A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 201

This New Year was the most relaxing one Elissa Drummond had experienced in years.

It felt like a small miracle just to get through the holiday unscathed.

For two or three days straight, even the neighbors across the hall had been unusually quiet.

Elissa and Tanya Foster holed up at home, each busy with their own projects. Sheets of paper covered the coffee table, scrawled with research notes and ideas, while case files spilled across the desk.

That afternoon, just as Elissa took the coffee Tanya brought over, her phone—screen down on the table—started to vibrate.

She picked it up and checked the caller ID before answering. “Bradley, what’s up?”

On the other end, Bradley Wheeler teased her, “Little Elissa, it’s New Year’s—how come you didn’t call me?”

Elissa laughed. “I sent everyone a WhatsApp message.”

Right at midnight on New Year’s Day, she’d sent the same message to all her friends, including the handful of guys she was especially close with.

Bradley chuckled. “Alright, I’ll let you off the hook. So, what are you up to?”

“Just working from home,” she replied honestly.

Bradley laughed again. “Come on, it’s the holidays. Quit working. Bring Tanya and come hang out with us. I just sent you the location on WhatsApp.”

“I think I’ll pass. You guys go enjoy yourselves.”

Elissa just wanted a few quiet days, to sort things out with Frank Atwater and finally talk through the divorce.

The less socializing during this time, the better.

Someone said something in the background, and then Bradley reported, “Frank says he can come pick you up, if you want.”

Elissa set down her coffee cup. “I’ll just come on my own.”

If Frank came to pick her up, he’d insist on driving her home later. She’d rather avoid the awkwardness.

Bradley burst out laughing, teasing Frank beside him, “Man, that’s some way to win your wife back. Elissa’s still not over it, you know.”

Elissa pretended not to hear. After saying goodbye, she hung up and checked the location Bradley sent. Then she turned to Tanya to see what she thought.

“Tanya, Bradley invited us to the Cloud Peak Club. Want to come with me?”

Elissa took Tanya’s hand and started to step inside, but before the door could fully close behind them, a bright, familiar female voice called out.

“Elissa?”

Lorraine Lynn caught the door with her hand and smiled at Elissa. Her gaze swept through the shifting lights, landing on Rowan in the corner.

Elissa hesitated for a moment. “Secretary Lynn.”

Bradley piped up, grinning, “Little Elissa, don’t call her Secretary Lynn.”

He shot Rowan a look, then joked, “Heard from my old man over the holidays—the Murphys and the Lynns have a marriage arrangement. Might not be long before you have to call Lorraine your sister-in-law…”

Before he could finish, Rowan pulled the unlit cigarette from his mouth, his expression cold and unimpressed. He shot Bradley a glare, as if he were an idiot. “Whoever made that arrangement can go marry themselves.”

The message was clear; he wasn’t interested.

Bradley gave an awkward laugh. “Wasn’t it your grandmother who arranged it…?”

“Then she can marry Lorraine,” Rowan said offhandedly, snapping the cigarette in half and tossing it into the ashtray before glancing coolly at Elissa.