Stan saw Jill’s car parked at the Newpointe Inn. “There’s Jill’s car,” he said, as Sid double-parked behind it. “That means Celia’s here. And she’s in trouble.”
He got out of the car, and Sid and Aunt Aggie got out behind him.
Stan saw Celia’s parents standing at the front desk, talking frantically on the phone. They saw him and spun around. “Where’s Celia?” he demanded.
“She’s up in the room with David. We’re calling the police.” Joanna looked up at Sid. “It’s okay, though. David’s got a gun.”
Stan didn’t know he had such energy left in him as he bolted for the open elevator. Sid jumped on as the doors began to close, and he heard Joanna scream as Aunt Aggie came into the lobby.
The elevator opened, and Stan shot into the hall and ran to 305. He was out of breath and soaked with sweat, and felt as though he might pass out. As he ran, he pulled his weapon out of his shoulder holster.
Just as he reached the door, a gunshot shattered the silence. He bolted into the room and saw David and Celia struggling with the gun. David was overpowering her, pointing the gun at Celia’s chest.
Stan aimed and pulled the trigger.
David flew back against the wall, then slid down into a heap on the floor.
Celia screamed and collapsed on the floor, holding her head with both hands and rocking back and forth. Stan went to her side and pulled her into his arms.
She couldn’t stop screaming.
Sid looked stunned as he came into the room. He turned back to Celia and Stan, then looked at David.
Stan heard people running up the hall, and Vern and R.J. burst into the room.
Celia’s screaming stopped and became desperate, gasping sobs instead.
“Get the paramedics up here,” Sid told them. “She may be hurt.” He went over to David, took his pulse. “He’s dead.”
“Nooo!” she wailed. “Noooo!”
Stan only held her, trying to comfort her, trying to whisper soothing words into her ear.
Issie Mattreaux and Steve Winder ran in with a gurney and laid it down beside Celia. “Celia, are you hurt?”
She was shaking and sobbing, and Stan wouldn’t let her go. “She’s pregnant,” he said. “In her condition, this kind of thing…”
They pried his arms off her and tried to examine her, but she couldn’t calm down. “Let’s get her out of here,” Stan told them, helping her to her feet. “Come on, baby, let’s go downstairs.”
Still wailing, Celia let him walk her out.