I jolt awake to the deafening sound of my phone ringing. My brain tries to process the sudden onslaught of sound as I blearily look at the caller ID.

Unknown.

"Hello," I pick up. My voice is cautious and still dazed with sleep. 

"Reagan! It's great to hear your voice!"

I'm instantly wide awake as I recognize the voice.

"Rick!?"

"Sure is. They're letting me have my one phone call."

And he chose to call me.

Tears fill my eyes, at the thought of him sitting in prison. "Rick, I know you didn't do it."

His weary sigh echoes through the phone. "Try telling that to them. They have evidence and a witness."

Gazing out the room's window, I grip the phone tight. "Rick I am NOT going to let you rot in prison for something you didn't do! I'm going to get you out."

"And how are you going to do that?" He inquires, his tone almost mocking.

I hesitate before replying. "Don't worry, I have a plan."

"A plan? Reagan! Don't do anything stupid!" I pull the phone slightly from my ear as he shouts.

"When have I ever done anything stupid?" I try to lighten the mood, then turn serious again as my heart clenches. "How are you?"

Rick lets out a long breath. "Reagan, don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

I grasp the phone hard enough for it to hurt my hand. "Rick, are they hurting you? Please tell me they're not hurting you!"

"I told you Reagan, I'll be fine! Now I have to go my times up, but I'm serious don't do anything stupid! Though it is you we're talking about. I love you."

I let out a small laugh at his lame insult. The tears finally spill from my eyes as I whisper,"Love you too, Rick."

The line goes dead and I let my phone fall into my lap, more saddened than overjoyed by the phone call.

What if Rick was being hurt? I had heard that jail wasn't easy on inmates and his assurance hadn't been very convincing.

I startle as my phone rings again and my heart hopes it's Rick once more. Frowning down at the number, I pick up.

"Hey, Amanda."

"Reagan! Hey, I just got your message, I'm so sorry I never got the chance to tell you I moved!"

I'm incredulous. "To where?"

"It's a smaller town about an hour and a half outside of Chicago!"

I wince, that's too far from the city. There's no way I can stay with her. 

"That's great, Amanda. Thanks for calling so soon." The end of my sentence has a sarcastic bite to it. 

"No problem. Oh my goodness! Do you need a place to stay? I have an old room mate who'd be happy to have some company!"

I'm slightly annoyed by now. I'd never known my cousin to be so dim-witted. A refusal is on my lips but she continues talking, not waiting for my answer.

"I'll send you the address."

"But—"

"Oh, I gotta go Reagan talk to you later!"

She hangs up before I can say anything else. Pissed off, I stare at my phone as if it might magically show me what I should do next.

Getting off the bed, I open my suitcase and pull out a nice pair of skinny jeans and a bright red blouse. I pull on my converse and grab my suitcase. Leaving the less than stellar room, I head to the front desk to check out.

A few minutes later, my purse is seventy five dollars lighter. I thrust my suitcase in the back of the car. Looking at the sky, I frown at the stained gray clouds. 

It better not start raining. I hadn't thought to bring an umbrella.

Seriously Reagan? You hadn't thought of anything!

Impatiently silencing my inner voice, I start up the car and head towards the police station.

If anyone knows about murders it would be them.

~

"What do you mean that's confidential information?!" I exclaim, leaning over to look the cop in his cold eyes.

"Miss, as I said before you need to leave and allow the professionals to handle things."

Where had the damn professionals been when Rick had gotten falsely accused and convicted?

Opening my mouth, I'm ready to argue further but decide against it. Instead I shut my mouth, reeling my temper back in. Without another word to the cop, I walk out. My head is held high, even as I fum on the inside.

I hadn't gotten anything, much less any leads!

Stepping into the busy street, a newspaper article, which is taped to a window, catches my attention.

STAR COLLEGE QUARTERBACK FOUND GUILTY FOR MURDER

COURT RULES DEATH SENTENCE

I frown and walk closer to the paper, scanning the article.

"Excuse me?"

I jolt and turn. My eyes widen in surprise, as I take in the small girl who had spoken. Despite her small stature she doesn't look much older than me.

"Yes?" I ask, cautious. She looks harmless enough standing there on the sidewalk, but I still feel uneasy.

She is a bit close to Rick's car...

"Are you investigating about the murders?" Her sweet voice has a childlike quality to it, yet this fails to comfort me.

I'm caught off guard by her question and hesitate to answer, but then nod.

No harm in telling her that, I try to convince myself.

The girl shifts on her feet, wringing out her small pale hands.

"—my cousin had his trial last week—h-he got sentenced to death."

She whispers the last part, as if still horrified by what had happened and refusing to believe it.

I feel myself soften slightly, although still unsure why she was talking to me. "I'm sorry."

She looks at me, her large, amber eyes shining with unshed tears.

"You want to investigate right?" Her voice shaking with an almost desperately hopeful tone. "Well...I heard that there's something going on over in West Chatham, some people claiming they know something about the trials, claiming that they're rigged."

My ears perk up, this was exactly the kind of info I was searching for. But how would she have known that I'd want to investigate?

The girl continues. "If there's any way you could prove that my cousin and the others are innocent..." 

She trails off and fidgets some more.

"Others?" I exclaim in surprise. 

She nods her head vigorously. "I know of at least five other cases here."

"You said West Chatham?" I ask.

"Yes, it's on the other side of the city. It's not a big place and isn't the best neighborhood, but if you're looking for information that's your place to go. I'm not sure how valid the talk is, but..."

She shrugs, though the hopeful look she has still has yet to disappear from her face.

I thank her and she wishes me luck.

Getting into Rick's car, I suppress a sudden shudder. The girl had seemed friendly enough, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something had been off about her.

On the road again, I find I have about an hour before sunset.

Seems I had spent more time harassing the cop than I thought.

Impatiently deciding not to wait until tomorrow to check out what the girl had claimed, I bring my GPS up on my phone and high tail it towards West Chatham.