In a small café, settled somewhere in the middle of nowhere, Missouri, a young woman arranges an assortment of fresh flowers in little white vases. She's early for her shift at Mama Ray's, she always is, but Brianna doesn't mind. She loves doing this; loves how one tiny act will brighten so many people's day – all because of a small vase of fresh flowers. She plays with the yellow buds, surrounding them with the red roses.

It's been half a year now.

Half a year since she last heard anything about Jamie.

She doesn't know if he's alive – she assumes he is, else the news would be all over it. She often sends a little whisper up to the 'Big Man Upstairs'. Please, let him be all right. She's sure Commissioner Reagan has regretted helping she and her brother many times over. Truth be told, she hadn't expected him to keep his word, and put them under Witness Protection.

Which is why she squealed louder than a stuck pig on her uncle.

0/0/0/0/0

"I know where my Uncle's base of operations is," she tells Cop 1 as soon as he steps into the one windowed room.

He blinks – probably more than a little surprised at the free information. A sharp grin grows over his lean face. "That so?"

"Yes."

Cop 2 looks worried. Her dark eyes dart from Bianca to her partner, and then back. Bianca stays lounged in the uncomfortable chair. She won't show fear, not here, not when her brother's life is on the line.

"So," Cop 1 asks, sitting down across from her. "Where is it?"

She snorts. "Yeah, no. This isn't the Little Leagues. I'm not giving anything else for free."

His chair screeches against the floor when he jerks up. She stiffens, but stays where she is. The man slams his palms against the table between them. "Free?! You're protected here, all cozy, while my – while a good cop is in the hospital, fighting for his life. And you want more?!"

"Yes!" She fights the urge to stand, hates how sitting makes the man feel taller, bigger. She leans forward. "I have no guarantees, no paperwork, nothing to stand on if you should pull out. My brother may trust you all, but I'm not that stupid. I want it in writing, right now, that you'll put us both in WitSec, together."

She crosses her legs. "Otherwise, I'm not telling you anything."

"You think –!" Cop 1 starts.

"Danny!" Cop 2 pushes her partner back a little. Warm eyes fall sympathetically on her. Bianca's not fooled a bit. She knows a play when she sees one.

"You really think we'd do that?" Cop 2 asks.

"I know how angry cops get with one of their own." Bianca narrows her eyes. "So, yeah, I do. Gonna prove me wrong?"

She arches her eyebrow – silent gauntlet thrown down.

Cop 1 vibrates with tension as Cop 2 sits down, pulling out a pen and paper. "I can write up an agreement."

Bianca thinks on this. It's probably the best she'll get. They can't afford to wait for a lawyer. Oh, Bianca could stall long enough for that, but then her Uncle would get away with everything. She nods. "Write it."

And that's all she wrote, folks.

Btw, Brianna is Bianca Sanfino.