Page 142 of Play Book

Somehow, her garbled, hysterical words had penetrated my confusion and I barely stopped the car before jumping out. The front door of the gallery had been locked so I’d run around the corner and down the alley, full speed, praying I wasn’t too late.

The scene I found when I walked in made me see red.

Fury exploded out of me, and I don’t have much recollection of pulling Russell off of Saylor or how many times I hit him. The knuckles of my right hand are raw, though, and he’d been out cold.

I also didn’t realize Ally had followed me into the gallery until I heard her crying.

And holding on to Saylor, whispering, “please don’t die… please wake up…”

But Saylor’s okay, currently nestled against my chest.

Now that it’s over, I’m terrified.

How close had I come to losing her forever?

Would he have choked her if I hadn’t arrived? If Ally hadn’t gotten away and called me.

The police are here now, taking statements from everyone, but Ally is doing most of the talking. Ironically, she’s calmer than the rest of us put together, telling an amazing story of Saylor’s bravery. Her protectiveness. Her stupidity.

She’d thrown herself at a man with a gun who probably weighed two times what she weighs.

Yet that’s how Ally had gotten away.

“…then Saylor told me to run,” Ally told the police officer. “So I did. And called my uncle. Then he came and we found him choking her…”

“Saylor needs to see a doctor,” Grim said, finally speaking up when the interrogation had been going on for about thirty minutes. “I know you have more questions for everyone, and they’ll be glad to answer them, but she needs to be checked out. You’re welcome to come to the hospital to finish talking to us there.”

“What’s going on? Saylor?” Stevie bursts in the back door. “Oh my God, your neck!”

“It’s okay, Stevie.” Ally runs to hug her. “Uncle Canyon got here in time to save us.”

“To save…” Stevie’s voice trails as she looks at me. “Everyone is out front, wondering why the door is locked. I came around back to check since Saylor wasn’t answering her phone.”

“Russell took it,” Saylor whispers.

“I’ve got it,” Grim says, holding it out to me.

“I want a lawyer!” Russell is in handcuffs, huffing and blustering. “And I want to press charges—he assaulted me.”

“You assaulted Saylor first!” Ally yells, glaring at him.

“Ally. Hey. It’s okay. Let the police handle him.” I reach out a hand and pull her against me. Saylor is leaning on one side of me and now Ally’s on the other.

My two girls.

I like this feeling.

And I don’t plan to let it go.

“Mr. Marks, we’re going to have to go down to the station. Mr. Harmon wants to press charges.”

“That’s not happening.” Grim stands up. “Give us a break, Vic. We’ll get you the video footage if you give me a little time.” He apparently knows the detective who seems to be in charge. “Let us go to the hospital. You can follow us. You have my word Mr. Marks won’t go anywhere.”

“Where the hell am I going to go?” I mutter. “You think I’m leaving my girls?”

There are some heated words exchanged between Grim and the detective, but they finally come to an agreement.

“All right.” Grim turned. “I’ll drive Saylor to the hospital, and you can follow behind us. The police will follow.”

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