Page 22 of A River of Crows

“Easy!” Sloan pleaded. “Don’t hurt him!”

Sloan wedged herself between the car door and her father just as the officer went to slam it. She winced as the door cut into her back.

The other officer pulled the door open and grabbed Sloan by the shirt. “Come on, kid; get back inside!”

“Take your hands off my daughter!” Sloan turned and saw her mom standing in the doorway. “I’ll have your job.”

“Let her go,” Walt said. “Let her hug her father.”

“It’s gonna be okay. Lo, I promise,” Daddy told her. “Now, go inside with your mother.”

“Come on, Sloan.” Noah reached into the car and took her hand. “Dad can fix all this.”

Sloan was fairly certain Walt couldn’t fix anything. If he could, why wasn’t he?

“How does it feel to know your father is being charged with your brother’s murder?” A reporter’s voice rose above the noise.

“Goddamn it!” Walt yelled. “She’s a child. What is wrong with you?”

“They’re trash,” Mom yelled again. “All of you are trash!”

Cameras clicked, a microphone screeched, and everyone was yelling. Sloan saw black in her peripheral. The tunnel was narrowing. She needed to get back inside but knew she’d never make it. So, she let it close in on her.

Sloan blinked several times. She wasn’t lying on the lawn, but on their couch. Her head hurt, and she was freezing despite the heavy quilt draped across her body.

“She’s awake.” Mom sat down at Sloan’s feet as Sloan pushed herself up. “Not too fast.” Mom held up her hand. “Does anything hurt?”

Noah ran into the room and leaned over Sloan. “Are you okay?”

From the corner of the room, Walt cleared his throat. “Go back into the kitchen, Noah. Give us a minute.”

“What happened?” Sloan rubbed at an ache on the base of her skull.

Mom pushed a stray hair out of Sloan’s face. “You passed out.”

“No! What happened with Ridge? Why did that woman say Daddy was being charged with Ridge’s murder? Did they find his body?”

Mom scooted in closer. “No, but there were signs of struggle. There was blood.”

“Ridge’s? How can they be sure it’s his?” Sloan asked.

“They found a piece of his shirt, his beanie, and a shoe.”

“Where?” Sloan asked.

Mom looked down. “In the water.”

“No.” Sloan shook her head as if she could make her mom’s words fall out. “No!”

Mom put her arm around her. “I’m so sorry.”

“What if someone else hurt Ridge and Daddy? How do they know what happened?”

Mom glanced at Walt. There was venom in her eyes. “You want to take this one, Walt? Since you’re the one who arrested him?”

Walt knelt beside Sloan. “Do you know what PTSD is?”

Sloan shook her head.

---