Code Name Shadow

Chapter 10

"Not a problem," Damien responds, his face stoic. Cody clears his throat awkwardly before saying the few words I really didn't want to hear from him this morning.

"Look, Brielle, I know you didn't want to talk about it last night and it might be uncomfortable, but we do need to talk about what happened."

I feel three sets of eyes on me as I look down at my lap and try to muster as much courage as possible. I'm still freaked out, but there's not a chance I'll let them hear my voice shake as I talk about it. "What's there to discuss? There was a car, it followed me for a bit, and I freaked out about it. For all we know, it could've been nothing."

"Or it could've been something. Brielle, it's completely normal to be scared when things like this happen. We need to discuss this as a matter of your safety, there's nothing to be ashamed of," Cody responds.

I scoff at that and immediately feel a hand on mine. "He's right, you know," Cohen says. "Regardless of his intentions, the fact of the matter is he followed you. And if you think for even a second that that is something we don't take extremely seriously, you are very, very mistaken."

"What do you remember about him?" Damien's deep, rough voice comes from across the kitchen.

"Not much, honestly. It was too dark to make out anything meaningful," I reply.

"There's no detail too small, really. Anything at all that you can remember helps," Cody says.

Taking a deep breath and closing my eyes, I try to block out the fear that remains in my mind and pull out something, anything, that I can remember. "Okay, well..." I start. "It was a red car, I know that. Not an SUV either, it was something smaller. I didn't get a good look at the guy himself, but I remember looking in the rearview mirror and seeing he had a lot of hair. It was a dark color, too. It didn't shine at all when the lights from other cars hit it. And I think...." I pause, shutting my eyes even tighter to try to draw out the memory. "I think his license plate started with a K."

I open my eyes to see the three of them staring at me, Cody and Cohen with shock on their faces and Damien with the same stoic expression as always. "Bri, that's fantastic, really, really good job." My heart races as he uses my nickname. "I thought you said you didn't remember much, all of that was super helpful."

"Yeah, I guess I remember more than I thought," I chuckle. "You tend to pick up on things when your brain is in fight or flight mode, especially when it's not your first rodeo." The words slip from my mouth before I can even register them, and I immediately wish I could take them back. The mood, which had lifted for a brief moment, was back to dark and serious as the men around me registered what I said.

Cohen opens his mouth to say something, but Cody must see the regret in my eyes because he cuts him off. "Damien can use the details you gave us to run a search when he gets to the station today. The second we know anything, we'll let you know."

I nod and thank the three of them. A few minutes later, they have to head into work for the day and I walk them to the door. Cohen and Damien leave first, but as Cody moves to walk out the door I grab his arm and hold him back. He looks down at me, worry written all over his face. "You okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine, it's just....are you going to tell Beckett what happened?" His expression softens and his voice is gentle and quiet as he responds.

"Bri, what happened to you last night was serious. I'm glad you let us help you, but Beckett needs to know as well. He's your brother, and I know for a fact he would do everything in his power to protect you."

I nod and look at the ground. "I know, I know. I just...don't want him to worry."

Cody laughs at that, a deep, real laugh that I would do anything to hear again. "Have you met him? The guy worries about everything, even when things are fine." I know he's just making a joke but a pang of guilt hits me knowing that the majority of his worry came after I was kidnapped. Cody's smile fades when he sees my reaction. "If you want me to hold off on telling him so you can do it instead, that's fine. But he deserves to know."

I shake my head immediately. As much as I want to prevent his stress, I know Cody's right. I'll have to talk to him about it, but I don't have the strength to be the initial one to tell him. "No it's okay, you can tell him. It'll probably be better to hear it from you anyway, since you guys are best friends and all."

Cody gives me a small smile and nods before making a move towards the door. "No problem at all. And Bri?"

"Yeah?"

"If you need anything, and I mean anything at all today, please call.

I smile at him, my first genuine smile in the last twenty-four hours. "I will."