Fraying at the Edge Read Online Free PDF

stuck.” But when Quill told her, she’d just learned she wasn’t really a Brenneman—a truth she had not wanted to accept, still didn’t want to accept. She covered her face and broke into sobs. “I was so sure it was all a mistake.” As best she could, she had put on a front with her family and community, pretending to be fine. Today she was falling apart.
    “It’s okay. Here.”
    She lowered her hands, and he passed her several tissues. “I’ve heard so many names over the last few days.” That alone had her head spinning. Why wasn’t Brandi’s last name the same as Nicholas’s or Gabe’s? But knowing Brandi’s last name wouldn’t help. She lived several miles from here, and she wasn’t at her house.
    “Ma’am?”
    “I can’t recall it. I’m sorry. It’s all so confusing.” Tears welled again. Maybe because of embarrassment or maybe because it was fully dawning on her that neither God nor life was anything like she had believed them to be.
    “The database won’t be any help without an address or name.” He pulled a cell phone from his pocket. “Do you know someone you could call? Your parents?”
    “They only have a community phone.” When they did get the message, which could be late tomorrow, this incident would terrify and grieve her whole family.
    He looked from the phone to her. “A friend? Someone who might know your host’s name, address, or phone number?”
    Only one person knew the information she needed.
    Quill Schlabach.
    “I’m not calling
him.
” She shook her head. “I’m not.”
    The officer held out his cell. “You could text him.”
    “I…don’t know how.”
    The man seemed speechless, but then he held the phone with both hands. “What’s his number?”
    Ariana told him, and his fingers flew over the screen.
    “Your name?”
    “Ariana.”
    “I’ll use voice texting.” He pressed an icon. “This is Police Officer Barnes.” His words appeared on the screen. “I’m with Ariana. What is Nicholas’s street address or phone number?”
    “You can’t send that. He’ll flip out and be on Nicholas’s doorstep in no time flat. I don’t want to see him.”
    The man pressed a circle that was off screen and then pressed some more icons. “Look, I’m supposed to go on break soon, and I’d really like to get you somewhere safe and warm first.” He held out the phone. Quill’s number was on the screen, ready for her to push the green icon. “So I can call or text him, or you can.”
    It would do no good for either of them to text Quill. His knee-jerk protective mode would override all else, and he wouldn’t respond to a text. He’d immediately call her on this number, and he’d refuse to tell Officer Barnes anything unless he talked to her first. She would have to talk to him to get the information. She pressed the Call button and waited.
    Would he answer? He had two phones, one for everyone and one for just a handful of people. She was calling the number he’d given her, the one only a few had. Less than six weeks ago he’d bought her a phone, and she’d called him regularly as he helped her plan a benefit to raise money to buy the café. When she discovered that he was meeting with Skylar, the real Brenneman daughter, at the same time, she returned the phone and told him to leave her alone.
    Her heart pounded harder by the second as the phone rang.
    “Hello?” Behind Quill’s greeting she heard other voices and dishes rattling.
    Why couldn’t she speak?
    “Hello?” Quill repeated.
    Drawing a shaky breath, Ariana hoped the tears didn’t return. “It’s me.” She breathed.
    Something made a snapping noise three times in a row, and the background noise vanished. “Ari?” He waited.
“Iss sell du?”
    Hearing her language, one of the many things she missed desperately, caused tears to brim. Her lungs were begging for air as she tried to remain in control. “Ya, it’s me.”
    Beside her, the robotic voice returned, static mixing with odd