Traffic Stop

By Sallie Cochren

Angela is a dedicated college student. What starts as a simple ride to class with an acquaintance quickly becomes a nightmare when they get pulled over for speeding. Being taken with Angela's attractive appearance, the police officer quickly crosses the line, and Angela is thrown into the worst nightmare she can imagine. Will Angela survive, or will she become the victim of a psychotic killer?

This story is also available in the short story collection, "No Time to Panic!"

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sallie Cochren
• Release date: Feb 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9780463762721

Sallie Cochren

Sallie Cochren has always loved a good story and enjoys stories in a variety of genres. She started writing short stories and skits as a child, thinking it was a great way to spend her free time. She always wanted to write a book of her own, but her teaching career kept her so busy that there was no time to write. When she resigned from her teaching job, she finally had time to start writing and fulfill her lifelong dream.Sallie is drawn to many genres. Her stories encompass a range of writing. She has written horror novels, science fiction, psychological thrillers and even Christian fantasy. She has also written a lighter read with her Alien Cats trilogy. She is currently working on a dystopian series as well as continuing her vampire hunter series.When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading and watching movies. She also loves animals and enjoys spending time with her cat.

Book preview

Traffic Stop

By Sallie Cochren

Author’s note: All characters and events in these stories are strictly from the author’s imagination and are not meant to resemble any person, living or dead.

To learn about more books by the author or to view book trailers, go to www.salliecochren.com.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by mechanical or electronic means including storage and retrieval systems without the author’s permission. An exception will be made for reviewers. If leaving a review, you may quote a short excerpt. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

Traffic Stop Copyright Sallie Cochren February 2017

All Rights Reserved

Table of Contents

Traffic Stop

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Author’s Notes

Traffic Stop

Part 1

It’s not you. It’s me.

Ugh! Couldn’t you think of anything better than that?

Angela had been expecting this. Things hadn’t been going well between her and Shawn for a while. Her only regret was that he was the one breaking up with her rather than her breaking up with him. It wasn’t that she hadn’t thought about it a few times, but she had never had the courage to do it. It was funny how even something as simple as breaking up with her boyfriend required more courage than Angela thought she had.

Come on, Ange, Shawn replied You know that all we seem to do anymore is quarrel. We can’t seem to agree on anything.

I know, Angela said. That’s all I meant. Be honest. It’s both of us. We just don’t make a good couple. It was all physical attraction. A relationship needs more than that. Still, couldn’t you have talked to me in person? I mean, breaking up on the phone, it’s cold.

Not like she could have done any better… At least, Shawn had the courage to break up with her.

I’m sorry, Shawn said. I never wanted to hurt you. You’re a good person, Ange. I’m sure you’ll find someone perfect for you.

Yeah, whatever, Angela replied. I guess I should wish you the same thing. Can we still be friends?

Maybe, Shawn answered. I don’t know. I guess it’s too soon to tell, but we’ll try.

Okay, Angela said. I guess I appreciate your honesty. I’ve got to go. I don’t want to be late for class.

Sure, Shawn replied and added awkwardly, Have a good day.

Uh-huh, Angela said unenthusiastically. You too.

She ended the call and put the picture she had been holding back on the shelf. They had looked like such a happy couple. Angela was leaning against Shawn’s shoulder, and he had his arm around her. They were both smiling like they were really happy. At first, they had been.

Angela sighed. Would she ever find someone who she could love? She was twenty-two and had already had what she had considered to be five serious boyfriends. Yet, each of those relationships had failed. It’s not you. It’s me. Maybe there was some truth in what Shawn had said. Only, Angela didn’t think he was the problem. It must be her. She was the one who had all the failed relationships. She doubted she would ever find true love, but she couldn’t think of that now. What she had told Shawn was true. She needed to get ready for class.

Shawn’s phone call had delayed Angela from getting ready, but it wasn’t like she could call him back when she found out the reason for his call. So much for thinking she had plenty of time to spare. At least, it was still fairly early in the morning. Shawn had called at what felt like the crack of dawn. Angela hoped she could still stop off for coffee and a breakfast sandwich on the way to class. She was starving, and there wasn’t any food in her apartment that appealed to her. She was also exhausted, having stayed out way too late the previous night.

I’m getting too old to be staying out so late on school nights, she thought to herself.

Angela was in her last year of college, working on her bachelor’s degree in marketing. She had toyed with the thought of getting a master’s degree, but she was already burned out from her college classes and wanted to start making some real money instead of living off of her part-time job and student loans.

She worked the night shift at a local bookstore that was located near the university. She only worked three nights a week and got about fifteen hours in, but every little bit helped. It got her by when combining the money with her student loans. She had a grant to pay tuition, so she didn’t have to worry about funding her classes. Still, there wasn’t much money left over. She lived meagerly, and the cupboards were usually only lightly stocked. Her roommate was gone most of the time and spent most evenings at her boyfriend’s apartment, so they rarely saw each other. But she did pay half the rent, at least most of the time. There was the occasional month when Angela had to foot the whole bill because Brenda had spent too much on clothing or something else irresponsible.

Angela thought about kicking her out. She could probably find someone more responsible with the rent money, but the truth was that Angela liked her alone time. That was one of the things that had gotten in the way of her relationship with Shawn. He had wanted to spend every waking moment with Angela, but she was the type of person who needed time to be by herself. He hadn’t understood her need for personal space. They had several arguments about it. Still, in the end, Angela had won. When she wanted to be alone, she refused to see Shawn.

Now, she guessed she would have plenty of time to be alone. She knew she should be sad. But somehow, it was a relief to know that the breakup was over. She had known it was coming. It was best to get it over with. Now, she could go back to her solitary existence. Perhaps someday, she would find someone like her, someone who also valued having time to themselves.

Angela knew she had a fairly good living arrangement. She liked having the apartment to herself most of the time, and she usually only had to pay half the rent. She felt like the benefits outweighed the negatives, so she put up with Brenda.

Angela jumped in the shower and was done in record time. She brushed her teeth quickly and ran a comb through her wet hair, using the blow dryer for only a couple of minutes to make it look as acceptable as possible. She looked in the mirror and was annoyed to see some of the light brown strands of hair frizzing out to the side. No matter what she did, she never liked how her hair came out. She wore it straight and shoulder length. She made a mental note to go by the beauty salon on the way home to see if they could do anything with her hair. She doubted it, but she always felt like she had to keep trying.

Angela checked to make sure all of her folders and assignments were in her backpack. Noting nothing missing, she grabbed her car keys and locked up her apartment on the way out. On the way to the parking lot, she saw Celia, a girl in her English class. She waved, and Celia nodded back at her.

Angela wasn’t crazy about Celia. She was loudmouthed and was always wearing something promiscuous, flaunting herself at guys. Sometimes, Angela thought she’d cause less distraction if she just came to class naked. One time, she had shown up in a slip, the kind like Angela’s mother used to wear when she was young. Celia wore it as if it was a dress. No one had said anything. No one ever confronted her. Today, she was more modestly clothed, wearing jeans and a shirt with a plunging neckline that left little to the imagination.

Angela got in her car and put on her seatbelt. She turned the key in the ignition and felt a knot in her stomach. It wouldn’t start. Her twenty-year-old car had its moments. Old age was kicking in, and it was being temperamental today. She tried again and heard that hideous grinding noise where nothing would turn over. Desperately, she