CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT.

“Emma?” that chilled-out voice that she would give anything not to hear called out to her.

Maybe Alfred was frightened, or call it a reflex action. He gently shoved Emma off him, giving Clyde, who looked so angry, a bow.

“Leave me the fuck alone!” she screamed at him, dashing off.

“Emma. Wait!” he begged. She paid deaf ears to his words and scurried as gas as her little legs could carry her out of the gate.

The cool breeze of the late-night hit her face, reminding her that she had tears around her cheeks. She sobbed uncontrollably, kicking the sidewalk as she continued on her way. She sprinted with all her strength until she found herself out of the mini-woods on the road.

Where was she to go? Back to the department? Not at all. Her brain was too cramped to work. To her apartment? What if they came back for her? Back to Clyde and just ignore him and at least have a roof over her head? Her dead parents would wake up before that could happen.

With no destination in mind, she hailed an