Anonymous(22)

I turn on the TV, hoping to take my mind off everything.

“This just in. We’re coming to you live from River Bend Road in Pinecrest.” River Bend Road is the same winding road I take home every day. The same goes for Jake, and all the other people who live on our mountain. Martin Stevens, a reporter from our local news station, is standing in the snow with his microphone, while lights from the fire trucks and police cars blink continuously behind him. He’s bundled inside a bulky, red jacket and hat, complete with steam billowing out from his mouth as he speaks. His words are what makes my worst fears come to life.

“There are no leads yet as to why the car ran off the road, but I have been told the driver, unresponsive on scene, has been taken to the hospital. We don’t know of his condition at this present time. Back to you Charlene.”

Hands shaking, I call Jake’s phone, over and over, tears streaming down my face. “Answer the goddamn phone,” I scream, calling him again. Heart racing, I scroll through the TV channels, but no one else is covering the wreck. I want to call my parents, or Owen, but I can’t seem to function. It’s like everything inside me has frozen up.

Then the doorbell rings. Through the glass designs on the door, I can see blue lights flashing in my driveway. My knees are weak and I can barely move, but somehow, I open the door to an officer I don’t know. He’s older, maybe early fifties, with salt and pepper hair. He’s a little pudgy through the mid-section, but still in good shape. His eyes are what gets me. I can see the sorrow and how uncomfortable he feels having to be on my doorstep.

“I’m Officer Charles McGee, ma’am.”

I shake my head, my vision blurry from tears. “It can’t be true. Please tell me you’re not here about my husband.”

He hangs his head. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Kingston. Your husband’s been in an accident.”

That’s all it takes. It’s like everything inside of me rips to shreds. My heart is torn in two and my soul . . . my soul is in a million pieces.



* * *



The ride to the hospital is a complete blur. Officer McGee drives me, but I can’t think of anything other than Jake. He doesn’t know of his condition and it makes things worse. I have no clue if he’s going to live or die, or if he’s a vegetable living off machines.

The lady at the desk instructs me on where to go to wait, as Jake is in emergency surgery. There are people in the waiting room, but it’s separated into sections so that you have your own. I call my family and Owen, and thankfully, he’d found out over the radio in his car and is on his way. I don’t want to be alone. Before any of them arrive, Officer McGee comes in, along with another officer about the same age, only he’s skinnier with a bald head.

He holds out his hand. “Mrs. Kingston, I’m Detective Terry Bradshaw. You can call me Terry.” I shake his hand but can’t seem to form any words. “I know it’s been a hard night. I’ve come to tell you about the accident.”

“How bad was it?” I ask. “The lady at the desk couldn’t give me any answers.”

Terry releases a heavy sigh. “He’s lucky to be alive, Mrs. Kingston. From what we’ve gathered so far, it looks like someone was in the road and your husband swerved to miss them, causing him to lose control and drive off the mountain.”

My gut clenches to the point I feel like I’m going to throw up. “Someone was in the road?”

Owen rushes in and the officers clearly know him.

They shake hands and turn their attention back to me. “There were footprints in the snow on the road. Someone was standing there when your husband drove through the curve.”

I look up at Owen and he speaks. “I think I know who it is. I have reason to believe that one of your officers, Bryan Snyder, is responsible for this.”

Terry and Charles look at each other in disbelief. It’s Charles who speaks up next. “You can’t be serious.”

Owen stands a few inches above them. “Deadly serious. I’ve been trying to track him down, but I can’t seem to find him.” He nods toward me. “Mrs. Kingston here has been getting threatening text messages and has reason to believe he’s stalking her. Add this to his list and it’s attempted murder.”

Both Terry and Charles appear stunned. “Those are some pretty hefty allegations. Where’s your proof?” Terry demands.

My blood boils. I open my text messages and hand him my phone. “I have text messages from months back, on up until now from two different numbers.” I show him both numbers and he writes them down. “There’s reason to believe he’s also had physical contact with me at a Halloween party. Then, earlier this morning, there was a text saying how beautiful I was in my green shirt, letting me know he was watching me. And now, someone tried to kill my husband. It’s not a coincidence,” I snap angrily. I’m so livid my body shakes.

Owen puts his arm around my shoulders. “Calm down, Ells. We’ll get him, don’t worry.” He glares at the other officers and it’s clear he’s intimidating them by the way they step back. “If I have to search for clues myself, I will, but you need to find the cocksucker and bring him in for questioning. Because if I find him first, it’s not going to be pretty.”

“I’m really sorry this has been happening to you, Mrs. Kingston. When your husband wakes up, I want to ask him some questions.” Terry hands me a card with his phone number. “Please call me when he does. Until then, I’ll see what I can find out about these two phone numbers.”