Page 78 of Forbidden Eyes
“Sorry?” I answer the EMT who’s trying to get my attention.
“What happened? What’s his name?”
“Carter. Please, he needs a hospital.”
“We’ll be taking him to Miami UH as soon as we can.” He turns back to work on Carter.
With his words another blare of sirens sound, followed by two officers. Fear of what I’ve just done urges me into action. I turn around and search for the gun I discarded, and ease back slowly to pick it up quietly. With the tail of my shirt I wipe it down making sure not to leave any prints and then drop it again, kicking it to the side and into the shadows.
With shaking hands, I pull the phone out of my pocket and turn it over. It takes me two attempts, but I dial the number I need.
“Hello?”
“Mom!” The moment I hear her voice, I collapse where I’m standing and cry down the phone.
“Baby? What’s wrong? What’s happened?”
“It’s Carter. He’s going to die, and it’s all his fault, and I don’t know how to fix it. Please, help me, Mom. I don’t know what to do.” My words slur together in a stream as I realise how desperate I am to have her here with me, protecting me like she’s always done.
“Baby, start again, but slower. Are you with him now?”
I nod, but she can’t see. “Yes,” I whisper.
“What do you mean he’s going to die?”
“Dad. He came for him. He beat him up until he couldn’t stand, and he’s diabetic, and now he’s not breathing, and the ambulance is here, and I’m really scared.” I sniff the last part.
“Your father?”
Again with the nodding. “He came to get us from the hotel room. I've never seen him so mad, Mom. He made me watch so I could see it was because of me ... I shot him.” The last part is a whisper.
“Miss?” The EMT taps me on the shoulder. “We’re taking him now. Do you want to ride with us? We have to hurry.”
I see the police officer talking to the other EMT and hope he doesn’t stop me from going.
“Mom? The police are here,” I say, panic raging inside of me.
“Go with him. Stay on the line, and don’t speak to the police yet. Did I hear you right? What you said?”
I don’t answer but run back with the guy to the ambulance and jump in the back where they’ve loaded Carter.
“Excuse me, Miss. We’ll need to question you.” The officer tries to catch me.
“I have to stay with him. I’m going to the hospital.”
“We’ll follow.” His stern look tells me he won’t simply forget about this.
As we’re shut in, I try to take a deep breath. “Mom, I’m in the ambulance.”
“Your father did this? He went to Miami?”
“He grabbed us from the hotel.” I don’t want to speak too loudly in front of anyone, but the man is occupied with Carter.
Terror that he’s not going to be okay takes over, but I squeeze the words out. “Is he okay?” My question sounds hesitant, but it’s more the fear of the response I’ll receive.
“It’s hard to tell. Right now, his blood sugar is the worrying factor.”
“Baby?” I hear Mom and realise I’ve forgotten about her on the phone.