“Is there any evidence in the truck, any indication of who was driving it? What are they doing to find the person who—”
“Babe, they’re working on it. From what Greg said, the guy driving the truck is in his forties or a bit older. The police will charge the man with hit and run once they find him. At this point, they can get him on attempted murder charges—if they determine that the damage done to Robert’s Chevy was intentional. They won’t know till forensics examines the truck.”
“Attempted murder? Fuck, that’s...they’d better find that guy soon.” Sam stood next to Robert and gripped her hand on his shoulder. Only two weeks since the accident, Robert had already shriveled down, his body wasted away into some unfamiliar frame of what used to be her stout brother. Rage filled Sam as she thought of what this man had done to him.
“Sam, they’re doing all they can to find this guy. For now, they’re looking at the truck for any evidence. Because no one has...actually died, it’s not their top priority.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? My brother is paralyzed and in a coma because of this guy. Tomorrow they’re putting in a tracheostomy and a permanent feeding tube. He’s got brain damage due to the guy driving Robert off the side of the bridge and into the river. How is this not a top priority?”
“I’ll try to get the investigators to make it a priority. The vehicle was clearly involved in a collision. Pretty extensive front fender damage, along with damage to the driver’s side door. It’s an old, faded grey truck just like the one Robert’s friends described, a 1990 Ford F-150. Once they match the damage on it to Robert’s truck, things will change in the investigation.”
Anger boiled inside Sam. She paced from the bed to the doorway and then back to the bed. “Just this week Robert signed the final paperwork for the shop, making him the owner of Rizzo’s Reptiles. The shop was all his, Annie. This was the first thing Robert actually followed through with. I mean, he’d given up becoming a police officer. Even as a kid, he never finished anything. He never even finished making the log raft he spent that one summer designing. I don’t think he’d completed anything significant up until becoming owner of the shop. For years, Mr. Rizzo talked about selling it to him. Finally happened this week. In his seventies, old Rizzo finally made his decision. And now it’s been taken away from Robert by some...asshole who rammed his truck into the bridge.”
Annie stood quiet for a moment next to Sam, the two of them staring at Robert’s unresponsive body. The ventilator made a low whooshing sound as it pushed air into his lungs. “He’s gonna make it, babe,” Annie finally said and draped her arm around Sam.
“Robert’s dream finally came true after all those years working in that shop. First as a teenager sweeping up floors and cleaning cages and then...managing the place. Now, he’s the owner. Or would’ve been. For now, Mr. Rizzo’s running the shop till Robert recovers...if he ever does recover from this.” Sam waved an arm over her brother lying unconscious, paralyzed, and barely alive.
Annie set a hand on her cheek then brushed the hair from her face. “This can’t be all there is for Robert. He’s gonna pull through. He has to. I’ll make sure they find the guy who hit him. I’m on my way to Matt’s house now to get more information on what he remembers about the accident. Greg’s already given us a pretty good run-down of what happened, saying the guy rammed his truck into Robert’s right as they got to the bridge. Said the guy didn’t stop and rammed him again. Sounds to me like a bad case of road rage.”
Robert’s right hand suddenly twitched, and his heart rate shot up to 90. Sam glanced out the window toward the nurses’ station, motioning for someone to come in. Sam studied the monitor, checking to see if his heart was showing any signs of arrhythmia. His heart rate now bumped up to 94, then 98, and finally, 110. When no one came in, Sam pressed the call button next to the pillow.
Betty rushed in, studying the monitor and tapping the screen. When other numbers appeared on the monitor, Sam glanced over Betty’s shoulder to assess what was happening.
When Sam gripped Robert’s hand, his heart rate lowered to 95. “Robby, I’m right here. I’m not leaving your side.”
“Robert, it’s okay,” Betty said and leaned in close to his face then held his other hand. “If you can hear me, squeeze my hand.”
Sam and Betty stood there, an attentive audience as they waited for Robert to squeeze Betty’s hand. Again, Betty asked Robert to squeeze his hand. Nothing. No squeeze, not even a flinch. His heart rate hovered around 95.
“Lemme try,” Sam said and cupped her hand around Robert’s. “Robby, it’s Sam. I’m right here. Give me a squeeze.” With that request, his thumb twitched then grasped her hand—not just a fluttering of the fingers but a full clench of her hand. For the first time in two weeks, Sam had a renewed sense of hope that her brother was still there. But, aware that he’d likely never walk again, she set aside all sense of hope that he’d ever be how he’d been before the accident.
As Sam gripped his hand, Robert’s heart rate went down to 85, then 82, then back down to 70 as it had been for the past two weeks. Sam stroked his hand and leaned in closer to his face. Robert’s eye was no longer swollen, but it was still a dark purple. The gash on his temple had already faded to a pink line after they’d removed the sutures.
“You two have a strong connection,” Betty said. “Your presence here gets some sort of response from him. The spike in heart rate was probably just a fluke, nothing to be concerned about. The EKG shows a steady heart rate. He threw a couple PVCs but nothing to worry about. Blood pressure is stable. I’ll ask the doctor to stop in when he’s making his rounds tonight. He may want to adjust some of Robert’s meds, maybe taper him down a bit more on the fentanyl. I’ll be back to check on him before my shift is over. Keep talking to Robert. He can hear you.”
Annie put her arm around Sam, pulling her close to her chest. “Babe, we’ll find the guy. You have my word on that. Let me drive you home before I go to Matt’s. You should be with your mom. Get some supper and relax for a bit. I’ll come over later to let you know what I find out from Matt. Marsha’s out of town till tomorrow.”
Sam relaxed her body and rested her head on Annie’s shoulder. “I’m gonna stay for a bit longer. I want to wait till the change in shift. I always like to find out who’s caring for Robert through the night. I’ll be home soon. Maybe we can enjoy some wine out on the porch later tonight. I could really use a drink...and some company at the house. Mama’s been baking lately, only way she knows how to cope. Wine and peach pie later?”
“Sounds good. I should be over by nine or so. I can stay as late as you’d like.”
“No sense in wasting time by going home to change out of that uniform.” Sam nudged Annie then ran her finger over the badge.
Annie kissed the top of Sam’s head then gave her another squeeze. “You know, Marsha and I...well, I’m not sure we should have—”
“Gotten back together? I know. But you know you two have way more in common than you and I ever did. You’re the same age, for one thing. Hell, you’re both in law enforcement. I mean, real law enforcement. And you both live in Mississippi. So, there ya go.”
“I don’t know what I was thinking to rekindle something from over twenty years ago. We were so young back then, and I guess I thought...well, I guess it felt convenient when I moved back here. I mean, we were both single and not wanting to do the whole dating scene.”
“Convenient? That’s why you got back together with her?” Sam let out a loud huff and then pursed her lips. “Yeah, that whole dating scene can be pretty dismal. Well, at least with Marsha, you’ve got someone who’s stable. Good ol’ Marsha, huh?”
“She’s gone so much, you’d think we didn’t even live together.”
“Nothing wrong with that, I suppose. There’s something to be said for time apart. More time to yourself...and more time with me while I’m here, right? It’s all good. You love her. That’s what counts. But, you should probably know...I met someone r
ecently.”
“I figured as much. You got pretty quiet these past few weeks. You’d stopped texting me as much, didn’t share as much with me as you used to do.”
“She’s...a lot of fun. She’s eight years younger than I am, but I see potential. Haven’t felt this excited about someone new in a long time. Kim is so...well, so into the things I love to do. Plus, she’s...really sweet and—”
“It’s okay, Sam. It’s not like you’re not allowed to move on with your life.”
“Kinda hard to move on right now,” Sam said and stepped closer to the bed then touched Robert’s hand. She pulled Annie into a tight hug and leaned her head against her chest. “Not even sure when I can go back to San Diego. Can’t leave when he’s still in ICU.”
Sam closed her eyes and felt safe in Annie’s arms once again. She knew she’d always be close to Annie, and for now this embrace meant more to her than some romp in the sack with a young new girlfriend.
After Annie left the ICU, Sam moved to the other side of Robert’s bed and lowered the blinds. She leaned down close to his ear. “Robby, we’re gonna find that son of a bitch. He’s not gonna get away with this. Just like you did years ago for me, I’m going to save you. You’ll see. I know you’re scared. I know you hate this, but I’m here. I’m gonna help you through this.”
Robert’s heart rate bumped up to 80, then 82, then 85. It stayed in that range for a few minutes as Sam held Robert’s hand and continued to talk to him, telling him more about Kim, about the recent red flag day, and about riding his bike along the river and to the bridge.
Sam was aware that Robert would never swing from the rope attached to the tree along the creek and plunge into the water during hot summer days. He’d never float down the river again, never search the banks of the Okatoma for water moccasins or skip rocks across the surface of the water. He’d never be able to add more snakes to his reptile collection. He’d never feel the touch of a woman’s embrace. He’d be lucky if he made it through that procedure tomorrow and even luckier if he made it through another week.
Chapter Eleven
Mississippi: Summer 1990
SAM ROLLED HER head from side to side. She felt warmth on her face and then on her lips. Moist, hot air breathed into her mouth and entered her lungs, causing her to cough. She gasped for a breath then heard her name whispered. A dark shadow hovered over her, someone tall but familiar. Sam flinched but couldn’t move her body away.
The person moved away from her and stood to the side, creating a shadow on her face. Not able to view the individual’s face, Sam squinted then recognized it was a man. Tall but lean, the guy stepped closer to her. Sam pulled a hand to her face to wipe the dirt from her mouth. The back of her head ached. Sam closed her eyes but felt cool, fresh air on her skin. She heard sloshing water nearby but not like the usual rhythm of the Okatoma heard from her house. Someone walked in the creek a few feet away.
“Sam, I’ll be right back,” she heard, this time from the river itself. Had her attackers taken note of her name? Had they trapped her on the shore and prevented her from escaping? But the river voice was familiar and safe to her, not like the voice of those mean men.
When Sam recognized Robert’s voice, she struggled to sit up as she searched for him. The rough sand scraped her elbow as she rolled onto her side and noticed that Robert had stepped into the creek to retrieve the shovel. Her wrists still ached from the pressure of the leather belt.
Robert picked up the belt next to Sam then flung it far into the woods behind them. Sam craned her neck to the right and saw one man lying motionless on the ground in a pool of blood; the other one’s body lay halfway submerged at the river’s edge. She crouched low to the ground, her body seeming to move on its own without effort on her part.
“Sam, we need to get out of here. But to get away from here, you’re gonna hafta step in the water, at least up to your knees. We need to get away from this area before anyone else gets here. I’m not sure it was the police who shot them. I didn’t hear sirens or see any police cars over there.”
Sam stepped into the creek, away from the lifeless body that lay at the edge of the water. The fear of snakes left her completely, her feet sloshing in the area where the creatures typically dwelled. Soon, she was up to her knees as she walked upstream against the current a few paces. She glanced into the forest next to her; she feared Johnny was lurking in there watching their every move. When she saw what looked like the shadow of a man near the edge of the woods, Sam stepped closer to Robert, her hand clenching his T-shirt as she plopped one foot in front of the other. She peered over there once again then let out a long exhale when she saw that the shadow was nothing but the thick trunk of a tree. But then she again saw the lifeless bodies a few feet away.
“Sam, don’t look at them, okay?” Robert said in a voice that for a moment sounded like her father’s. “Sit right here.” He pointed to a giant log wedged at the edge of the water then reached up to feel the back of her head, the tender skin on her scalp causing her to flinch.
Sam stared at Robert, noticing his lip was swollen and bleeding. After he swiped his mouth with the back of his hand, Robert spat onto the ground then told her to remain on the log. She rubbed her wrists and cringed from the painful red indentations left from the belt. She clasped her arms around her ribcage and huddled atop the log. As she shivered from the late afternoon breeze on her damp skin, she peered behind her to see Robert at the edge of the water.
Robert went to Fred’s body first. He pulled out a wallet from his back pocket and went through it. Sam could see the cash he stuffed into his pocket before tossing the wallet into the water. Robert hooked his arms under Fred’s armpits and walked backward as he dragged him to the creek. The man’s boot got stuck on a log, but after a strong tug from Robert, the dead body was free, and he was able to put it into the current. The Okatoma took the man, his body hitting the side of the creek and jostling between crooks in the river.
Then Robert approached the other bloodied body that lay partially submerged in the creek, the head bobbing face-up in the water. As he towered over Chuck’s lifeless body, Robert nudged it with the shovel.
Sam shivered and turned away from the sight of Chuck’s lifeless body. She could hear Robert drag it across the rocks and gravel before the plunk in the water told her he’d now joined Fred on his slow descent downstream. She glanced back over her shoulder to catch a horrific glimpse of Chuck’s body floating in the water.
After he returned to Sam, Robert leaned the shovel against the log. He ran his hand through his hair and shook his head. “I need to get rid of this. I can’t just ditch it here,” he said and glanced toward the woods on the other side of the Okatoma.
“I thought they killed you,” Sam started to say, the words stopping short in her throat. “I thought...I thought you got shot and drowned. I thought for sure you’d—”
“The one guy got me good in the face, that’s all. You don’t have any scrapes or anything on you from what I can tell. Those red marks on your wrists will go away soon. Your head’ll probably hurt for a couple days, but I don’t think you hit it too hard when you fell back.”
“Daddy can go after that guy. He can find him and arrest him.” She rocked back and forth on the log, but then she remembered what Johnny had told her when he pinned her to the ground.
“Sam, Dad can’t know about this. They’ll arrest me if they find out what I did. They find out, and I’ll never be able to get into law enforcement like Dad and Grandpa. I only wanted to scare the guy, that’s all. I wanted to make sure he couldn’t...well, that he couldn’t get up and go after you again, but I didn’t think—”
“That man who got away saw it all...Johnny, the one who got shot in the shoulder and arm. He saw you hit that man’s head over and over and over with the shovel. Robby, even I saw how many times you hit him.” The reality of what’d happened caused Sam to tremble once again, her breath shallow and rapid. Her head became light and dizzy. She couldn’t get
the sight out of her head of Robert hitting that man over and over with that shovel, how he didn’t stop even after the man stopped moving. Sam glanced at Robert—stunned that he even had the strength to do what he did to a grown man.
“I didn’t think I’d end up doing what I did. I just wanted to stop him from doing what he was doing to you. I wanted to get him away from you. I don’t...I don’t know what came over me, but no one can know what I did. Sam, you understand, right? No one can know about this.”
“Johnny said he’d come after me if I told Daddy about any of this. He said he’d kill him if I said anything. He said he’d kill me, too.”
“I won’t let that happen. He won’t hurt you now. You’re okay, and that’s what matters.”
Sam looked away from Robert for a moment then hugged her legs close to her chest. She rocked back and forth, tuning out the river’s currents which carried those bodies far away.
“If Dad asks about this,” Robert said and wiped the blood from his mouth, “we tell him I whacked my face on one of the logs as I was building the raft. He can’t know what I did to that guy. He can’t know about any of this. You understand, right?”
She stared at her muddy feet. The incessant trickle of water flowed past her, the current by now possibly taking those bodies several yards away. “No...no...no,” Sam muttered, low enough so that Robert couldn’t hear, especially above the sound of the churning river. “No...” she said again, feeling her chest heave with tears. But she would not cry. As Robert said, no one was to know about this. She took a couple deep breaths, but her tears dried up as fast as they’d come. By tonight, maybe those bodies would reach the Bouie River. Soon, the bodies might make it to another county, and by tomorrow, they might even reach another state. Could the current take them all the way to the Leaf River and then the Gulf of Mexico? Sam hoped those dead men were far away by now and even farther by tomorrow.
Saving Sam Page 9
