Aftermath

by Rachel Trautmiller

  And judging from the half-scared, half-stupefied look on the paramedic’s face, there was only one Beth he meant.

  “Get your eyes checked, buddy.” Davis moved beside her, something feral in her stance. As if she were a momma bear protecting her cubs, same as the other day with Sandra.

  When Amanda shot Davis a look, her partner met her gaze, one brow higher than the other on her forehead. One hand clasped the opposite bicep in a white-knuckled grip. “What? It’s true.”

  Okay.

  The paramedic hadn’t moved.

  “I’m Detective Nettles.”

  “Holy crap,” he breathed, the act seeming arduous. “That’s embarrassing.” As if trying to clear the image from his brain, he blinked in rapid succession. “I’m sorry. You look—well, never mind. Knee-jerk reaction. Matt Gabriel.” He lifted his hand, seemed to remember it was gloved and covered in blots of red and pulled it back. Instead, he pointed toward the unmistakable heap of woman’s clothing beneath the mangled metal. “Do you know this woman?”

  A hitch in her breathing made her want to turn away. Forget she’d been called to this scene by name. Instead, she hunched toward the ground. Had to flatten herself on the harsh pavement.

  Remnants of the accident poked into her flesh as she spotted the ashen woman beneath the vehicle. The gap beneath the car and hard asphalt was barely enough to see to the other side, in spots, but the paramedic—Matt—had managed to stabilize her spine with a cervical collar. Had applied oxygen and started a large bore IV.

  “I used to work with her.” Matt’s voice floated to her. “Never saw it coming.”

  Fan-freaking-tastic. Amanda didn’t move. Didn’t need clarification on Matt’s words. She ground her teeth together. Pushed a breath through her mouth. “Give me the specifics.”

  “On…?”

  Amanda glanced up at him. His face had gone pale.

  She shifted. And pointed toward the underbelly of the vehicles.

  His gaze flicked between her arm and the car, comprehension dawning like first light on his face. “She’s pinned between both vehicles so tight, I’m not sure what’s left of anything below her hips.” His voice was a bare whisper. “We’ll know once we get her out of this mess. Her pulse is pretty thready. Abdomen’s rigid.”

  “Paige?” The other woman’s eyes strained against the immobility of the cervical collar, found Amanda at the very edge of her vision. Lacerations gouged one side of her face. A bandage covered the other side of her forehead. As Matt had pointed out, her upper torso rested on the pavement, but her hips were one giant conglomerate of both vehicles, her legs nowhere to be seen from the ground. Lights illuminated a pool of blood forming near her abdomen as she lay smack-dab in the middle of both cars.

  A strong metallic odor filled the space between burnt rubber and hot metal. Amanda bit back a wave of nausea. Took a breath through her mouth. “Camelia, it’s Detective Amanda Nettles. We spoke this morning.”

  As if she’d not said anything at all, the older woman said, “Paige, that boy won’t tell me what happened.” Her hand moved off her abdomen, as if she meant to touch Amanda. It hit the top of the car and pinged right back to where it had been.

  As if noting her surroundings for the first time, Camelia’s gaze flicked around the metal above her and circled back. Panic blossomed in earnest. “Where am I?” She tried to move. Didn’t succeed. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of bluish lips.

  The firefighters were getting closer with their tools, the noise jangling Amanda’s nerves as she watched panic turn to gut-wrenching fear on Mrs. Jurik’s face.

  “Camelia, I need you to stay calm. You’ve been in an accident.”

  “An a-accident?” Her voice came out on a high-pitch squeak, filled with terror. And then she started to cry, huge racking sobs that tore into Amanda’s heart the way a shark clamps down on a swimmer’s body. “You have to get me out of here.”

  She placed a hand on the metal around her and tried to tug her body from between the vehicles, without success. “I can’t be here.”

  “It’s okay. We’re gonna get you out of there. You’ll be patched up in no time.”

  “Ma’am.” Matt flattened himself on the ground, next to Amanda. “I need you to hold tight.”

  Camelia continued as if he’d said nothing.

  Amanda rose into a kneeling position. Whipped off her jacket and shoulder holster and flung both at Davis, who waited nearby.

  As if the other detective sensed her direction, she forced herself between Matt and Amanda, blocking a smooth return to the distressed woman. “Whoa.” The items Amanda had given the other woman hit the ground. “What do you think you’re doing? That thing isn’t steady. Why do you think the paramedic stabilized her as best he could and got back out?”

  Camelia Jurik would likely die before they reached her. Die knowing her child was out there in the world without her.

  She’s all I have left.

  “I’ll be okay.”

  Davis tugged Amanda’s arm as if the act would convince her to abandon this quest. “Will you think with your brain for once? This is the type of thing Dentzen’s always harping on us about.”

  Amanda shrugged her off. She always used her brain. Sometimes in conjunction with other organs. “Move, Davis.”

  Every second counted.

  “For once, think about your family instead of everyone else’s.”

  “I am.” She forced her partner aside. Prepared to get as close to Paige’s mother as possible.

  “This is why everyone thinks you’re a liability, Nettles.” Her voice worked to compete with the noise around them. Anger bubbled over like a kettle left on high.

  It robbed Amanda of breath for a second. Davis had included herself in on the consensus. A sharp-pronged fork of doom. It speared her in places that would have still been numb and impervious a week ago.

  That steely green gaze refused to give an inch.

  From his perch next to Amanda, Matt watched the interchange in silence.

  “You find the straight line. Get the bad guys. Gold star for you. But the way you do it is risky. It’s going to get you killed. And while the department is worrying about the money they’ll have to dish out, in the event of your death, I’m actually trying to cover your backside.” One hand balled into a fist, index finger pointed toward the ground. “You want to help a woman you’d never met before a few days ago? Fine. But. Do. Not. Go. Under. That. Car.”

  Maybe if her heart and brain hadn’t agreed on how much Camelia needed someone, she might have listened. Might have stepped back. Done as Davis suggested. Instead, she slid her upper torso against glass and rock, until she was face-to-face with the other woman, who still struggled to free herself.

  Amanda placed a hand on the other woman’s shoulder. “Camelia.”

  She stilled, her gaze locking on Amanda as if seeing her for the first time.

  The vehicles shimmied. Amanda adjusted to the tight fit. Held her breath as the crew changed positions and started in again. “We’re gonna get you out of here soon.”

  “Your friend’s right.” The blood near her mouth hadn’t increased and she seemed more aware of her surroundings. “It’s dangerous under here.”

  Amanda would have shaken her head, if she’d been able to do more than face the other woman. She refused to dwell on it. Or her rapidly pounding heart. “She’s not a friend. Just a co-worker.”

  “Sure sounded like...” She winced. “A friend to me.”

  Whatever. “A few witnesses say you brought in a boy. And that you were asking for me. Wanna tell me why?”

  “You look so much like my Paige.” A shaky hand moved toward her. “Thought that the first time I saw your picture in the news.”

  Amanda caught the cold appendage in her grip, to the left of her head. “I’m her biological aunt. And I promise I’ll find her, but I need to know everything you know, Camelia.”

  “She loves painting. And science. Biology. Has this craz
y sense of humor that always keeps me laughing.”

  Another hack, from the machinery above, brought a groan from what was once the Hummer’s front axle. Amanda held still as her heart skyrocketed. She didn’t dare breathe. Something sharp dug into her jawbone. She lifted her head a fraction. Came in contact with solid iron.

  Camelia’s fingers tightened around hers. Or maybe that was the other way around.

  Some risks are worth it.

  She’d repeat the phrase as many times as needed. “How are you doing, Camelia?”

  “You’ll find my Paige?”

  She’d give it her all.

  A crunching of rock floated toward them. Then the flash of a Maglite landed in Camelia’s face. “Nettles?” Robinson’s voice sent waves of warmth into her body.

  A puff of breath left her lips.

  “I told her not to go under there. It’s dangerous.” Davis’s voice held a tinge of panic.

  More shuffling. Then, “That comes with the job.”

  The light and angle of her head prevented her from seeing his face, but his voice spoke volumes. I’ve got you covered, but hurry it up already. His warm hand met the back of her thigh and gave a reassuring squeeze.

  A pinching bit the back of her eyes.

  “While we appreciate your concern, Camelia and I have everything under control.” She tried to infuse as much cheer into her voice as possible. As if they were anywhere but under a ton of shaky steel. “Got ourselves a bunch of nervous Nelly’s out there.”

  A wobbly smile hit the other woman’s lips, then tapered off. “She’s all alone out there. What if she’s scared? Or hungry. Or hurt.”

  Or dead. Sold on the black market. Heaviness blanketed the air around them. “Sounds like she’s a smart girl. She’s counting on you and you’ve been doing a great job trying to get to her. What’s the boy’s name? Where is he from? And why did you bring him in tonight?”

  “He saw my baby...my Paige.”

  “When?”

  A flash of something ripped across the other woman’s features. Had her squeezing her eyes tight. “At the park.”

  What? “Recently?”

  The metal groaned again, a piercing scrape that was worse than nails on chalkboard. Camelia’s eyes took on a glassy hue, her breathing labored. Her hips slowly met the ground as if she were an infant leaving the birth canal.

  “A.J.” Distress crept into Robinson’s voice. “We gotta go.”

  “One minute.” To Camelia, she said, “What park?”

  “Not a minute.” His voice was harsh. “Now.”

  “When you find her, give her this.” The other woman shoved something cold and metallic into her palm, her gaze losing focus. Her fingers limp.

  Robinson’s shout mingled with Davis’ and a few others, but Amanda kept her focus on Camelia. “I need more details—”

  The iron above them gave a lurch. And shifted downward. Amanda clenched her eyes tight. And then she was yanked backward. She tried to find purchase on Camelia’s sleeve, but found air instead.

  The flesh of her forearms scraped against the gravel and glass. Pain radiated upward as she cleared the underbelly. A loud crash of metal against pavement filled the air as the vehicles dropped to the concrete.

  No. She scrambled to her knees. Gripped the edge of the metal and tried to lift three tons of steel without success. Her shoe slipped on the pavement. She hit the ground hard.

  It was too late. She never should have waited.

  She pounded on the mangled vehicles.

  She should have listened to instinct and come running. If she had...

  Two hands jerked Amanda into a standing position. Her body met the solid wall of Robinson’s chest as his arms wound around her. Warm lips found a bare piece of flesh at the juncture of her neck and shoulder, the scent of laundry soap and spicy aftershave staving off the stench of death around them.

  “Breathe. You did everything you could.” Beneath her hands, his body vibrated as if she’d left him in the cold, alone.

  No. She clenched her eyes shut. Tightened her grip on him. Felt the item in her hand gouge into skin. Tears stung her eyes.

  Some risks were worth taking.

  If she’d have been sooner...

  ___

  GUILT WEIGHED HEAVIER than a three ton anchor.

  The play of it slash across his wife’s face. The heavy emotion broke through Robinson’s armor and rested in his chest, like a punk with a spray can and fresh wall space. But unlike a seasoned gang member, this kid didn’t understand what activities would ensure he got away unscathed. And he was currently using the most rickety scaffolding known to man.

  Vibrating his entire body.

  Camelia Jurik’s still, unrecognizable frame didn’t help. It could’ve been Amanda.

  Get it together, buddy.

  Next to him, Amanda fingered something in her palm. Her gaze jumped from the paramedics, who hauled the deceased woman to the waiting ambulance, and the boy still sitting on the edge of the road.

  Detective Brink stood near the teen, a menacing tower over the boy’s hunched figure and downcast head.

  Davis lingered between where they stood, near the wreckage, and Brink. She hadn’t moved since Amanda had coldly dismissed her casual concern—and her person in general—ten minutes ago. A sour look covered her face.

  If they weren’t surrounded by emergency personnel and Amanda’s coworkers, Robinson would have held Amanda longer. Carted her off of this scene.

  Tended to the scrapes on her arms. And for once, taken some time to let them both catch their breaths.

  He’d give anything to erase the last twenty minutes, which only proved how deep he’d been shaken in his never-take-back-moments-mantra. Two more seconds under those vehicles...

  He flexed his jaw. Chased away thoughts of her demise.

  “How you holding up, Nettles?”

  Her gaze flicked to his, the lights around them highlighting the amber color of her irises. “What are you doing here? I thought you were staying with Lilly and Ariana.”

  Well, then. So much for returning to hero status. Or that fictitious breather.

  She ran a hand over her face and pinched the bridge of her nose. “That came out wrong.”

  He clenched his jaw. Scanned the area again and came up with the same awful scene. Mangled metal. Injuries. Death. One kid who’d have the memory color his future forever. “Uh-huh.”

  Amanda turned toward him, anguish splashed across her features. Before she could open her mouth, a shout caught their attention. It came from the direction the boy sat. Except he was standing and Brink had a fistful of the kid’s shirt in his hands.

  “What are you doing?” Davis reached Brink’s side and tried to pry his fingers from the teen’s clothing. Wide eyes stared back from a pale face. Streaks covered those cheeks.

  “Is that Hunter?” Amanda shifted. “Ariana’s friend?”

  Robinson and Amanda moved to the scene almost as one.

  Brink shrugged Davis off. “Stay out of this, Charlie.”

  The force knocked her off balance and over the curb, her feet tangling beneath her. Amanda steadied her partner before she hit the ground.

  Murder flashed in deep green eyes and over the red appearing on her face as she righted herself. She brushed the edge of her slacks. “Let him go.” She ground out. “He’s just a kid.”

  Brink had both hands on the boy, now, and lifted him upward so his toes were the only thing touching the curb. “He got a woman killed tonight. His actions qualify him as a man.”

  Hunter shook his head. Tears followed in the dried tracks their predecessors had left behind. “I didn’t know she was behind me.” A gasp came from the boy’s mouth. “Honest. I was just trying to get away. She asked me some questions. Then dragged me here.”

  Before Brink could shake the teen, Robinson stepped up and placed a hand on the detective’s shoulder. Applied pressure no one would know about unless the other man screamed like a little girl.
“How about we treat him like a man then. Instead of an animal.”

  The other man’s gaze swung to him, something dark and hateful lingering. “Last time I checked, you weren’t on the precinct payroll, Robinson.”

  Even though every cell in his body wanted to deck the detective, Robinson held still. Pretended his words had little meaning. “If I was, you’d never know about it.”

  Brink’s gaze flicked to the people around him, then came back to Robinson.

  “It’s been a pretty trying day for everyone. Including him.” Robinson pointed toward Hunter.

  Brink lowered him, but didn’t let go. “He’s gonna run off again, before we can question him.”

  Robinson tried a friendly smile. “Hunter, right?”

  “Y-yes, sir.”

  “Detective Brink is gonna let you free. As of right now, you’re not in trouble. You will be if you try to run. Understood?”

  He nodded. Brink mumbled something incoherent under his breath and released the boy. Then brushed past Robinson. As if Amanda and Davis had a communicable disease, he gave both detectives a wide berth and stomped toward the precinct.

  Hunter adjusted his shirt. Ran the back of his hand under his nose. “She cornered me after baseball practice. Said she was looking for any information about Paige Jurik. The teachers, at school, told us she moved. Her dad got some job in Raleigh. And before that, she got into a fight with Susie Kane.”

  “That doesn’t explain why Mrs. Jurik dragged you down here.” Amanda stepped into view, her arms crossed and face stern.

  Hunter shifted. Took a swallow. “I mentioned seeing Paige come out of a wooded area at Mountain Creek Nature Center last fall. Jackman Trail.”

  The class had gone on the trip in early October. Robinson remembered signing the permission slip amidst all the last minute wedding details. “Was she with anyone?”

  The teen shook his head. His gaze flicked to the car being lifted onto a tow truck. Then jumped back to them. “But I saw Keith Cooke come down the same path five or ten minutes later. Most of us were in groups of five or six, wandering around after we’d eaten lunch. Waiting for the next part of the tour to begin.”