Page 15 of Island Protector

This wasn’t the first time they’d had this discussion. It was a comparison Bryce himself had made several weeks ago on the way home from the marina.

“You taught me that, remember?” Sharon queried.

“Cuz Miles taught me,” Bryce said.

“That’s right,” Molly agreed.

“I want Miles,” Bryce whimpered. “Boats don’t do this.”

If only that were true. Instead, Molly jumped at the opportunity to make a bargain. “If you stay buckled up until the helpers get here, we’ll go see Miles as soon as possible.”

“Tonight,” Bryce demanded.

“That depends on what the helpers say.” Molly wasn’t sure about her own injuries. It was hard to breathe and her left arm was nothing but a giant throbbing pain from her shoulder toher pinky. An expert opinion would be welcome. “As soon as possible.” She swallowed tears of her own. “I promise.”

“Okay.” There was another sniffle followed by, “I’m hungry.”

“I’m sure you are.” She stroked his hair as best she could. It was the most reassuring thing he could’ve said. If he had an appetite, he probably wasn’t injured. “We’ll get food as soon as we can.”

“Here they come, Bryce.” Sharon pointed through the spiderweb of cracks that used to be a clear windshield. “We’ll be out of this in just a jiffy, sweetheart.”

Molly wasn’t sure who the endearment was aimed at, but she welcomed the solace. And the touch as Sharon gently brushed Molly’s hair back from her face. “Hang in there.”

After that, it was another blur as police, firefighters, and paramedics descended on the scene. Molly knew the island was fully staffed, though the departments were small. Still, it was bizarre to be surrounded by so many familiar faces helping her and her family.

Unlike Bryce, her appetite was completely gone. And not just because of the twisted hunk of metal that had once been her car.

Lieutenant Will Frasier, the second in command of the Brookwell Police department, had answered the call. As Molly watched, he spoke with Sharon while the fire department safely removed Bryce, then it was her turn.

The paramedics had her on a stretcher at the back of the ambulance. As they treated her, she asked about Bryce and Sharon. “They’re fine. You took the brunt of it,” one paramedic told her. “They’ll meet you at the clinic.”

Will jogged up before they could load her into the ambulance. “Did you see the driver? Get any description of the vehicle?” he asked.

“No. I’m sorry. It happened so fast.” She looked aroundthe area at the intersection. “The truck just came out of nowhere.”

“A pickup?”

“That’s right. Headlights on,” she remembered. “Sharon thinks it was dark blue. All I saw was a blur. More shadow than color. Maybe Bryce saw something.”

Of the three of them, her son was showing remarkable resilience. She was grateful that his tears had dried up and that the snack crackers from Sharon’s purse took the edge off his hunger. “He’s been working on colors in school,” she explained. “And everywhere else.”

“I’ll make sure we talk with him again,” Will promised. “There’s one more thing. If she’s stable?”

The paramedic, taking her pulse again, gave a nod.

Molly didn’t care for the scowl on his face.

“Do you and Sharon move that car seat between vehicles?”

Molly shook her head. “No. We invested in two seats. One for each car. Why?”

Will frowned. “I realize this accident wasn’t your fault, but I’m required to give you a ticket. The booster seat was not installed properly. If this accident had been worse, it could have resulted in a real tragedy.”

“No.” This couldn’t be happening. “It was in there correctly.” But something had come loose. She’d noticed it. “Please, Will. You can’t cite me.” Panic gripped her throat and made it hard to think or talk. “Will. Lieutenant, please. Are you sure the accident didn’t knock it loose? You taught me how to install it.”

He looked back at the crumpled heap of metal that used to be her car. “I remember.”

“You know how careful I am. We don’t take chances with Bryce.”

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