[Piper Anderson 01.0] Three Seconds to Rush

by Danielle Stewart

  “It was at least eleven. Probably a little later. I don’t remember exactly. Why?” She now finally looked over at Reid who was trying to mask his astonishment. She’d covered for him without a moment of hesitation, even though he’d broken her heart.

  “Are your parents home?” Smith asked, leaning over and peering through the screen door. She watched his nostrils flare and assumed the pungent smell of stale marijuana smoke was catching his interest.

  “They aren’t,” Tara said, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks.

  “Were they home last night, did they see Reid come over?”

  “He uses the window,” Tara said, pointing up to the lattice work. “But they weren’t home anyway.”

  “So they aren’t here now and they weren’t here last night. When do you expect them to be home?”

  “Not sure,” she admitted through a smile, “probably tonight.” She had no clue where they were or when they’d be back.

  “I’ll come back tonight. I’d like to talk to them.”

  “I’m fourteen you know,” she said quickly. “I can be home by myself.”

  “For a reasonable amount of time I’m sure,” he said, nodding his head. “But I’d like to chat with them anyway.” He turned toward Reid, who was still staring at his shoes. “Just because you have an alibi now doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. I know you hang around with all those boys on the team.”

  “He hangs around with me too,” Tara challenged, worried what might happen to Reid if she weren’t more convincing. “I called him last night. I don’t like to be here alone. I know he had other plans, but I pestered him until he came.”

  And like an ice cube in the sun, the man’s brashness melted away. His robust voice leveled off and his squinting eyes relaxed. “I have to get back to the precinct,” he said through a long breath. “You need a ride back to your house?” he asked Reid.

  “I can walk,” Reid said, speaking for the first time since he’d come up her steps.

  With a nod and a gruff rumbling noise from his throat Smith stepped down the stairs and headed to his car. He took one more long look over his shoulder, appraising the disheveled state of her house.

  “You can come in until you’re sure he’s gone if you want,” Tara said with a shrug, trying to downplay the weight of the moment.

  “Tara,” Reid edged out, his eyes wide and unblinking. “You just lied to the police for me.”

  “My parents have basically been training me to lie for the last few years. It’s no big deal.”

  “It’s a very big deal. Don’t you want to know what happened?”

  “Sure,” she said, falling casually on the porch swing as it creaked loudly under her weight. “I figured it was something to do with those jerks you’ve been hanging out with. You were bound to do something illegal.”

  “I wasn’t there,” he said quickly, looking too apprehensive to sit by her in the swing yet. “I wasn’t with them. They really screwed up, Tara. It’s bad.”

  “Shoplifting?” she asked, looking unimpressed.

  “They burned the Shipley’s barn down, and it jumped to their car. Some animals were killed. A firefighter got hurt. It’s really bad.” There were tears in his eyes, and she could see him struggling to swallow.

  “Why would you do that?” she asked, trying unsuccessfully to mask her horror. They’d spent plenty of time when they were younger climbing on hay bales and feeding the goats at Shipley’s small farm. It was a nice place, a strange sight so close to the city, but the owners never gave them a hard time.

  “I didn’t,” he argued. “I was with them at the beginning of the night, but they were getting on my nerves. They kept trying to get me to do all this stupid stuff, and I was sick of it. All I could hear was you,” he said and stopped abruptly.

  “What does that mean?”

  “That stuff you said to me,” he admitted, finally sitting by her, but keeping space between them. “You were right.”

  She searched his face, not looking for truth or lies, but instead she saw the boy she knew before everything had changed. That boy, that chubby face, she’d be able to believe. “I think you’ll be off the hook. Smith looked way more interested in why my house smelled like weed and my parents aren’t home. I’m sure he’s making some calls about them right now.”

  “And what happens when he finds something and they get busted?”

  “I’ll go live with my aunt. It’s what I want anyway.” She’d said that lie so many times she nearly believed it herself. Her aunt was all right, a normal lady or whatever, but it wasn’t home. She’d been up for a few visits and there were no other kids in the remote area to play with. It was boring and lonely. But lately so was her own home.

  “Don’t say that,” Reid said pathetically. “You can’t move. I know you, you don’t really want to. There’s nothing to do up there, and you don’t know anyone.”

  “Whatever,” she huffed. “The important thing is no matter what happens you won’t get in trouble for the Shipley’s barn.”

  “I wasn’t there,” Reid pleaded again.

  “Okay,” she said, sounding exasperated. “I believe you. But you should have given me a heads up. How did you even know I’d cover for you?”

  “I didn’t,” Reid sighed. “I figured I’d get yanked out of here and have to go in juvie or something for a while. I just wanted to be able to see you first before it happened.”

  “Why?”

  He looked at her with an air of annoyance that melted into a long stare she couldn’t shake. “I’m sorry I left that night after we—” His lips snapped shut, and he looked unable to finish his sentence.

  “It’s no big deal,” she lied, looking away. “I’m just glad you listened to me. You’re better than those idiots.”

  “I don’t feel much better than them. I treated you like dirt, and I’m sorry. You just put your ass on the line for me. You get the worst deal on things all the time, and you never complain. I shouldn’t have blown you off like that.” He reached his hand to hers, and she felt a heat roll over her entire body and land on her tingling scalp.

  “Want to help me clean up the house for whoever that guy sends back here later?”

  “Sure,” he said, letting her hand go quickly when she didn’t make a move to lace her fingers around his. “Aren’t you worried your parents are going to get into trouble?”

  “I think they might already be in some. They haven’t been home in four days.” She bit at her lip anxiously as she let this admission slip.

  “What?” Reid asked, straightening up. “They’ve never been gone that long.”

  “I know,” she croaked but then cleared her throat to get rid of the creeping emotion that was threatening to take over. “But I’m sure Officer Smith is on the case,” she joked, standing up and heading into the house. “You owe me, so you have to clean the fridge. Lucky for you it’s empty.”

  “Have you eaten?” he asked, stopping in the doorway and grabbing her elbow, forcing her to spin and look at him. He scanned her face in that lie detector way he always did.

  “Not yet today,” she said, rolling her eyes like he was overreacting.

  “I’ve got cash. I’ll order a pizza. Pineapple?”

  “You never let me get pineapple. You hate it.”

  “You should have called me, Tara. I didn’t know you were alone that long. I’d have come by sooner. They shouldn’t leave you like that. It’s not right. I shouldn’t have left you either.”

  “I’m starting to figure out I’m pretty easy to leave,” she whispered, staring up at the ceiling to hold her tears in place. “Pineapple,” she smiled, finally gathering herself and looking at him.

  “Yeah,” he said, smiling that dimpled smile back at her. “Gross pineapple pizza.”

  Chapter 20

  “Deep breath,” Josh said, listening intently. She felt ridiculous sitting on Reid’s one living room chair getting a physical. She knew the second his stethoscope hesitated on her chest that
her cover was blown. “Have you been diagnosed with a heart condition?”

  “She has a murmur,” Reid cut in nervously. “When we were kids she couldn’t take gym class.”

  “Thanks, Mom, I can handle this.” She tossed him a dirty look and refocused on Josh who was looking concerned. “It doesn’t cause me any problems.”

  “Do you see a cardiologist every six months?”

  “Every six years is more like it,” she laughed, but no one else seemed to find it funny. “I’m really fine. My heart isn’t an issue for me.”

  “Normally, I’m sure it’s not. Many people live their whole life without being bothered by a heart murmur. Most never require surgery or any intervention at all. But when you are severely dehydrated, suffering from sleep deprivation, and on the verge of being malnourished, it will certainly be tested.”

  “I’m sure Willow told you what’s going on. It’s been hard to sleep, and I haven’t been hungry. I just want this all to be over.”

  “It could be permanently over, if you know what I mean. You need to take care of yourself. Stress isn’t helping the situation either. You need help here, Tara, and I’m not talking about winning this case. Whoever you need to call, whatever you need to do, get some people to care for you. You need meals, rest, a friend to talk to. I understand what it’s like to want to do everything on your own. I’m married to the queen of that kingdom, but everyone burns out. With your condition, it’s more dangerous.”

  She pressed her lips tightly together and nodded obediently but offered no other expression of agreement.

  “That’s a convincing assurance,” Josh laughed. “Reid, I’m putting you in charge then. Make sure she eats. Give her lots of fluids, something with electrolytes. No matter what, she needs sleep. I could write a prescription, but I’m not sure with the hearing you want any other meds or scripts floating around for you right now. Try some good old-fashioned remedies.”

  “Like what?” Reid asked, seeming overwhelmed by the challenge.

  “Warm milk, soft music, read her a damn bedtime story if you need to. Just get her to sleep.” Josh was packing his bag and pulling off his gloves.

  “That’s it? You’re just going to go?” Reid asked in a sudden panic.

  “Yes, because my wife is still working for you right now, and that’s basically impossible with two kids in a small hotel room. And when Willow can’t work she thinks of all the things in our marriage and life we could make better, and then I end up with a laundry list of things I need to do. So I’m going to take my kids out for pizza and a movie.” His face was stern but changed quickly as his hand hit the doorknob. “Call me if you need anything else or if you don’t feel any better by morning. I can come back anytime if needed.”

  “Thanks, man,” Reid said, exchanging a firm handshake as Josh left.

  “I’m really fine,” Tara said quickly before Reid could make too much of a fuss. “I’ll have something to eat and head home. I just want to get through the next days and hopefully Willow finds something we can use.”

  “Can you please stop?” Reid asked, moving toward the kitchen. “You’re as stubborn as you were when we were kids. I know you’re hungry, and I know you’re worried as hell. So we’re going to do what Josh said. You’re going to eat, and talk, and rest.”

  “Maybe we could go over the family court stuff again. I feel like there’s more there that I can give you answers to. So I’m ready for whatever they think they are digging up on me.”

  “Stop,” he groaned. “I don’t have any food here. But we can order something.”

  “No, you don’t have to do that. I’m not picky. Whatever you have is fine,” she said waving him off.

  “It wasn’t an exaggeration. I literally have nothing here that qualifies as food. And the only things I have to drink are tap water, which comes out orange, and alcohol.” He pulled open the fridge as proof.

  Tentatively getting to her feet, she shuffled uneasily toward the kitchen. “Reid,” she laughed looking over his shoulder into the empty fridge then glancing around the apartment, “besides the lack of marijuana, this is basically the house I grew up in. Why are you living like this?”

  “I’m hardly ever here. It’s not that bad.” He shrugged it off as he closed the fridge and looked around for something that would defend his point.

  “Did that used to be a plant?” she asked, pointing over at a dead twig in a red pot on the window sill. “This is really sad. You must be making enough money at work. Tell me for real, why do you live like this?”

  He made some indecipherable grunts, shuffling through the kitchen drawers for some take out menus. Not answering her questions, he put his phone to his ear and began placing an order. “Can I get a large pineapple pizza, extra sauce, some breadsticks, a meatball sandwich with extra cheese, and a Greek salad no olives, but add roast chicken. I’ll take four bottles of water and a couple bottles of apple juice if you have them.”

  When he got off the phone she knew she should have wiped the starry eyed look off her face and gotten herself together, but she couldn’t. For every moment he’d pretended their roots were small and unimportant, he’d just shown her how much he remembered the tiny details that made their history real. Reid had ordered dozens of pizzas for her when they were young and her parents failed to feed her. She’d ask for pineapple, and he’d hardly ever get it. Something they argued playfully about for years.

  “You can crash in my bed tonight. I’ll take the floor. If you’re feeling better, and you still want to talk in the morning, we’ll go over the family court stuff. But not tonight. I don’t want to talk about the case at all.”

  He gestured to the two barstools, and she took a seat.

  “What do you want to talk about?” she asked, propping her tired head up on her palm. “Politics, religion? Something fun like that?”

  He tapped nervously against the counter as he sat down next to her. “Did you believe me about the barn? When I told you I wasn’t there and you covered for me with the cops, did you really believe me?”

  “No,” she admitted with a breathy laugh. “I knew you were lying.” Tara looked away, feeling terrible for the truth she was finally sharing with him. Reid could never stay quiet when an injustice was taking place, so if he’d really been wrongfully accused no one would have been able to shut him up. “But I also knew you wished you weren’t there. You were riddled with guilt, and I wasn’t going to push you into telling me the truth. It wouldn’t have changed anything.”

  “It’s one of the biggest regrets of my life,” he said, clearing his throat. “Those other guys, they got in deep trouble, and I could have ruined my whole life with that one stupid choice. I really didn’t start the fire; I didn’t do anything, but I was there. I should have stopped them. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

  “Where you are today? In this glorious mansion with all the latest technology and all the food one could desire?” she teased, trying to lighten the burden that was crushing down on him. It wasn’t completely clear if that mistake years ago had set him on this path of self-loathing or if there had been many after it that compounded his anger at himself. Regardless, no one could argue that his life today was a result of choosing unhappiness.

  “You know what I mean,” he shot back. “Those were very serious charges against me, and if you weren’t as convincing as you were that afternoon with Smith, he’d have kept trying to prove I was there.”

  “I’m shocked the other guys didn’t turn on you. They weren’t a very loyal bunch were they?”

  “They weren’t,” he sighed, leaning his arm on the kitchen counter and facing her. They both looked exhausted by life. “But they knew I hadn’t really done anything besides stand there. They were probably afraid the police would use me as a witness rather than try to convict me too. They didn’t bring my name up, and I never said anything about who did what.”

  “That’s not what this is, you know?” she whispered, biting at her nail
s nervously. Reid was so intelligent it was hard to figure out if he was speaking from the heart or trying to lead her somewhere without making it obvious. “I’m not asking you to look at some cop and unblinkingly lie for me. I’m not asking you to believe me just because you don’t want me to feel bad. We were kids back then. This is real life now. I’ve been asking you to remember who I was back then and that’s wrong. I’m not that kid anymore. I didn’t follow in my parents’ footsteps. My son has never had to wonder where I was or when he’d eat his next meal. I provide for him; I show up for him. I’m not them. And now he’s in a strange house wondering where the hell I am, and I have no idea if I’ll ever get him back and—” Her breath caught in her chest as the blood once again whooshed from her cheeks. She could feel his hand on her arm, but it didn’t do enough to ground her back to the moment. Her heart fluttered, and she knew she was about to pass out again. His light grip on her arm changed to a wildly tight one around her whole body as the world went black.

  Chapter 21

  Reid was surprised, with a job like his, that this feeling of helplessness and fear didn’t haunt him constantly. Surely with the billions of people on the planet it wasn’t just Tara who could make his throat close with worry, or his eyes sting with held-back emotion. Tara was a piece of him, implanted deep in his soul.

  It should have dulled over the years they were apart. It should have eroded with time like the sand dunes at the quarry they used to climb. They slid away with rain and time and grew smaller beneath their feet as he and Tara grew larger.

  They climbed them weekly no matter how many times his mother begged them not to. Some kids in some far away part of the country had died when a section of the sand had broken loose and buried them alive. It was all his mom talked about for a month. But it never stopped them from treating the place like their own playground.