Page 2 of Freedom to Love

Brynn clenched her jaw, wanting to argue, to bite into her, but she held back. She held back just as she’d always done. “You didn’t have to ask. And besides, you bawling like a baby…that was worse than asking.”

Bea didn’t respond and Brynn didn’t push it. Her great-aunt had written a few times warning her of trouble at home. But a part of her had hoped Bea and Billy would get their shit together before she got out. But as usual, that was wishful thinking. And though Brynn had hated being locked up, honestly, it had been nice not having to take care of anyone. Imagine…discovering independence while locked up. Who would’ve thought?

Now she was free and she felt trapped again. Bea was driving her straight back into lock-down on Williams Lane. Brynn sighed and rubbed a suddenly aching temple. She’d kill for a Coke and a Goody’s Powder, but it would be a while before a gas station. She settled back in the vinyl seat and stared ahead. Bea was still on drugs, snorting, smoking, maybe even selling. Who knew? Had Brynn going to prison taught her nothing? Hadn’t it even scared her a little? It seemed not.

They drove for a long while, out into the country, pastures and rolling hills as far as she could see. Rolls of hay dotting the landscape here and there. But no people. Not a single damn one. She knew it should comfort her after being locked up like rats inside hell, but she felt a little panicked at all the open space. She willed her eyes to close, and as they did, she heard a distant siren. It was far away so she tried not to panic. But her brain fired off and she imagined them coming up behind, running the plate, pulling them over, throwing them up against the car, tightening those cuffs until they bit into their bones.

“Slow down,” Brynn said, eyes still closed. She could feel Bea slow the car and the siren grow closer. When Bea’s breathing changed, Brynn’s eyes flew open.

“What is it?” she asked, turning in her seat to look behind.

“That SUV. It’s coming up fast. Too fast.”

Brynn saw the black vehicle bearing down behind them. “Fuck.” She shrunk down in the seat and her heart nearly beat out of her chest. “Is it the law, undercover in one of those Tahoes? It could be, but there are no flashing lights in the grill.”

“Here it comes,” Bea said, gripping the wheel.

Brynn peeked over the seat and gasped with fear as the SUV nearly slammed into them. But at the last second, it swerved and flew past at an insane amount of speed. She watched it fly by and swerve back into their lane. Then her attention was behind them once again as the siren, which was incredibly loud now, came up on them going just as fast as the SUV. The police cruiser, lights flashing, siren wailing, was far from interested in their stolen car.

Brynn yelled at Bea “Get out of the way!”

Bea pulled off the road at full speed, allowing the cruiser to speed on. They watched, amazed and confused as their car bounced in the dirt shoulder. Suddenly, the SUV screeched and turned, facing the cruiser head on. The cruiser slammed to a stop just as shots rang out from the SUV. Pieces of glass flew up from the front of the cruiser, and Brynn could tell it was being hit with gunfire. The officers were trapped inside.

Brynn threw open the door as Bea screeched to a stop. “They’re getting shot!”

“Brynn, wait!”

Bea reached behind the front seat and tossed her a handgun. Brynn didn’t think, didn’t process, she just lowered herself and ran toward the cruiser. Behind her, she heard Bea fire off a few rounds at the SUV.

Brynn kept moving. She could see two men hanging out the windows of the black vehicle. She fired two shots, hitting their windshield as she came to the back of the police car. She crab-walked up to the passenger door as each shot deafened her, causing her ears to ring. She looked inside and saw a male slumped behind the wheel, bleeding from a wound to the head, and another officer, a female, leaning to the left in the passenger seat. Brynn opened the door and the rounds continued to come from behind, from Bea, but they stopped from the SUV. Brynn tugged on the female’s wrist. She moaned. Brynn climbed in and released her seat belt. Warm blood seeped into her T-shirt as she pressed against the officer. The woman was hit, somewhere in the upper shoulder area. Brynn reached out and pushed at the male. He didn’t move and his shirt was torn with bullet holes.

“Shit.” Brynn backed out and tugged on the woman again, sliding her from the car. When Brynn saw the blond ponytail and then her face, her mind flashed with recognition. It was Sergeant Vander, the officer who had arrested her for possession four years earlier. She had put Brynn in prison. But it didn’t matter. She was shot and needed help. Brynn checked her pulse. Slow but steady. She heard the SUV peel out and speed away. Hoping it was safe, she half carried, half drug Vander back to their car. Bea stood still with her gun at her side.

“What are you doing?”

“We gotta get her to a hospital.” Brynn was breathless and now covered in blood. “Help me get her into the car.”

Bea didn’t move.

“We can’t do this, Brynn. We’ve already done too much.” She walked over and looked at her face. “Shit, is that Vander? That bitch put you away, Brynn. Wanted me too. Do you know how much hell she’s given me the past few years?”

“We can’t let her die.”

Bea turned away. “Not our problem. She’s not our problem. We did our best. Now it’s time to go. She’s on her own. Which is more than she’s ever done for us.” She looked up and down the road, pacing. “What about the other one? I bet it’s that son of a bitch partner of hers.”

“I think he’s dead.”

“Shit.” She grabbed her head. “Shit, shit, shit!”

“Bea, help me get her in the car.”

“No. No way. I’m done.” She tugged on her own hair in frustration. “We got a dead cop, Brynn. A fucking dead cop. You’re soaked in blood; we both have guns. What the fuck do you think they’re gonna do to us when they catch us? Give us awards?”

Vander moaned again in Brynn’s arms. The blood was pulsing out of her.

“Fine. Stay here. I’ll drive her myself.” Brynn maneuvered Vander into the backseat and pulled a tank top from her bag of meager possessions. She folded it and pressed it into the wound. Vander winced and made a noise of protest.

“Shh, hang tough. We’re getting you some help.” Brynn was surprised at her own voice. It was calm, soothing. She was nurturing the cop just like she had everyone else in her life.

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