"Can do," the other officer agreed.
But around them, other policemen were barking out orders, demanding hands go into the air and wanting to know names. Then someone began calling for medical assistance. I shifted onto my ass, holding Ash up against me, trying to make sense of the chaos around us.
"Vi?" I called out.
"I'm ok," she yelled back.
But Emily wasn't. She tried to push herself between Zeke and Dan. "Leave my son alone!"
Dan just grabbed both of her arms. "Emily, he just shot someone. There are two ways this can go. If I let someone else arrest him, then I'm not involved in the case. Or, you can trust me, remember what this place is about, and let me make sure that he's taken care of. I'll bring you with us to the station, ok? He's still a minor."
"Dan?" Violet called out.
He looked over at her. "He needs a recommendation, right? I mean, if he can't get self-defense, he'll need someone from the case to speak for him? Well, I'm on this case."
"Mom, I'm ok," Zeke promised, pushing his arms behind his back so Dan could put on the cuffs. "You're ok. Everyone's alive."
"And they're going to take you to jail!" Emily wailed.
Ash pushed himself to his feet and staggered over there. Belatedly, I followed, shocked that no one was trying to stop us. When he got close, Ash wrapped Emily up in a big hug. That seemed to be exactly what she needed, because the woman buried her face in his shoulder and just started crying.
"He's just a boy, Ash. He was helping. Don't let them take my son!"
"Shh," Ash breathed, rubbing her back. "It's ok. I know a very good attorney, ok? We're going to take care of him."
Behind them, someone was busy moving a stretcher behind the barn. I could hear groans of pain, but that just served the man right. In my head, I was trying to make a list of all the faces I'd seen, and I kept coming up with ten. I also wasn't sure how I was supposed to help any other way.
Ash seemed so calm. Cy was talking to one of the new cops, clearly giving his statement. Another man was being put in cuffs, and the available police cars were starting to get full back seats. Arrests were being made. A glance showed that the barn was no longer burning, but it was still smoking.
Then something small tackled my side. I was reaching down to embrace her before I even saw my daughter, but I'd know the feel of Faith at my side even blindfolded. The girl hugged me tightly, like she was afraid to let go, but her eyes were on Zeke.
"Dad, they won't take him, will they?"
"I don't know, cupcake," I admitted. "Are you ok?"
She nodded, still looking, so I followed her gaze. Violet was cradling her hand against her waist like it hurt, and she was moving stiffly, but she didn't stop until she stood right before Zeke. Reaching up, she palmed his face with her good hand.
"Trust the rainbow, Midnight," she said softly.
And a smile lit up the boy's face. "Yeah?" he asked.
She just nodded. "You earned your color tonight." Then she looked up at Dan. "We both know this was self-defense."
Dan made a face. "It's not that easy, Violet. You know that."
"Doesn't change that it was self-defense," she countered. "His mother was inside that barn. We were outnumbered. He knew who was leading the show."
Dan nodded. "I'll make sure all of that gets in the report."
"And I have ten names," I added, hauling Faith with me as I moved closer. "Both of the Wallace brothers, Jeremy Brenner, Nathan Ray - "
"Hold on!" Dan begged, pulling out a note pad so he could start writing. "Ok, Nathan, and who else?"
"Tommy Pierce, Cliff Turner, Tim Booth, Steve Bells is who stepped on Violet's hand - "
"What?!" Dan snapped.
I nodded. "Yeah. The former police chief. Guess he blames us for losing his job or something."
