Page 142 of For the Birds

“Jesus. Her body’s ice cold, and she’s covered in blood. You shot her.” He snarled the lastpart.

“It was a clean shot. I made sure of it.” I recognized the voice and turned to see Tim Dermot. Jed was there too, dropping Merv’s body onto the floor.

“I’m okay,” I pushed out through chattering teeth as I started to violently shake. I think.

“She’s in shock,” Dermot said, kneeling next to me. “MaybeChapman shot her. Let’s get her dress off so I can look herover.”

“Like hell you’re takin’ off her dress.” James’ arms tightened aroundme.

“Just hold me . . . warm me up,” I said, shaking even more. “I was havin’ a vision. The coldness is something I’ve experienced before when seein’ death, but this is different. I’ve never had a vision of someone while they were bein’ killed . . . I got stuck.”

Dermot still knelt next to me and gave me an odd look as he took my pulse.

I was vaguely aware that I’d inadvertently exposed my secret, but I was more worried about surviving to worry aboutit.

Scooter walked up behind Dermot, his hands nowfree.

“I’m sorry,” I said, unsure if he could hear me since I was shaking so hard. “I’m sorry about Jeanne.”

He didn’t answer, just stared down at me and James.

“Scooter,” James said, “I’m sorry. I should have protectedher.”

He shook his head. “She wouldn’t have letyou.”

Dermot, who was still kneeling beside me, glanced over at James. “Her pulse is weak. We need to get her out of those clothes then wrapped up in something to warm her up. Being covered in Chapman’s blood isn’t helpin’ the situation.” He looked toward two men in the doorway. “I need water, towels, and some blankets.”

“We’re not doin’ it here.” James got to his feet and strode across the warehouse toward the now-open doors, carrying me like I weighed nothing. “Jed,” he barked. “Start my car. Turn the heater on full blast.” Then he opened the back door to his car and got inside, cradling me on his lap while I shivered uncontrollably.

“Tell me what to do, Rose,” he pleaded.

“It’ll pass.” At least I hoped. “I just have to warm up. I’ve never been stuck in death like that before. This time I couldn’t breathe. I—I felt like I was drowning in blood.”

“Dermot shot Merv from a hole in the roof, and Merv fell on top of you. The blood was his, and you couldn’t breathe because he was crushin’ you.” I continued to shiver, and James started rubbing my arms and my legs. “You were havin’ a vision when Dermot shotMerv?”

“I was tryin’ to fixit.”

“Fix what? Merv?” He placed his hand on my head and held my cheek to his chest. “You can’t fix everything, Rose. No matter how much you want to. There was no fixin’ Merv. He was too fargone.”

Yet I had seen a tiny sliver of the decent man I was sure he’d once been . . . and now he was gone. So many people weregone.

I started tocry.

“Shh . . .” he whispered into my ear, then rolled down the window and hollered his brother’sname.

Scooter came over to the car door, still looking out ofit.

“Get in,” James said. “I’ll bring youhome.”

Scooter shook his head. “I’ll stay and help clean up. Jed can take me home later. Take care ofRose.”

The two men locked eyes for several seconds; then James rolled up the window and said, “Forget cleanin’ her up. Drive us home. Then come back and help Dermot with themess.”

I wondered who he was talking to for a moment, but Jed was still in the driver’s seat, and he took off like a bat out of hell, dust flying up around thecar.

Jed drove us to James’ house, and since he lived south of town, we were there in less than twenty minutes. Speeding probably helped.

“Why are we here?” I asked as James got out of the car. Jed had already gotten out and unlocked thedoor.

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