Page 49 of The Forever Game

I glance at my watch. Forty-three minutes to go. I’m nearly home clear.

“Unit Five, we have a 10-50 on Indigo and Twenty-Seventh. Multiple injuries. Possible fatality. Ambulance has been dispatched.”

Road accident. I wince, grabbing for the radio as Dan pulls away from the curb. “Copy that, dispatch. En route to scene.”

I flick on the sirens and the rain picks up, the wipers slashing across the windshield as we speed through town. Traffic makes way and we arrive four minutes later, my insides dropping as I spot the mangled car and steam rising from the crumpled hood. A dented delivery truck is sitting at an odd angle, obviously having plowed into the vehicle and sent it spinning into a lamppost. I have no idea who’s at fault, but the poor car didn’t stand a chance against that truck.

“Dispatch, Unit Five arrived on scene. What’s the ETA on that ambulance?”

“Two minutes out.”

“Copy that.”

I slip out of the squad car, pulling my hat down as I approach the two vehicles and the five civilians working hard to wrench doors open and gain access to the injured passengers. There’s a frantic energy buzzing between them as they shout suggestions at one another. I glance at the truck, noticing the crumpled door askew and then spotting a few people crouching down beside the shaken driver. He’s sitting on the curb, someone holding a T-shirt to his head, failing to mop up the stream of blood pouring from the gash along his hairline. His eyes are dazed and glassy, his skin pale.

“Keep pressure on it,” I call to the helpful woman. “The paramedics will be here in just a minute.”

I then turn my attention back to the car.

“Okay, what have we got here?” I ask the guy closest to me, my stomach plummeting when I notice the limp limbs at unnatural angles and the blood smeared across the cracked glass.

“I didn’t even see it happen.” The man’s voice trembles as he moves back from the door he’s failing to open. “I just heard the almighty smash and came running.”

“You three, step back, please. We don’t want any more injuries. Watch that glass!” Dan starts ordering the crowd around while I take a closer look into the written-off car.

From my brief glance, I can’t imagine there being much hope for the driver or the passenger, but I still pull on a pair of disposable gloves and pick my way around to the smashed window on the other side of the mangled wreck. One of the guys is arguing with Dan, insisting that he keep helping us.

As I reach in to examine the driver, I hear a soft wail, and my insides jolt.

“There are kids in there!” the man bellows at Dan.

Poking my head into the vehicle, I see the two car seats, and my stomach plummets.

Holy shit.

Racing to the back door, I try to wrench it open. My movements are frantic, the mangled metal making it impossible to budge the door.

“Dan, get over here!” I shout, willing my muscles to be stronger as I strain against this stubborn door.

He’s already on his way, the determined civilian following in his wake. My partner blinks against the rain and peers through the back window.

“Shit,” he mutters, coming to help me as the kids inside obviously pick up on our panic and start wailing in earnest.

The boy, who looks to be about three, is letting out these gasping sobs while his baby sister is kicking her legs and screaming. His cries are triggering hers, and I can feel their terror.

“That thing isn’t moving,” Dan puffs, resting his hand on his hip. “But it’s too dangerous to break the glass, and we can’t move those bodies either. Sir, would you please step back.”

“We need to get those kids out of there.” The man looks distraught.

“I know. Sir, we’re gonna get them out. Do you know these kids?”

“No.” He shakes his head. “But I have a young son, and I…” He points to the car.

“Okay.” Dan gently ushers him away from the car.

I stare at the crumpled mess and curse under my breath, pulling the radio off my belt and contacting the station.

“Dispatch, this is Unit Five. We’ve got children trapped in this vehicle. Need urgent assistance.”

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