“I only left because I had…”
Fiona shook her head. “I trust you. You have to get help for us.”
Avery shook her head, and grabbed onto Fiona’s arm as if it were a life preserver. She was careful with her good leg, and hoisted her onto her back.
“Avery.” Fiona whispered, but it was all she said.
Avery lugged her behind the trailer, and along the tree line of the clearing. Her eyes followed the path from the trailer to a group of trees, and when she saw the road on the other side of them, she started to hobble faster.
“The road.” She whispered, and when Fiona didn’t say anything, she wondered if she had passed out from the pain.
They reached the side of the road, and Avery rolled Fiona off her back, into the ditch.
“Ahh, my leg.” Fiona whimpered and grabbed at it. “Damn it.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
The sound of a car came toward them, and they both turned in the direction of the headlight beams.
“Is it?” Fiona panted and clutched at her leg.
Avery crawled further up the ditch, and poked her head out to the road.
“Cop car.” She said, and reached her hand down to Fiona.
“You go.” Fiona looked up at her and nodded.
“Just keep going. Remember? “Avery grabbed one of her hands away from her leg, and yanked her up, out of the ditch.
Avery started to stand, but Fiona moaned, and she hesitated.
The car sped toward them, and although Avery wanted to flag it down, she stayed in the ditch. She squinted into the light and tried to make out the driver.
As the car sped by, with the headlights out of her eyes, she recognized Inspector Ascott.
She pushed herself to her feet and ran out to the middle of the road.
“Wait!” She screamed as she waved her arms.
The car came to a screeching halt, and Inspector Ascott opened his door. Another officer emerged from the other side.
“He’s in there!” Avery shouted, “The killer with the mask and he has someone with him!”
Avery watched Ascott pick up his radio, and could vaguely hear him shouting orders.
The other officer walked toward them, and as a gun shot rang through the air, he flinched. Another shot, and he clasped his hand over his chest. His body shook before her eyes, and when his knees buckled, he collapsed.
Ascott drew his gun, and pointed it into the woods, behind the girls. Avery turned back; her eyes darted through the trees, and found no movement.
The fresh air was still.
She turned back when she heard the car engine, and watched as Ascott reversed the car over to the girls.
“Get in!” He shouted.
Avery pushed Fiona up into the passenger seat, and a bullet hit the side of the car.
Avery fell back, and Ascott pulled Fiona further into the car. Another shot rang through the air. Avery heard it whiz past her.
“Avery, come on.” Ascott pulled on Fiona.
She turned around and saw the man in black among the trees with a gun aimed at them.
“Get down!” Ascott shouted and fired at the man.
The man fired back and hit the car again. Ascott rounded the car, and stood between the girls and the man.
Avery turned back to Fiona, and pushed her legs up toward the vehicle, but she felt heavy. Avery let go, and Fiona slid out of the car, onto the gravel.
“Hey.” Avery crouched and shook Fiona. “Fiona!”
She tried to turn her over and her hand sunk into a warm spot on her back.
“No. No.” Avery shook her head.
Fiona’s back was soaked with blood and her body was motionless.
Avery heard another bang, and a grunt from Ascott, as he fell back onto her. Ascott’s weight pinned Avery against the car as he leaned across her.
Avery watched the man take aim, and shoot Ascott in the chest. The push on impact made her gasp for breath, and she scrambled to get out from behind him. The man reached the ditch as Avery crawled out from behind Ascott, toward the front of the car.
A shot rang out and Avery froze.
The man in black howled into the night. His voice echoed as he dropped to the pavement.
Avery looked back to where Noah stood behind him, with his gun still aimed at the man. The man stirred, and as Noah raised his gun, Avery turned away.
Another shot rang out, and she covered her ears. She looked back, and saw fleshy pieces of the man in black, and threw up.
“Avery, “Noah ran to her as she choked on her vomit, “come on. Get in the car.”
She heard another car approach.
“Fiona?” Noah called. “Avery, help me. Put pressure— can you—” He took Avery’s hands and pressed them against Fiona’s wound.
Noah yanked Ascott’s jacket off and ripped his shirt. Avery saw a bullet proof vest underneath, and blood by his shoulder.
She pressed hard against Fiona’s wound and started to sob uncontrollably as officers came around the car, and pulled her away.
“Fiona,” Avery cried out, “Fiona, please.”
Noah wrapped his arms around her as the paramedics surrounded Fiona and Ascott. Avery buried her head in his chest, and felt another pair of hands pull her from him.
A paramedic.
When she left his arms, she felt colder than she had the whole night.
“I need a search party.” Noah hollered, “Keep the perimeter closed. The killer is in there. I repeat. The suspect is in the woods.”
Avery saw more paramedics run toward her and watched as a group of policemen surrounded Noah.
“Come on. You’re safe now.” The female paramedic helped her up into the vehicle.
“Avery.” Noah ran over to them before the female could hop in the back.
She started to cry again and looked down at him.
“I’ll meet you at the hospital okay?”
Avery nodded, and when she tried to speak, her mouth was full of saliva, and her words came out muddled. Her vision clouded as the tears took over, and Noah disappeared as the paramedics closed the doors.
Chapter 70
Avery knew that it was important to Fiona to stay close.
It was important not to leave her.
When she was reassured by the doctor that Fiona had passed away within seconds of being shot, and that she hadn’t suffered, Avery finally gave up her struggle and laid back.
Fiona had known Avery was with her when she died, and it was enough, just enough, to keep breathing.
She didn’t die alone.
Avery needed new stitches on her stomach, and Doctor Freebush warned her that there would be even more scarring there. She also got a stitch in her forehead, and although her head throbbed, she refused to take any pain killers. She started to close her eyes, and fought sleep for the hundredth time when she heard her parent’s voices with the doctor in the hall.
She lifted her head to see one of their shadows in the door way.
“Avery!” She heard a new familiar voice echo in the hallway, and Sadie rushed in. “How are you doing?”
Avery held up her hands when she bent over for a hug, “I got stitches. Careful.”
“Okay.” Sadie called, and Josh came in.
His eyes remained on her face, and he pushed his lips together, as if her pain were his.
“Avery, God,” he shook his head and stood beside Sadie, “what happened?”
“I just told Sadie, I had to get more stitches on my stomach, and one on my head.”
“How did that happen?” Sadie asked, staring at it.
Avery’s spine tingled and she shook it off. “Owen knocked us both out.”
A cold silence filled the room, and Avery swallowed hard.
“I don’t want you to go into any details now.” Sadie rubbed her arm, “Not until you’re ready. Whenever you’re ready. We’re just glad you’re okay.”
Avery clenched her teeth, and willed her shoulders not
to shake.
“I saw your parents.” Sadie lowered her voice. “How’d it go with them?”
“They haven’t even been in yet.” Avery sighed, and Sadie furrowed her brow.
“People,” a nurse came in, and looked them all over, “we can’t be having guests right now. Only family.”
“They are my family.” Avery said, and they all looked back to the nurse.
“Only immediate family. Come on now, you can visit tomorrow.” She ushered them out.
“We’ll be here when visiting hours start, okay Avery?” Sadie asked.
Her effort to act normal was admirable, but Josh’s eyes spoke for both of them as they left the room.
His eyes held their pain, and reflected hers.
Avery lay wishing she got to pick her family until her parents came in.
“The doc says you’re going to be alright Sweetheart.”
“Great.”
“Well, we had to check with your doctor.” Her mom pulled a chair up to her bed. “Honey, we told you to come and stay with us. Why didn’t you?”
“That has nothing to do with it.” Avery started to shake her head, but her dad interrupted.
“We wouldn’t have let this happen to you.”
“I was abducted by a police officer,” Avery’s voice rose as she spoke, and the familiar pangs in her stomach burned as she lifted her head, “you’d have let me go with him just like Sadie did.”
Her dad shook his head. “No, we would have insisted on going with you.”
“Don’t get mad at us Avery, we’re your parents.”
“You don’t get to use that.” Avery’s shoulders shook and she fought back tears.
“What?” Her mom looked to her dad.
“Last time I ended up in here, you saw me once, and that was it.”
“You were sleeping! And we told you to come and stay with us. We even told you we’d have someone pick you up. You’re an adult Avery,” Her dad said, “you make your own decisions, but you should have listened. Don’t pretend we don’t care about you, alright? It’s old.”
“Are you really going to stand here after everything I’ve been through, and tell me it’s my fault?”
“That’s not what we’re saying…”
“This isn’t the time to be fighting.” Her dad rested his hand on her mom’s shoulder.
Avery looked up at the ceiling. “You should leave.”
“We’ll be back tomorrow, and as soon as the doctor says you’re ready, you’re coming home with us. That’s final. I won’t see my daughter…” He stopped, and shook whatever image came to him away.
“I thought you said I was an adult who made my own decisions, Dad?” She seared.
“You’re our daughter, and we love you, and we’ll do whatever we have to to protect you. End of discussion.” He took her mom’s hand, and led her to the door. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”
As soon as they were gone, Avery let the tears spill down her cheeks.
“Okay Avery,” the nurse came back in with some pills, “I just need you to take these alright?” She set the pills down and studied Avery. “Is it the pain?”
Avery nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes.
“You take these, okay? They’ll help you rest.”
Avery looked at the pills in the cup.
“I— I don’t want to go to sleep right now.”
“You’ve got to take them Avery,” The nurse smiled, “doctor’s orders. You’ll feel better. I promise.”
Avery nodded, and tucked the pills into her cheek before she swallowed.
“There we go.” The nurse smiled. “Just press your buttons if you need anything.”
She smiled wide and rushed out of the room.
Avery rested her head on the pillow, and heard someone shuffle outside her room. She hoped it was a police officer, and that she hadn’t been left alone as she started to drift off.
“Avery…” Fiona whispered in her thoughts, and Avery took a deep breath.
“I can’t sleep. I can’t… I can’t stop the adrenaline. I think that’s it. I’m still in that mode, you know?”
There was silence.
“I’m afraid.” Avery teared up again, “That’s the truth.”
“I know.” Fiona whispered.
She watched the moon outside her window.
“I can’t believe…Owen…”
“I know.” Fiona whispered.
“My eyes are heavy.” Avery couldn’t open them anymore, and her lashes fluttered against her cheeks.
“You go to sleep. I’ll stay up.”
She knew the voice was only in her head, but she listened to the words, and let sleep take her.
Chapter 71
“How’s Ethan?” Noah asked, as he got back in his car.
January paused before answering. “Still in urgent care.”
“You there now?”
“Yeah. Ken’s back at the department, trying to figure out where Arnold would go next.”
“When did you last get an update about Ethan?”
“I don’t know, less than an hour ago?”
“And Avery? How’s she?”
“I haven’t been to see her, but Ralph’s been there since visiting hours ended. He’s standing guard outside the room, and he says she’s sleeping.”
“Good.”
“Yeah, he just spoke to the nurse though, not directly with Avery, so…”
“Right.”
There was a short pause and Noah heard something announced over the hospital intercom in the background.
“Nothing, huh?” January huffed.
“Nope. We found the spot where the girls lost their jackets, and one of them was shot right through.”
“I just don’t get it. The perimeter was closed.”
“I think he got out before everyone got here.”
“How though? How could he know?”
“I think he left when the girls ditched their coats. He wanted easy prey, and when he didn’t get it…”
“Maybe.”
Noah cleared his throat, and watched the last police car drive away from Tipper’s Point.
“What about Pope?”
“He’s still in urgent care too. He failed so miserably to end his life. Half his face is gone.”
“Keep me updated alright?”
“Yeah, of course. You coming down soon?”
Noah saw the sky begging to lighten and checked his watch.
“I’ll be there as fast as I can.”
*
Avery felt cold, and when she woke up, a shadow lingered in the door way. She opened her eyes just enough to make out the figure of a man. He walked into the room, and stood at the foot of her bed. He watched her for a few seconds, and when he moved, she opened her eyes wide.
“Help!” She cried as loud as she could.
An officer poked his head in the doorway and the man by her bed held his hands up.
“I didn’t mean to scare you. I can go. I’ll leave.”
“He just wanted to see you,” the officer said, “He was a friend of Fiona’s. I told him it was alright. If it’s not…”
“Sorry Avery, I’m Sam. Ralph told me I could come, but I can go though, really…”
“Why are you here?” Avery pulled the covers up to her neck. “Who are you?”
“I just had to see you when Ralph called and told me.” He choked on the last words and pointed to the door. “Ralph called me.”
“You’ll have to forgive me, but I’m not going to take your word for it just because he’s a police officer.”
“Listen, I don’t know what happened, and you don’t have to tell me everything, but I need to know a few things.”
Avery licked her lips, and Sam passed her a cup of lukewarm water. As he came closer, she saw a handsome man, wearing a leather jacket, with a worn look on his face.
Avery took a sip of her water, and Sam pulled a chair up beside her.
“Can I sit?”
“I know this might be hard for you, but how did she die? They told me it was a bullet wound in her back, but…” he shook his head, “how?”
“One of the men chasing us came out of the woods when we were trying to get her into the car. He shot her and I didn’t even realize it.”
Sam stared at her and she wondered if he expected more.
“Fiona and I were engaged. Did you know that?”
“No. I’m sorry. I…” Avery stared off at the wall and thought back to the morning, “I just met her today.”
He nodded. “I cheated on her. I don’t know why I’m telling you this part, but I feel like I have to because I want you to know how badly I need to know what you know. It was only once, but Fee’s so proud, and when she found out, she left me that day. After five years together.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
He shook his head. “It’s my fault. I left her alone for a while, and I always thought we’d get back together, but when we spoke again it wasn’t the same. She was so distant…”
Avery saw tears well up in his eyes, and when he looked at her, her heart broke for him.
“I didn’t stop though. I kept trying to get her back. She was still my girl.”
Avery started to cry and he let his tears fall.
“I didn’t know her for long, but I know she was stubborn, and maybe…”
“That’s just it. Maybe’s are all I have now.”
Avery waited while he regained composure and saw Ralph’s shadow lean in a little more.
“She was strong willed. When we were taken, she stayed calm and tried to get us free. It was her leg. That was the only thing that slowed her down, okay? She kept telling me not to leave her when her leg got to be too much. We kind of butt heads when we met, but I didn’t leave her. She wasn’t alone when…”
“Thank you. That means a lot.”
“The doctor said she didn’t suffer at the end. She was brave, and we looked out for each other.” Avery let her tears sting her cheeks. “We were almost…”
“Hey, I’ve got to live with the maybes, but don’t do that to yourself. You did the best you could right?”
Avery nodded. “She did too.”
Sam smiled and hung his head. “I already knew that.”
The room was quiet for a long time, and while Avery cried, she thought he did too.
Lies Come True Page 20