Page 17 of Nick

“You’ve been sleeping for three days. I want to know right now what kind of drugs you’re taking?” She denied taking drugs, so I did the only thing I could do. I went to court and got a stay-at-home order on her. I don’t know if the judge made that up and I didn’t care. My concern was for my daughter.

Suzanne went ballistic. I thought she would hurt the baby on purpose, so I had her admitted to the hospital. She was in a room where she couldn’t hurt the baby for two months. She was crazy, always screaming like a mad woman. I visited her one day, and she was Suzanne again. I was so relieved she wanted to stay at the hospital so she wouldn’t be tempted to do drugs.

When Julia was born, Suzanne was a loving mother who cared for her daughter. I was no longer in love with my wife. We slept in separate rooms. When Julia was one, I went back to work with my buddies. Everything was going great until Julia got sick. They put her in the hospital with pneumonia. Suzanne was so scared the baby would die she couldn’t stop crying.

Her mother called me and told me about Julia, and then she said the one thing that I didn’t want to hear: “I think Suzanne is back on drugs.” I went home right away. The baby was better by the time I got home, but Suzanne was not. She was so high on drugs that she couldn’t sit still. I stayed in the baby’s hospital room with her. When I looked out the window, Suzanne had picked all of the flowers in the garden. Her mother was dragging her out of the garden; she took her home with her.

I never allowed her to move back in with Julia and me. Suzanne tried getting off drugs. We put her in rehab three more times before she took off the last time and then we got a call that she overdosed. Julia was four. I’ve been pissed off since the day Suzanne got back on drugs. Now I feel like my life is finally turning out okay. I shook my head and listened to Kash talking.

“What do you think, Nick?”

“I’m sorry. I was in my head.”

“Let the neighbor follow us, and we’ll see if he tries killing us. If he does, we’ll kill him first. If he goes to court, he will get maybe a year, and then he’ll get out and kill his neighbor.”

“I agree. Let’s do that. Hell, we can catch him in no time. Even if he gets away from us, we’ll find him. Is the Dallas home in the country?”

“Yep, hopefully, he follows us. Let’s keep our eyes peeled.”

9

Opal

Iwas looking for Sammy and Jenna. I knew they weren’t very far from here. I found out that they lived in Portland, Maine. It didn’t take me long to get there. I found their house and parked out front, until I saw the door open, and Jenna started waving. I got out and walked to where she was.

“Opal, Opal, you came to visit us?”

“Yes, sweetie, I did. Is Sammy here?”

“Sammy sick.”

“Oh no. Where is she?”

“Follow me.”

I followed her down the hall and to a room, and when she opened the door, I was surprised to see Sammy lying in bed. She opened her eyes and was as shocked as I was.

“Opal, I’m so happy you’re here,” she said weekly. “I don’t have long to live. I have cancer, and I’m dying. I wrote out everything that happened that night. I also had some photos I developed. You are here because of Luca, right?”

“Yes. Now, listen, I’m taking you to the hospital. Why do you think you only have a little time left?”

“I have cancer; I’ve been fighting it for three years. You have to get Luca out of prison. There is no one to be with Jenna. She can take care of herself as long as someone is with her. She can cook and clean, but only if she is reminded to do that. Have you seen Luca?”

“Yes, and he is not happy that I am getting involved but I can’t just stand aside and do nothing. I know he didn’t kill anyone like they say he did. That’s why I’m here to see you. I will get him out of prison. Who is taking care of you?”

“Jenna is. We never did get around to meeting our neighbors, and they aren’t close enough that Jenna could get help from one of them. My phone is shut off because I forgot to pay the bill. What am I going to do with Jenna?” Tears fell from Samantha’s eyes. “I can’t even call and have them turn the phone back on.”

“Don’t you worry about Jenna. I’ll take care of everything. I’m here now. I don’t want you to think of anything except yourself. Who is your doctor?”

Sammy told me everything I needed to know. The first thing I did was call her doctor.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Sammy’s friend, besides being their lawyer. My name is Opal Martin. I want to know if there is any way that Sammy can take chemo treatment. What kind of cancer does she have? And what can I do to help her?”

“Miss Martin, I tried to get Samantha to start chemo every time I’ve seen her for the last three years. She could have had all of this behind her. But she was worried about her sister. Now I don’t know if it would help. She would have to stay in the hospital, and then she would have to take the treatment. Did she even say she would start the treatment?”

“Send an ambulance to come out and get her. I’ll take care of Jenna. I’ll be waiting for the ambulance.” I went back into Sammy’s room. Jenna was giving her a glass of water. Samantha, your doctor is sending an ambulance out here for you. You are going to stay in the hospital and take treatments. You have to try and fight this cancer.”

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