Chapter 179 - Florence Brown (1/2)

Florence Brown lived in the up-and-coming h.i.p.ster neighborhood of Peckham, a suburb that was just south of the City of London that was lined with trendy cafes, rooftop bars, and an eclectic mix of shops. From the city center, it was about a half-hour drive.

By the time the four reached Florence Brown's home, it was already 2am and the streets were beginning to die down for the night. As they looked up at the two-story townhouse, Halia crossed her fingers. Hopefully, they were right about the woman returning straight home. She felt it was her fault that she had lost her.

Oliver and Trisha went up to knock on the front door while Halia watched from the car and Jackson guarded the back, just in case the woman tried to escape again.

At first, no one responded. Trisha looked at Halia and shook her head. But, just as Oliver and Trisha were about to conclude that no one was home, the front door slowly creaked open and a woman with brown hair stood in the doorway. Oliver recognized the woman straight away; this was the woman he had been following all day! From the car, Halia also confirmed the woman's identity: it was Florence Brown.

She was home.

But, there was something strange about the woman. She was dressed in a set of pajamas, her hair was messy and she looked like she had just gotten out of bed. How could that be? She was, at most, only 10-15 minutes ahead of them.

With a yawn, the woman asked, ”Is something the matter?”

Oliver glanced at Trisha, unsure of what to do. ”Well...you see...” Oliver began.

But, before he finished his sentence, Trisha barged into the house and knocked the woman back against a wall; they had no time for small talk. Oliver panicked and quickly helped her pin down the woman as Halia and Jackson ran in and closed the front door.

”What are you doing? This is illegal. You are breaking and entering the home of a police officer. If you leave now, I will not lay charges,” the woman warned.

”Where's Sparrow?” Halia asked as she stared into the woman's emerald green eyes.

The woman looked at Halia in confusion, ”Who are you? I don't know what you're talking about?”

Halia scanned her eyes across the confused expression on the woman's face. Didn't they just meet less than an hour ago? Why was this woman acting like she didn't know her? Most importantly, why did her voice suddenly sound much deeper?

”We know you're Nightingale,” Halia threatened, even though there was slight uncertainty in her voice.

The woman's eyes opened wide in shock as she stopped struggling.

”What do you want?” she asked cautiously.

Trisha and Oliver released the woman and backed away as Halia stared at her with frustration. Her voice was a lot deeper and mature than earlier. How could a person's voice change so much? And why was she asking this question like she didn't already know what they wanted?

”You know what we want. We just spoke less than an hour ago. Stop pretending. Where's Sparrow? Call the smugglers and tell them to return her right now!” Halia demanded.

”Sparrow? Smugglers? Who exactly are you? Have I done something wrong?” the woman questioned with genuine curiosity.