“Dean, Brooke, Jack!” Max called for the others. Brooke had carried the kids into their rooms so they wouldn’t be woken up by the chaos we were causing. “Callie, Ryan.” He swooped his index finger in a circular motion. “We need the perimeter of the block covered. She’s possibly right outside the house or on the blocksomewhere.”
There was no need to repeat the order; we were out of the house and on the street immediately, two by two. We took off in all directions, Sergeant Kannon paired up with me and running a step behind. We stopped at the corner, by the mailbox. I was winded from running in the stilettos. My feet ached from being in them for so long, and the back of the right one had dug a hole in my ankle. I leaned on him for support and kicked the stupid shoesoff.
Both of us stilled, eyes wide, searching in alldirections.
“What’s that?” he said, looking up the block oppositeme.
A car was parked with its two driver’s side tires up on thecurb.
“Did he say what the make of her car was?” I asked, walking closer toward the vehicle. I couldn’t tell from where we were if the car was occupied or not. “It doesn’t look like there’s anybodyin—”
A shadow moved in the front seat, blending itself with the darker shadows cast from the trees that blocked thestreetlights.
"No, no, I think we got someoneinside."
It wasn’t until I was face to face with her that I realized I had crossed the street and opened the driver’s side door, and my breath puffed out in a loud cracklygasp.
Wide blue eyes stared vacantly up at the ceiling. Beneath them, dark bruised half-moons added a sense of harshness and despair to her features. Her skin was the color of milk, her hair long and blonde that curled into those perfect natural banana shapes. She was the most hauntingly beautiful thing I had ever seen. She could have been a model if she wasn't trying to kill herself with the poison-filled needle still stuck in the crook of herarm.
I was instantly fascinated by her—a beautiful, damaged princess—what could her life be like that was so horrible she needed to do this to get away from it? What pain did she feel? She hadeverything. I hated myself for the envy that took over, rocking me back on the heels of my barefeet.
Her eyes blinked up at me, trying to focus. Her lips moved to form words, but none reached myears.
I stumbled back. Lost in silent rage. White noise filled my head as I watched her fall out of the car onto the grass, the needle jamming deeper under her skin. My limbs shook with tremors that matched hers. My phone was against my ear, and my voice was talking, telling a 911 dispatcher where we were. But the fire inside me stilled burned, boiling my blood. This piece of shit could have killed her children today, and now we have to save her selfishlife.
It wasn’tfair.
Itwasn’t.
Dylan Sanborn rushed to the car. His knees were in the grass, his hands yanking out the needle and crushing it in his fist. His face looked like a storm, thunderous and dangerous, spiraling and circling like a tornado. She’s too thin on the ground, she twitched and kicked, and her head lolled to the side. Her eyes jiggled like one of Addison's toys, and she couldn't see us; she couldn't see what she'd done or what she might havehurt.
“Sheri. What the fuck did you do?” Dylan’s voice was primal. Gutwrenching.
Sheri. Sheri Sanborn. The bitch was wearing the coat I left on the front door, sizedfor her child,around her waist. And I know without a doubt the fifty dollars I left in the front pocket bought her all the heroin that presently surged through her veins. I wanted toscream.
I stepped back further, not trustingmyself.
Sirens wailed in the distance, closingin.
Arms wrapped around my frame, and hands dug into my sides. I looked around wildly, about to go to blows with whoever was touchingme.
“Your dress is up. You’re full of mud. You’re barefoot. And you’re about to lose it.” Ryan’s voice was against my ear, his arms pulling me up and dragging me away. Brooke was grabbing me next, encasing me in her arms and holding me tight. “I got you, girl. Let’s walk it off. Let’sgo.”
“For the love of God,” I snapped, dislodging myself from the unwanted hug fest. “I am absolutely fine.” I shrugged them both off and watched as the ambulance pulled up to thescene.
Shadows and people crowded around, blending into each other. I could barely make out features, my eyes blurred with angry tears. Time moved in quick snapshots in front of me. White noise filled my head, and my pulse pounded loudly in myears.
“Thank you.” The achingly soft-spoken words drifted into mythoughts.
“What?” I asked, turning to whoever had walked up to my rightside.
Dylan Sanborn stood next to me, watching the emergency technicians deal with his wife. His face turned full to me, and his eyes glossed with tears, his mouth in an angry slash across his face. “If it weren’t for you, I don’t know what would have happenedtoday.”
I nodded, numbly, feeling horrible forhim.
Sheri was moved onto a gurney and rolled quickly into the back of theambulance.
“You the husband?” the driver calledout.
