Page 96 of Noble Neighbor
Flames? It’s raining.
Did water put out a gasoline fire?
“Kate!” Savannah gathered every ounce of energy in her to turn her head and peer in the back. “Get Mary. Get out of the car. Now!”
“But Mommy—”
“Do it! Now!”
“Yes, Mommy.” Savannah heard the click of the safety release. Kate twisted her body and pushed at the door. It opened on her second try. “Come, Mary,” she instructed, clapping her hands, and holding out her arms. Mary reached for her sister.
“Hurry,” Savannah gasped, releasing her own clasp. She needed to crawl across the passenger seat to get out as the driver’s door was crushed.
And her left side seared with pain with every move she made.
“We’re out, Mommy. Come,” Kate pleaded.
“I’m right behind,” she lied. “Go, honey. To the road. Now.”
“Okay, Mommy.”
Sound of sirens wailed in her ears. Help was here. But she could smell the smoke now. Soon the car would be engulfed. No! She wasnotleaving her girls orphans.
With every ounce of willpower in her, almost passing out from the excruciating pain tearing her left side, she twisted and gripped the seat and pulled.
Her legs free, she sprawled across the front, sobbing, in agony. She closed her eyes and sucked in deep breaths to ready herself for the next move.
Then the door opened by her head and firm hands grabbed her under her arms and pulled.
And kept pulling. She screamed with pain.
“Sorry darlin’,” the sheriff said, “but I gotta get you clear from the wreck as quick as possible. It’s gonna go up any second.”
“Girls?” she managed.
“They’re fine, Savannah.”
Those same hands reached beneath her knees, and then she drifted, blessed darkness closing around her.
27
Sunny Jones
Present day …
“They died in that accident,” Oliver murmured, staringacross the coffee table at the man seated opposite him. They’d moved inside after Delaney’s arrival and formed an uneasy group in the living room. The manthen recounted his sister’s life following her husband’sdeath, ending with her fatal accident.
Filled with deep sorrow — and shame — he stood, paced about, his mind whirling. For the first time since Christie’s death, Oliver felt sympathy toward the woman. He’d written a letter to the family after her and her girls’ accident, offering his condolences, but he’d never considered her avictimof her husband’s crimes. Yet she’d been one, as much a casualty as the women that sick bastard had murdered.
Oliver moved to behind the couch, hands fisting the cushions “The man responsible for her accident … he was never caught, prosecuted?”
Delaney cocked his head. “For a while I wondered if it was you.”
“Me? Hell no. I’d never— I wanted totalkto her, not harm her.”
“And what, exactly, did you expect to gain from meeting with Savannah?” Delaney ground out, hunching forward.
“I figured I’d see the truth if I could just look her in the eye and, somehow, I’d make her admit to her part in Christie’s death.That bastard was dead, escaping a life behind bars, and I neededsomeoneto take responsibility.To pay. Crazy, I know, and I’m sorry my bitterness added to her hurt. So damned sorry.”
