Page 156 of In the Air Tonight

Those four words finally break through the dread to get me moving toward the house to grab Fenway’s leash and my wallet.

Houston drives to Fall River with lights and the siren, which doesn’t help my anxiety one bit. “What do you know?”

“Someone hit her on the Mount Hope Bridge, and she spun into oncoming traffic. A truck hit her head on.”

I feel sick as I think about what that must’ve been like. “She must’ve been terrified.”

“She was unconscious when the paramedics got to her.”

“Did they get the person who hit her?”

“They took off, but people in the car behind the truck that hit her got the plate, and they’re tracking it down now.”

“This was intentional. Someone followed her over there and waited to do this to her on the bridge, where it would be scarier than hell.”

“Probably,” Houston says, sounding as grim as I feel.

“Will she make it?”

“I haven’t heard anything since they said they were transporting her, but they took her to Charlton and not Rhode Island Hospital.”

“What does that mean?”

“Charlton isn’t a level-one trauma facility, and Rhode Island Hospital is.”

“So that’s good news then.”

“I think so, but I don’t know for sure.”

“I’ll take whatever hope you can give me.”

Houston’s radio crackles to life with a call from Dispatch. “Chief, we received word from Bristol police that the victim transported to Charlton—”

My heart stops when the radio cuts out. “What? What about her?”

“Dispatch, please repeat your last transmission.”

I hold my breath and pray like I haven’t in years.Please. Please. Please.

“Chief, the victim is awake and alert.”

The relief is so tremendous, I immediately break down.Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Houston continues to communicate with the dispatcher, but I tune them out. I’ve heard the only thing that matters to me. She’s alive, awake and alert.

I glance at him. “Something needs to be done to keep her safe until this is over.”

“I’ve already spoken to Josh Spurling at the AG’s office. They’re putting her in a State Police safe house with round-the-clock protection. They’re also putting officers at your house.”

“I’ll want to be with her, and Fenway goes where we go.”

“I told them that. I’ll take you home to pack whatever you need.”

“Thank you, Houston. For everything, especially for sending Blaise to my place when she needed somewhere to stay. I hope I’ll be thanking you for that for the rest of my life.”

“That’s awesome. I’m so happy for you guys.”

“I’m happy for us, too. We can’t let anything happen to her.”

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