I’m nervous about what the hell I’m about to see, but I reluctantly let go of Kellan’s hand and step over, taking a seat.
“Dascha, I want you to remember that if this overwhelms you, Kellan is here.” He looks to Kel briefly. “You have found someone to trust, who you can lean on when you need. That is all I could hope for you, son. I see that Kellan is a good man.” He addresses my fiancé. “You will take care of my son. I know this.”
Kemper nods firmly. “Always.”
Swallowing hard, I can’t wait one more second.I need to know what’s on this video…
Scrolling over the play button, I click. And it starts playing.
I can tell immediately that it’s police bodycam footage, and it doesn’t take long to recognize, even without the dated timestamp, that it’s from the day I was arrested.
The robbery at Municipal Credit Union.
We all watch in silence as the police arrive. This particular officer appears to be stationed around back, and my stomach bunches.
That means this will be footage of when I came out… with my hostage, Karly Clayton.
“I… d-don’t…” I stutter. “I don’t think I c-can…”
“Just watch, Dascha,” my father says.
Kellan’s hand drops onto my shoulder, and I lift mine to squeeze it.
Officers are yelling for me to come out, and I’m yelling some crazed nonsense…
And then I step into view. At first, all you can see is my hair. But the officer repositions to get closer, and I come into full view. Clutching Karly to my chest with my left arm, and my Scorpion in my right, the barrel pointed at the girl’s head.
“Jesus…” I whimper, eyes already welling with tears, because she’s clearly so scared, crying and shaking and pleading with me to let her go, and I don’t evenrememberany of that, but I canstill feelher body weight against my chest.
What the fuck is wrong with me??
I’m insane…
I don’t want to watch myself kill this girl.
Using the girl as a human shield, I’m attempting to take cover behind a dumpster. I remember the layout of Municipal perfectly. If I made it behind the dumpster, I could have made a break for the fence. I was trying to run for Zadira. After that, I probably would have gone on some elaborate high-speed chase, but in my manic haze, I felt like I could’ve lost them, then I would have just cut the girl loose.
I neverwantedto hurt her.
“Let the girl go!”One of the officers calls out on a bullhorn.“Put the gun down—”
I made it to the dumpster, my body shielded just enough that I turned my weapon away from Karly, most likely to open fire at the police. I’d certainly done it before during robberies. A distraction.
But this time, I had a hostage. And Karly wasn’t fully covered.
My rifle is pointed up as an officer shouts,“Stand—”
Pop!
One shot rings out first.
And then they start popping off likecrazy.
Karly is hit fast, right in the head.
Gasping out loud, covering my mouth, watching with wide eyes as I dive behind the dumpster, covered in Karly’s blood. I go completely out of sight, but the police are still shooting.
It goes on forwaytoo long, and I’m not even visible anymore, but they’restillshooting, until someone roars, “Hold your fire!”
