22

 

Teddy shook her head. The ringing in her ears wouldn’t stop. Dirt dug into her palms and knees. Smoke filled the air from the blast. The taste of metal floated down her system. The popping of a window caught her attention to the twisted debris that was once a car. She pushed herself to her feet.

“Linda!”

Teddy’s stagger turned into a run. She headed toward the destruction at the end of the driveway. The intense heat from the automobile pushed against her flesh. Hands drug her back.

“No, no.” She sobbed into Sloan’s chest.

His arms enclosed her. His scent mixed with the odor of burnt steel. Sloan forced Teddy down onto the curb. He sat beside her, his arm surrounding her body.

Time slowed. Sirens sounded in the distance. Maybe closer, she couldn’t tell. Voices spoke, all hollow, like speaking from one end of a tunnel while she listened on the other. Smoke floated toward the sky. Every once in a while a large snap would emanate from the direction of the fire.

“Teddy, are you all right?”

The taste of bitter ash coated her tongue. Her throat was raw, and her lungs burned. Holes in her slacks showed scraped knees. Her tears fell though she wasn’t sure if it was from the explosion or the loss of Linda. She stared at the blackened vehicle. Sloan talked to her but she barely heard him.

He had a woman help her onto her shaking legs. Tears continued to stream down Teddy’s face. Her throat didn’t allow her to speak.

“It’s all right.” The female eased Teddy back into the building. “Come on. You’re going to be all right.”

Teddy glanced at the woman helping her. She blinked quickly to get her into focus. It took seconds before she realized it was Sherry Milton from her support group. She lowered Teddy onto the sofa in the waiting area and pulled Teddy tight against her. Someone brought water. Sherry grasped Teddy’s shaking hands while she drank. A doctor came and escorted Teddy to a room. The physician poked and prodded then stated she’d be all right. He couldn’t know her heart lay outside on the pavement with the loss of her good friend.

Sherry held Teddy’s hand until Sloan entered the room. She had no feeling, her body numb. The doctor, Sloan, and Sherry huddled near the door. Teddy stared at them. Her blocked ears didn’t allow her to hear anything said. She again shook her head, hoping her hearing would return to normal.

“The doctor said the ringing should dissipate soon.” Sloan took hold of her hand. When her legs wobbled, he grabbed her by the waist.

She shoved him away. “This is your fault.” It hurt to talk with her raw throat. “I wanted to leave and take Linda, but you wouldn’t let me.”

When Sloan approached again, she hit him in the chest with her fists.

“You’re the reason she’s dead. It’s because of you.” She slapped at him. “We should be in Perkins, where she’d be safe. You did this. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you.”

Her hysterics turned into sobs.

“I’m sorry.” He grabbed her and pulled her to him.

She released all her anguish against his chest. Teddy didn’t know how long Sloan embraced her before he walked her out. They drove past the scene. Firemen lingered, no longer fighting fire, just watching. The vehicle now nothing more than charred remains of what once were a Ford Taurus and two human beings.

 

****

 

His mind couldn’t erase the vision. The explosion. Anthony and Linda dead. Teddy running toward the fire. It haunted him. If he hadn’t caught her, she might not be alive. The only thing worse was the look of hatred in her eyes once he entered the doctor’s office. She had every right to be angry with him. He was the reason Linda was still in Jacksonville.

Teddy sat in the passenger seat. Her arms wrapped around her upper body and her face a ghostly white. She stared forward at nothing. Suddenly, she jerked and straightened. Teddy dug through her purse and tugged out her cell phone.

“I need to call Claire.” Teddy’s voice came out a raw whisper. “She left before …”

“I called her. She’s meeting us downtown.”

“I need to make arrangements. Linda has no family, only Claire and me.” She shuddered, drawing her feet up on the seat. “Had no family.”

Sloan’s heart ached for her. He might’ve been able to keep this from happening if he’d allowed her go to Perkins. He knew what he had to do. Even if it meant never seeing her again.

He helped her from the car. Once inside, Claire took Teddy from him, and led her to Marge’s office. Teddy staggered, zombie like, not blinking, just staring. Tears stood on the brim of her eyes, ready to fall at a moment’s notice.

“Ms. Federline, please have a seat.” Marge pointed at a chair.

Teddy violently shook her head. “No. You were the one. You killed her. You killed Linda.” The hysteric tone returned. “None of you would let us go or she’d be alive.”

“It’s OK, Teddy. Come on, sit down.” Claire helped Teddy to the sofa in the waiting area. Pain carried on both women’s faces.

Claire smashed tears on her cheek with the palm of her hand. “It seems to me you people can’t protect her very well. I think maybe she has the right idea about getting out of this city and not coming back until the day she testifies.” Claire’s tone told Sloan she thought them responsible also. She appeared to be letting anger take charge of her sorrow.

Sloan rose. “I’m taking her out of here, and no one will know where. Whoever this guy is, he won’t get to her.” He looked at Marge. “And don’t take this the wrong way Ms. Grappling but you won’t even know where she is.”

“I beg to differ. I need to know where she is at all times.”

“Too bad. Until this guy is caught, I plan to get Teddy lost.” He’d had enough with attorneys worried about winning cases. He no longer cared if Sprague got off the murder charge or not. His main concern now was Teddy’s safety.

“I’m not going anywhere. Not until she’s buried.” Teddy’s voice came out monotone, showing no emotion. “I can do that much for her.”

“We’ll make the arrangements together.” Claire hugged Teddy closer. “Burying her next to Randy would be a good idea. Lots of lilies. She liked lilies. And music.” Claire choked.

Teddy leaned onto Claire’s shoulder.

“And then, I’ll allow Sloan to take you away from me.” A tear rolled down Claire’s cheek. “Only because I know he’ll keep you safe.”

 

****

 

Three days passed before the ringing in Teddy’s ears finally subsided. Everything was getting back to normal, at least with her physical wellbeing. She couldn’t say the same about her emotional state. Numbness still hung inside.

The church was full of Linda’s friends shocked by the fact they had to bury someone else they loved. The pastor did a good job of talking about faith, and how those who believed would see Linda again. His words declared that Linda and Randy now sat together with Jesus. It gave Teddy a sense of tranquility. She patted her cheeks when the music played the final song, Jeremy Camp’s “There Will Be a Day.” Linda’s favorite.

Sloan stood in the back like a guard on duty. He appeared to watch everyone at once. Raven and Claire surrounded Teddy. Donny leaned on the opposite wall. Losing his partner must be hard on him, yet Sloan told her he insisted on coming to ensure her safety.

Sloan had been overly protective the last couple of days. He insisted on staying with her twenty-four hours a day. When she and Claire went to the funeral home to select a casket, he positioned himself behind her. When she yelled out from nightmares, he rushed in to comfort her. He and Raven spent every night. Claire wanted to stay with Teddy, but she refused to allow Claire into any crossfire meant for her.

After the gravesite ceremony, Sloan’s presence was near while people walked up and offered condolences to Teddy. She stiffened when Marge proceeded through the line.

“I never intended for this to happen,” she said.

“I know. It might be a good idea to tell the defense attorney I have even more of a reason now to testify. Once I’m done, his client will give up his accomplice just to save his own life.” Teddy tried to keep her tone steady not at all certain how well she did.

Marge patted her hand. “You be careful. If you feel there’s anything out of the ordinary, you call one of the detectives or my cell. I’ll pick up anytime day or night.”

“Thank you. I will.”

Once Marge left, Donny preceded forward with sadness in his eyes. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let this happen.” He took Teddy’s hand in his. “I heard what you said. Maybe you should reconsider testifying. No one could blame you for wanting this to be over.”

“I have to, if nothing else, for Linda. And because of Sprague she’s dead.” Teddy wiped at a tear on Donny’s cheek. “It’s not your fault. You did everything you could. This guy is determined to accomplish what he started.”

“I just hate the thought of you dying.” Donny squeezed her hand and walked off.

Teddy stared at the casket hanging over the hole in the ground. Claire left to return to the church for a memorial lunch. Teddy wanted to attend but Sloan insisted she only stay for the funeral. Claire agreed.

“Are you ready?” Sloan touched Teddy on the arm.

“Can I have a few more minutes?”

“We really need to go.”

Her lip trembled but she nodded agreement. Sloan moved his arm all the way around her back and tightened his grip to lead her out of the graveyard. Tears blurred her eyes.

Sloan opened the car door and waited while she looked back at the coffin holding one of her dearest friends. The window under his arm burst. A bullet missed Teddy by inches.