The pain in my head is intense to say the least, but right now I need to focus on making sure Connie wasn’t hit by that stray bullet.
As I’m checking her over for any sign of blood or injuries, I see the other two squad cars tear down the road and stop in the street in front of the Handy’s. Maddox comes down the front steps with a handcuffed, stumbling Jim. He walks him straight to our squad car and places him in the backseat.
“You alright?” I ask over my shoulder.
“Yeah. You?” Maddox looks at me for the first time since the ordeal started. “Shit, Jake, you’re bleeding!”
“I’ll be okay. Just bumped my head on the table.”
As the emergency service workers come rushing over, I try to stand up. I see stars again and the most intense pain radiates down my entire body. I close my eyes and feel myself starting to fall. Maddox instantly grabs a hold of me and gently helps me down to the ground. “Jake?” he asks, but I can’t seem to open my eyes or answer him.
“Shit! Officer down! I need the medic now! Jake’s been shot!” I hear Maddox yell, but it seems like he’s miles away. The pain in my head is so intense it feels like it might actually explode off of my shoulders. But now there’s a new pain, too. My arm is tingling and burning and has a wet sensation. Did I get hit by that stray bullet?
That question is the last thought that goes through my mind as I succumb to the darkness around me.
Chapter Ten
Erin
I despise painting. If I never have to pick up another paint brush and roller again, I will be a very happy woman. But, when this last coat of paint goes on, my painting projects will officially be over! The last room is my office, den, and library. And once these walls are complete, I can begin constructing those beautiful barn wood shelves I found on Pinterest. Okay, so I can find someone to build me those shelves. Maybe Jake can do it? He has proven to be pretty handy around the house, but we haven’t exactly gotten to ‘woodworking’ on the list of his many, many talents.
When my phone rings, it’s a very welcome reprieve. “Hello?” I answer a little breathless from the exertion of painting these huge walls all day.
“Erin-” I hear someone say but the line is full of static and noise.
“Hello?” I ask again a couple more times. I’m about ready to hang up. I’m sure the caller will call back when they have a better signal.
“Erin, its Avery. Can you hear me?”
“Hey, Avery. You sound like you’re driving through a tunnel. What’s up?” I ask, but there’s no reply. I start to think that maybe I lost her due to her poor signal. As I start to bring the phone down from my ear, I hear another voice. A male voice.
“Erin, are you there?”
“Yes,” I ask starting to get a little concerned at the urgency in his voice.
“Erin, this is Travis. Where are you?”
“Oh, hey Travis. I’m at home. What’s up?” I ask, a little more cheery after discovering who it is.
“Erin, Jake’s been shot,” Travis says and a cold chill spreads down my spine.
I have no idea how long I stand there, staring at my wall. I struggle to get the thick air in my lungs. It feels like I can’t breathe and my vision is blurry. Cold fear takes over my entire body and I start to shake uncontrollably. I slide down onto the floor, my legs no longer able to hold up my too-heavy body. I vaguely hear a voice in the distance yelling my name. I look down and realize I dropped the phone.
When I pick up the phone, I hear myself whisper, “I’m here.”
“Nate is almost to your house. You need to get in the car with him, okay Erin? Can you do that?”
“Yes,” I whisper again.
A few moments later, as I listen to Travis as he tries to calm Avery down in the vehicle with him, I hear a heavy pounding on my front door. I can’t make myself get up off the floor and go down to answer it.
“Erin?” I hear behind me. Nate is crouching down in front of me a moment later. He takes the phone from my shaking hands and puts it up to his ear. “I’ve got her. We’re on our way,” he says into my phone and then clicks it off, dropping it into his coat pocket.
“Where’s your coat, Erin?” Nate asks as he helps me stand up. Nate’s almost just as big as Jake. He has many of the same striking features - tall, dark, and handsome - but he’s not Jake.
Jake. Is Jake still alive? What will I do if he dies?
I focus back on Nate as he half drags, half pulls me down my stairs. He grabs a coat from my closet and helps me put it on. I have enough sense coming back to me to grab my handbag sitting on the foyer table as we walk out the front door. I’m in Nate’s car before I know it and we’re tearing out of my driveway, heading towards Rivers Edge Health Center. Heading towards Jake.