Page 25 of Trial of Deceit

How bullet proof was this vehicle?And where was Jediah?She hoped those assailants didn’t kill him before she got to put him in prison.

As the shower of bullets silenced, a heavythudcame seconds later, then a loudbang.A groan followed, and Ashari’s head snapped up.That sound was worrying.

She pulled the car door open and stepped outside.Her eyes widened to see Jediah lying on the ground with his back facing her.One of Jediah’s elbows was propped up, supporting the top half of his body while his other arm was outstretched and pressed against the side of his leg.Two unmoving bodies were close to him.

Someone was fleeing with a gun in their hand.They hadn’t gotten too far.

“Ashari!Pull the trigger,” Jediah gritted out.

Ashari’s eyes widened as she watched the person run past the car that had slammed into them.“N-no.Me caan’ do it.”She dropped to the ground beside him, trying to inspect where he’d gotten shot.

Jediah shrugged her off and demanded she help him stand.He threw his arm over her shoulder, and hopped toward the car with Ashari’s help.They entered the vehicle.

“What are you doing?!”Ashari yelled as Jediah reversed out of the bushes, then sped toward the person running away.“Jed!Stop!”

Jediah floored the car.Ashari reached for the handle near the roof of the car.The car slammed into the person, rattling the car as it rolled over them.A sickening crunch drifted up from beneath the car.

“Dem don’ dead,” Jediah said, sneering while reaching for the door.

Ashari rushed out, “I-I’ll do it.”

Jediah looked at her, studying her, before he nodded.

Ashari curled her hand around the gun she’d tossed onto the floor after getting Jediah into the car.Her heart raced as she hopped out of the car, taking unsteady steps toward pained groans.Blood pooled beneath the car, rich in color as it neared Ashari’s feet.

Ashari cursed low as she kneeled.She thought if she came out and pretended to shoot them, she could use her phone to call an ambulance.Though it’d arrive after she’d have left with Jediah, it would’ve been a great effort.Seeing all the blood made her know it was a lost cause.

Ashari looked beneath the car, and her eyes widened.“Jaia?!”Ashari asked in a loud whisper.

“A-Ash…” Jaia forced out, her trembling fingers raising off the ground slightly.

A tear rolled down Ashari’s cheek as she reached for Jaia’s hand.“Why’re you here?”

“I th-thought you were hurt.”Jaia coughed up blood.

Ashari’s lips trembled.She could no longer see Jaia through the tears blurring her vision.

“D-don’t let me die like this,” Jaia begged.

“ASHARI!”came Jediah’s yell from inside the car, and Ashari wiped away her tears with the hand holding the gun.

“Wait!”Ashari yelled back, looking at Jaia while squeezing her hand.

“Pl-ease…” Jaia begged, and Ashari nodded.

She raised the gun and aimed at the center of Jaia’s forehead.She closed her eyes before pulling the trigger.Jaia’s trembling hand stilled, the life draining from her eyes.Ashari’s grip loosened.Jaia’s hand fell into the pool of blood.Ashari bit into her lip to mute a scream.

She wanted to reach out and close Jaia’s eyes, but there was no time.A headlight was approaching.Ashari stood and ran to the car.The carscreeched, smoking as Jediah floored the gas pedal.Ashari almost threw up inside her mouth as she heard another loudcrackas Jediah sped off.

Ashari flicked the safety on and tossed the gun onto the floor as if it burned.She put a fist to her mouth.“Me neva kill anybody before, Jed…”

Jediah laid his hand on her back.“You had to.For me.”

She closed her eyes, and Jaia’s face flashed in her eyes.They weren’t the closest, but Jaia was on this case with her.She was becoming family.“Bring me home.I don’t want dinner anymore.”

“I will after I get my leg checked out,” Jediah said while handing her an uncapped bottle of water.“I won’t apologize, Ashari.It was us or them.”

She took big chugs of the water, then wiped away the excess from her mouth with the back of her hand.“Who were they?”

---