Page 3 of Strike a Chord
For whatever reason, the Venza was always a car length or two in front of him, and he kept a close eye on it.Just in case something happened and her battery gave out again or whatever.
How far did she have to drive to get home?They were both heading north, but that didn’t mean much.There were still hours of driving north or west on the island.She could live five minutes away, or three hours away in Tofino, or five hours away in Port Hardy.
They were just on the north end of Nanaimo now.The flow of traffic steady and heavy the whole way.Most people were being cautious.
But visibility was skewed because of how dark it was.Add in the reflection of all the lights, and the rain and it was a cocktail for disaster.Then, some idiot thought it was a good idea to take a left on a green—not an advanced green—at a light and who should that risk-taking dumbass hit, but the white Venza.
Fuck.Fuck.Fuck.
“Levi?”Jenniferholleredoutin the car.“LEVI!”
“Mum?”her ten-year-old croaked.“MUM?”
Cars whizzed past through the water on the road, making a sizzling sound.Their headlights blinding.
Jennifer squeezed her eyes shut tight for a moment to take inventory of her body.She wiggled her toes and shimmied her hips a little.Nothingseemedbroken.
“Mum?”Levi said, panic filling his tone.“My arm hurts.”
Shit.
“O-okay, buddy.Just hang on.”
A familiar handsome face appeared at her window.It was the same man with the gray eyes and salt-and-pepper hair that helped give her a boost when her battery died.“Are you okay?”he asked.
She blinked and swallowed.“I uh …”
“We’ve called 9-1-1.Sit tight.”
“Mum,” Levi said, even more scared now.
“Can you … can you open the door?”she asked.Her hands were glued to the steering wheel and for whatever reason, she couldn’t peel them off.
He nodded and reached for the handle.But it was locked.
Of course it was.Her car was still on and running.Shaking, she slowly peeled one hand off the wheel and reached down to put the vehicle into park and turn off the ignition.
Then he opened the door.“Wh-what happened?”she asked.
“That idiot in the Tesla thought he had time to go left on the green when it was your right of way.”
“I-is he okay?”
“Dunno.Others are checking on him.How are you guys, though?”
“Levi says his arm hurts.”
He nodded.“Okay.My name is Dax, what’s yours?”
“J-Jennifer.”
“Nice to meet you officially, Jennifer.”He glanced into the rear of the SUV.“And you, Levi.”He focused on Jennifer again.“Can you move your toes?”
“I-I think so.I mean, it feels like I can.”
“Lift your legs one at a time.Carefully,” he said.She did so and he smiled.“Good.”Then he moved to the rear door and opened it.“Hey Levi.I’m Dax.You say your arm hurts.Which one?”
“The left.”
