the community center talked about Abby like she was a saint but claimed she keeps personal matters to herself. Abby did tell her that her parents put her up for adoption, but it could be a part of her charade."

"She was telling the truth." Jerry picks up a piece of paper and continues. "According to her records, Elizabeth Wiser, Aka Abby Miller, was left at a firehouse hours old. She bounced around several group homes and ran away at sixteen. She was married soon after and widowed a year later."

"She was a widow at seventeen?"

"Her husband was found stabbed to death in their home. She disappeared on the same day. The police claim she boarded a bus headed north. They tracked her to Chicago but could never find her from there. Well, not until the night of her arrest.

Rachel springs up in her seat. "They don't believe she killed him, do they?"

"She was at work when the stabbing occurred, but her fleeing the state raised a few red flags."

Rachel remembers her mother's story of how she had to fake her death so Carlos and his gang would leave them alone. DFS took her to live with her father and stepmother, Bonnie, shortly after. "Maybe she fled because she thought she was next."

"Or she paid to have him killed."

"He could've been abusive, and she thought getting rid of him was the only way she could escape." 

"I have the file you requested." Joe hands her a piece of paper.

"This is all Chicago PD has on the case?" Rachel quickly scans the page.

"According to the captain, there was no reason to continue." 

"So, they automatically assumed the drugs were hers."

"It was her house. Everything was in her name."

Rachel points to the statement Elizabeth gave. "A house she shared with her boyfriend for nearly two years."

Joe points further down the page. "He claims they broke up weeks prior. Said her excessive drug habit was more than he could take."

"So, they take his word over hers and call it a day?"

"She fled before they could refute his story."

"They could've asked around, talked to their friends, coworkers, to find out who's telling the truth." She tosses the paper on the desk. "This is just lazy police work if you ask me." She says, smacking the page.

"And the spitfire is back." Jerry chuckles.

Rachel springs out of her chair. With fire in her eyes, she says, "Damn, straight I am. I won't let those wannabe cops railroad an innocent woman because they're too damn lazy to do real police work."

 "Before you get too worked up."

"It's a little late for that, Jerr." The captain chuckles, glancing over at his wife.

"I did a little research on that case." Grabbing a second report, he continues. "Her boyfriend was arrested with ten kilos of cocaine a few weeks later. I asked the officers to compare what they found in her apartment to what they arrested him with, and the officers discovered they're cut and packaged the same."

Rachel scoops up the piece of paper. "That can't be a coincidence. "

"They thought so too, said they'd look into it."

"I'm going to make sure they do." Rachel grabs her phone off her desk.

Jerry shakes his head. "The Chicago PD has no idea what's heading their way." Rachel's berating has brought hardened criminals to tears.

Joe chuckles. "I almost feel sorry for them."

"Me too, boss, me too."

***

I thought the trip would never end. Abby moves the row of toys and slides out. It's a warm, sunny day. The sun shines in the clear morning sky. Birds are chirping all around her. The small power nap she took has her ready to face almost anything.

Abby notices the keys in the ignition when she glances toward the front. Thelma must've forgotten them. A thought suddenly comes to mind. No, I couldn't. I just couldn't not after everything she did for me. It'd be safer, and I could get further quicker if I did. No, I can't do that to Thelma and Ned. 

She starts to slide the back door open when a harrowing thought stops her in her tracks. I'll be in the same situation I was a few years ago if I don't take the van. Her mind drifts back to the day she and Thelma met.

It was a cold, gray, blizzardy day. Two feet of snow had already fallen, with more on the way. Abby steps inside a soup kitchen, hoping to eat and get warm.

Seeing the wet, shivering girl in the entryway, Thelma pulls her aside. "Why don't I find you something dry to put on," she suggests.

Abby sees the line of people waiting for food. "I can wait until you finish with everyone.

She sees the young girl's teeth chattering and says, "Nonsense. You'll catch your death of cold if you stay in those wet things any longer." Taking her hand, Thelma leads her to the back.

Pulling clean clothes from a box, Thelma hands them to her. "The bathroom is around the corner. Clean towels are in there if you want to freshen up."

Abby glances at her outfit. She knows they don't look like much, but they've kept her warm the past few months. "What about this? She points to her tattered clothes.

"I'll wash and dry them so you can have them too."

Abby gazes out the window to find the snow falling again and shivers. "I'm going to need all the extra layers I can get."

"You're not planning on sleeping outside tonight, are you?"

"I don't have a choice. All the shelters are full."

Thelma takes the young girl's cold, bony hands in hers. "I won't have it. Nope, You're coming home with me."

"But I ..."

Thelma squeezes her hands. "This isn't up for discussion. Get changed, and then we'll get you something to eat."

I would've frozen to death if she hadn't taken me in. 

Thelma and Ned gave her a place to stay until she could get back on her feet. They even called in a few favors to get her a fake ID.

She sees a note taped to the steering wheel when she walks towards the front. Her name is in bold letters across the top. She did know I was back there. Chuckling, she unfolds the paper and begins to read.

Dear Friend

You told us this day might come. So, Ned and I have been helping you prepare like we said we would. You'll find a new identity and a burner phone in the storage compartment between the seats.

Ned wanted to do his part, so he bought you the van and licensed it under your new identity. The registration papers and a bit of money are in the glove compartment. There's also a storage container of food behind the passenger seat.

Stay safe, sweetheart, and please call us often to let us know you're alright. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask, no matter what time it might be.

Friends Forever,

Thelma and Ned

She wipes away the tears streaming down her face. "I'll never forget this, never." 

 She reaches into the glove compartment and pulls out a stack of papers. She peeks inside the bank envelope. "There's over a thousand dollars in there."

She turns on the cell phone and dials her friend's number. The police might be listening in. Hanging up, she dials the hospital instead. "Please pass me to the OB department." Abby nervously glances around as she waits to be connected. 

OB department, Thelma speaking.

"Thank you so much. You're the greatest."She says, putting the call on speaker.

"It's the least we can do for our dear, sweet friend."

 "I don't know how I'll ever repay you." 

"Your happiness is payment enough. My friend is expecting you, so you better get going and be sure to call us when you arrive. 

"Your friend, but I?"

"You'll find everything you need on the dash. I gotta go. Stay safe, honey, and know that we'll always love you."

"I love you too. Tell Ned thank you, and I love him." 

"I will, god-spead, dear girl." Thelma disconnects the call. 

Abby glances toward the hospital. I love you guys more than you'll ever know. Sniffling, she dries her face again. Clearing her throat, she says, Enough of the bawling, Abby. Wiping her face one last time, she reaches for the folded paper under the dash. She then sees a sticky note that reads:

"The highlighted area will take you to my friend's house. She's aware of your situation and has agreed to help. Ned programmed her address into your phone's GPS since you probably feel more comfortable using it, being a millennial and all." 

"You just had to get one last banter in. Didn't you?" Abby laughs through her tears. She then recalls a few other remarks Thelma said. "I'm going to miss that, miss you two terribly." Enough of this pity party already, Abby, let's go, she thinks. Abby never allowed herself to get too emotional because, in her opinion, emotions are a sign of weakness, and she could never afford nor allow herself to be considered weak.

Abby is reaching for her phone when she hears a tap on the window. She looks over to find an officer by her door.