Page 16 of Meeting Up with the Mason

A gust slammed the car, and a shot rang out like a rifle. I exclaimed, “What on earth—” and the car slammed into something.

Glass shattered. Metal groaned. Smoke. I could smell smoke.

I was halfway in the driveway. Numb, my brain struggled to piece everything together. The wipers were whining but not moving. The car was stopped. Darkness all around. Broken glass. Something had hit the car. My seatbelt was locked tight, but the airbag hadn’t gone off.

Nothing hurt, but chilly water was misting the back of my neck.

Taking a deep breath, I shut off the radio, then turned my head. The rear windshield was shattered, and leafy branches filled the back seat. Rain sprayed through the car every time the wind turned.

A tree. That old maple must have collapsed across the car.

I looked forward again, and tangled in the branches across the windshield—that was a power line.

Stop.

Breathe.

Think.

I threw the car into reverse, but it wouldn’t budge. Come on. Comeon!I floored the gas pedal, afraid I’d rocket back across the street, but nothing. The weight was too much. I rocked the wheels to one side and the other, but I couldn’t move in any direction, and there was always that cable looming only eighteen inches in front of my face, loaded with enough voltage to fry me where I sat.

Time for plan B. Whatever that was.

If the entire car was electrified, keeping the engine running might get me killed. Right? I had no idea, so I shut it down.

Had the power fried my phone? I reached for it slowly, then unplugged it from the charger. It responded. Good, because I needed help.

911 answered on the third ring. “What’s your emergency?”

I tried to summon my virtual assistant persona. “A tree fell on my car, and I’m trapped inside. There’s a power line on the hood. I think it’s live.”

The 911 operator talked me through it. First, stay put. Was the car on fire? Was there rising water? Was I injured? No, no, and no. “Do not touch the sides of the vehicle,” the operator stressed. “Stay fully inside. I’m dispatching the fire department and the power company.”

“How long will it be?” My voice trembled. So much for my VA persona. “Am I in danger? What if the cable starts sparking?”

“I can’t say how long. You should get priority because this is a dangerous situation. We need to ensure the power’s off, and then they can get you out. Give me your phone number in case we get disconnected.”

My view from all the windows was tree branches, rain, and the line of death crossing my windshield.

“Ma’am?” The operator got back on the call. “Mashpee Fire and Rescue is aware of your situation. They stress that it is absolutely important to stay inside the vehicle unless it’s on fire or you’re in immediate danger. They will get to you as soon as possible.”

Everyone was having emergencies. Everyone on Cape Cod. Chip had been right—it was stupid to drive to the airport, stupid to think I’d be flying home—stupid to have gotten so attached to him that this morning, I’d wanted only to escape.

Escape wasn’t an option now. Not until help arrived.

Chapter 9

Chip

My phone rang. Alyssa’s number, calling with one last goodbye.

Answering would only break my heart again. On the other hand, I owed her whatever closure she needed. “Hello?”

“Chip?” Alyssa’s voice was pitched high. “Chip, I’m scared.”

My heart stopped. “Are you okay? Where are you?”

“I’m at the house. In the driveway. I was in the car, and a tree fell, and there’s a power line.” Was she struggling not to cry, or had she already lost the fight? “The Fire Department is coming, but they can’t do anything until the power’s off, and I’m trapped, and we can’t tell if the wire’s live, so—”

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