What is this supposed to be?" Miranda's icy tone
seemed to echo through the small office and sending shivers down the rookie's spine.
"Well, Ma'am-" Chief Miller was cut off by the editor.
"Miranda"
The chief nodded, sitting down behind his desk. "Miranda," He began again. "We believe the assailant is trying to tell us something." Miranda scoffed but waited for the officer to finish. "They wanted us to know we are on the case and that-"
"They aren't afraid." Andy finished, moving past the older woman to grab the package. "I mean," She stuck her hand into the box and pulled out the plastic pig, dangling it in front of the pair. She eyed where the toy's eyes had been gouged out.
"They only removed the eyes…" She placed the toy back into the box. "The pig.. no eyes..They have us blindsided. They know that. They wanted us to know.. they knew." The young officer shook her head sitting down beside the editor.
Chief Miller spoke up, "We checked on your list." He pointed at Miranda and grabbed a piece of paper from his desk. He pulled his glasses from his pocket and put them on. "I have a few names I want to ask you about…Let me see here.." Andrea and Miranda watched as the man traced the paper down with his finger. "Ahh here it is… Who is Nigel Kipling?"
"Nigel?" Miranda laughed. "He wouldn't do something like this."
"Who is he, Miranda? We can't rule anyone out just yet."
"He was my art director at Runway till about two years ago."
Chief leaned forward in his chair. "Why did ya let him go?"
Miranda shifted in her seat and Andy instantly sensed her tension around the topic. "I had to make some tough decisions a few years back to cut on spending…" She trailed off, shaking her head. "I got him a new position right away. I'm telling you- Nigel would never threaten my children's lives or my own."
Chief Miller sighed, leaning back into his office chair once more. "Alright, well I have a few models with some records on your list. I'll see what I can do with those. In the meanwhile, is there any way you can take some sort of leave?"
"Me?" Miranda stood from her chair then. "No, I will not be missing work. Come, Andrea." She turned, leaving the office. Chief Miller looked at the rookie cop with a raised brow.
"Andrea?" The brunette felt her cheeks turn hot, she simply shrugged in reply before following after the editor.
…
"Hello bobbsey," Miranda greeted her children over the phone. Andy watched as the older woman's hard exterior fell when she spoke to them. The rookie couldn't keep a smile from etching onto her face. "Ahh," The silver-haired woman gave a bitter-sweet look off into the distance as she replied, "I love and miss you both so very much." She sighed. "Soon, my loves…" Andy realized the girls were asking their mother when they could come home. "Soon.. Goodbye my darlings, I'll talk to you tonight." Miranda pulled the phone from her ear and ended the call. Her eyes stilled and fixated on the device for a moment before putting it away. "We have to catch this bastard…Soon." The editor said in finality.
…
Andy walked the editor out of the building, monitoring her surroundings as they went. They made their way to the car parked outside waiting for the pair. The officer opened the door for the older woman and they both got into the vehicle.
"Home, Roy," Miranda instructed her driver. He responded by turning into the busy New York traffic.
The ride was spent in relative silence; The editor checked emails on her phone while Andy watched the city bustle around them out the window. Fifteen minutes passed and the rookie found herself wondering where they were. They definitely hadn't taken the normal route or they would've arrived at the townhouse by now. The brunette looked over to Miranda, she was still on her phone. The officer slowly moved her hand to touch the editor's knee to silently get her attention. "Where are we?" The rookie mouthed. The silver-haired woman looked out the window to see a street name she wasn't even familiar with.
"Roy…" Miranda cleared her throat. "Why aren't we at the townhouse, yet?" The man didn't respond and the editor found panic welling up in her.
Andy hovered her hand over her firearm. "Roy, stop the car."
