Page 50 of Tucker
“We’rein an elevator. We stopped it between floors. I don’t know if they can get in!”
“Okay,stay right where you are. We are aware of the situation and help is on the way.I’m going to transfer you to one of the detectives on the scene. Anything youcan tell him may be helpful.”
I’mquickly transferred and another woman answers and introduces herself, though itall goes over my head in my near panic. “Do you know how many shooters thereare?” she asks.
“Weonly saw one, but I heard shots coming from the upper levels of the mall andthe northside.”
Moreshots go off and I peek through the glass just in time to see the man walkingthrough the food court right below us, pulling people out from under tables andshooting them.
“Ohgod!” I sob. “You have to hurry. He’s shooting everyone! One wall of theelevator is glass. We can see him.”
Myphone starts beeping to show I have another call.
Tuckerflashes on thescreen but I can’t hang up with the detective. As bad as I want to talk to him,her calm voice is like a lifeline right now. I can’t give it up. “Ma’am, areyou there?”
“Yes,sorry.”
“Good,stay with me.” She goes on to ask me a ton of questions about who is with me,exactly where we’re hiding, and what we can see.
Itgets eerily quiet for minutes at a time as the gunfire ceases only to startagain in random bursts. They’re hunting down the people hiding.
“What’staking so long? Why aren’t the cops here?” I demand.
“Ma’am,we have a perimeter around the building and we’ll be going in very soon. I wantyou to listen to me. They are getting ready to cut the power. You’ll be fine inthe elevator. No one will be able to move it until power is restored. Pleasedon’t be alarmed. Authorities are aware of your position and situation.”
Slidingdown the door, I sob. “Our situation? Our friend is dying! And Ayda and Sadieare down there somewhere!” I cry, struck by the memory that we didn’t comealone.
Zoesobs harder as she sits with Frannie’s head in her lap. Sweat pours off of all ofus, our body heat overcoming the A/C in the tiny space. The woman who istrapped with us sits down next to Zoe and tries to comfort her.
“Iunderstand. You just need to follow my directions, understand?”
“Yes.”I sniff.
“Ifyou have another cell, use it as a flashlight. Get ready. The lights will goout, then it’s going to happen fast.”
* * * *
Theraid may happen fast, but it’s an eternity for us.
“Zo?Give me your phone, hun.” She looks up at me like she has no idea what I’mtalking about, but the other woman thrusts her cell at me. I turn on theflashlight and hand it back to her. They’re getting ready to cut the power,” Iexplain.
Mymention of a phone finally reaches Zoe’s brain and she fumbles hers out of herback pocket. “It’s off. Why did I turn it off?” she mumbles, pressing the powerbutton. Her phone instantly starts buzzing in her hand and she jerks, droppingit. All of our nerves are shot.
Whenshe picks it back up, she hits accept and sobs, “Landon!”
Ican’t hear Landon’s side of the conversation but he must be firing questions ather. “I’m okay. Frannie’s shot. She’s bleeding. Leah’s with me, but I don’tknow where Ayda or Sadie are. We got separated. We’re hiding in an elevator,stopped between floors. Leah’s on her phone with nine one one.”
Shelooks up at me. “They’re outside in the parking lot. All the guys,” she says.
“TellDerek I’m okay before he does something stupid.” I know that won’t stop himespecially because I’m not the only one he loves at risk. Ayda is down theresomewhere too. Tears stream down my face at the realization of how slim thechances are that we’re all going to survive this.
Tampingit down, I try to be optimistic, something that’s never been so hard for mebefore.
Thedetective on my phone speaks up. “Leah?”
“Yes,I’m here.”
“Ineed all of you to lie on the floor and cover your heads, do you understand?”The entire mall goes dark, but not as dark as I expected thanks to the glass skylights.
