Chapter 179 - Florence Brown

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.

At that moment, Jackson stepped forward and showed his badge, "Let's stop messing around. I am Captain Wu, Head of Interpol - Hong and Macau region. Your gig's over Nightingale, tell us where Sparrow is!"

The woman's face immediately turned pale. "I'm not Nightingale..." she said.

The four looked at Florence Brown with confusion. "You were clearly the one that met with Trojan a few years ago!" Halia blurted. "Stop lying! A young woman's life is in your hands!"

The woman raised her hands innocently.

"A few years ago, my sister told me she was on an important case and asked me to act as her. I met with a man named Trojan and he called me Nightingale. He mentioned something about 'Sparrow', but that was the last and only time I heard any of those words being used together. Not long after that, my sister thanked me and told me she cracked the case and it was closed," she explained. "That's honestly all I know."

Halia looked at Jackson as her heart sunk, she realized at that moment why the woman's voice was so different when she met her earlier. Florence Brown was not Nightingale! Her sister had used her as a cover!

"Where is your sister now?" Jackson asked.

"She's on night patrol. I always work during the day and she always works during the night. Perhaps, that's why she calls herself Nightingale. She should be around the Covent Garden area tonight," Florence revealed with a slightly worried expression. "Is she in trouble?"

"Big trouble!" Jackson said as he grabbed Halia's hand and turned to leave. "Trisha, stay here and see if you can get any more information on Nightingale. Oliver, drive us to Covent Garden!"

Trisha glanced at Jackson and Halia's intertwined fingers. Earlier on, when Jackson held her hand, their fingers never intertwined in the same way. Trisha frowned. She had to work harder to be his favorite Wu Girl. 

With that thought, she pumped her fist with self-encouragement and turned towards the confused woman, "So...what's your sister's name and do you have a photo?"

Normally, Florence would ask for a warrant; she was a police officer, so she understood the law and her rights, but she was a righteous officer and she could tell that this was serious. "I have the right to refuse and ask for a warrant, but I can tell that this is a serious matter. Can you tell me what my sister's done first?" the woman asked.

Trisha sat down and quickly explained the situation.

...

Covent Garden was a famous shopping and entertainment district in the West End of London. During the day, shoppers strolled the luxury fashion and beauty stores, and at night, it came to life with award-winning restaurants, bars, and clubs.

Just as Halia, Jackson, and Oliver arrived in the busy district, Jackson received a message from Trisha:  "Her name is Freya Brown, I've attached a photo of her."

Jackson looked at the photo and showed it to Halia. Freya and Florence were sisters, so they looked very similar. They both had brown hair, green eyes, and a similar frame. It was no surprise that they didn't pick up on it earlier. But, as Halia looked at the photo in more detail, her eyes opened wide in shock. She saw that woman earlier!

When she was chasing Nightingale and thought she lost her, she saw a policewoman questioning some drunk teenagers. It turned out, Halia didn't actually lose her! She was so focused on looking for Florence Brown, that she didn't even suspect Freya Brown who was standing right in front of her!

Halia squinted her eyes and scanned the streets with determination. This time, she wasn't letting that woman get away...