Don't Close Your Eyes (Don't Look Series Book 2), page 14
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The world erupts.
Chapter 22
The floor-to-ceiling window at the front of the bakery shatters. Piercing glass fragments spiral through the air like tiny, sparkling, heat-seeking missiles. Dozens of microscopic shards cut into my hands where they’re covering my face.
A sliver between my fingers reveals the baker and her assistant dropping behind the glass cases. A viscous clenching in my stomach makes bile scale my throat. There wasn’t any blood, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t hurt. And the glass cases, minutes ago were filled with beautifully decorated sugar masterpieces. Now they’re scratched and cracked. Utterly ruined.
I throw my head down on the table and cover it with shaking arms.
“Get down!” Justin yells. A vice grip pulls me out of my chair and pushes me to the cold tile.
Another bouquet of shots makes my ears ring. All other noise is drowned out in a shrieking chorus of screams and gunfire.
Justin crouches between me and the mayhem, watching the street outside. He hasn’t fired. He can’t. People run terrified along the sidewalks. Traffic is at a dead stop as people abandon their cars and flee into the shops. He doesn’t have a chance to get off a single round before another bursts through the space left open wide by the shattered window. Bullets embed in the floor, throwing up poufs of dust. Pulling my hood over my head, I pull the strings tight.
Justin scans, window tracking his vision, but he doesn’t take a shot. He must not be able to get a look at the shooter.
Taryn is sprawled on the ground a few feet away. “Audrey!” She shrieks. Her hand shoots out, scraping against the detritus of broken glass and shattered cake plates. Lines of red appear on her fingertips, beading with blood.
Heart pounding, I’m up and streaking across the bakery before I can overthink it.
“Get down!” Justin shouts, putting his body between mine and the gaping storefront.
My entire body shakes as I reach my sister. Tight, shallow breaths are all the air I’m able to squeeze out of my compressed ribcage. Panic crowds my brain, pushing out all else. “Are you shot?” I wheeze.
She shakes her head, panic flooding her expression.
My eyes leap from my sister to Esau. Thankful he’s right beside her in this havoc.
Several more bullets careen through the bakery, and I throw myself at the floor. Glass shards cut into my thighs, but I don’t dare shift away.
Justin takes a single shot, cursing under his breath.
Esau has Taryn shielded under his arm, protecting her as best he can against the onslaught. Lifting his chin, his deep eyes meet mine. He lifts his free arm, making room for me. “Come on, Audrey.” His words rumble under the cacophony assailing my ears.
With a fevered look toward the window, I scurry. Crawl to Esau’s other side and huddled on the cold floor. Esau tugs me into his side and wraps an arm around my waist. Firm and warm. Not letting go.
Bang.
Justin’s body starts to fold in on itself as he cries out. Sheer stubbornness keeps him upright, but I don’t miss the way his entire body tightens, going compact with the effort. He fires off a couple more shots before his muscles give out and he lists to one side.
Oh God. He’s been shot.
Panic courses through me. Justin can’t die right now. Not like this. He has to be here to cheer us up when Karen is surly in the mornings. To ferry me around town. To sit in the library for hours with Noah and me while he researches his new favorite unsolved mystery and I try not to kiss him in the middle of the library. Go for it, Justin had said when I asked him what guys thought about girls asking them out.
Metal clatters when he loses his grip on his gun and it drops. Justin’s shoulder smacks against the debris-strewn ground. He shifts. Collapses to his stomach. One arm tucked against his chest. He tries to push himself up, but falls face-first onto the dirty floor. His groan shatters my galloping heart to smithereens.
My knees shake uncontrollably, barely holding up my body as I shove Esau’s arm away and go for the gun. My fingers wrap around the cold metal exactly like Justin taught me. Hours of lessons and practice at the local gun range have left me with knowledge I never thought I’d use. I need it now. Lowering to my haunches, I breathe. In. Out. Justin was watching the roofline across the street, so that’s where I focus. Waiting for my shot.
Familiar sirens howl. Getting closer. A surge of relief flies through me, but I don’t move. If the shooter shows their face, I have the gun, and I’m going to use it.
Justin groans again, cutting through the deadly barrage of sound. “Taryn. Call… Agent Biel.”
He’s hurt. Maybe dying. And somewhere outside, unspeakably close, is a lunatic trying to end us. If they choose to show themselves now… My focus wants to jerk to my sister and Esau, but I strong-arm it. Trying to remain focused. If the shooter steps into this room while I’m distracted, all four of us are done.
My hands tremble as I realize what that would mean. Either they shoot us, or I shoot them. I shut down my panic. I can do this. I will do this.
Behind me, Taryn whimpers into her phone. “Justin, he’s… I don’t know.” She nods. Karen is coming. Esau speaks low into his own phone. Says we need an ambulance. Gives our address.
At my back, a door opens. Heavy footsteps crunch over the broken glass. I swing around, gun aiming straight at Sheriff Lamb. His eyes latch onto mine as he approaches. “I’ve got you, Audrey. Put that down.”
Slowly, I lower my gun as Lamb steps past my sister and Esau, toward me. Toward where Justin is curled in a fetal position on the floor. He’s not moving. His groans have gone silent. I pray he’s only passed out. A mercy his body gifted him to keep the pain at bay. I can’t know for sure. Oh lord, there’s so much blood.
Sheriff Lamb hunches, gun drawn. Attention on the roofline on the opposite side of the street. “Audrey, gently roll Justin onto his back, and put pressure on the wound. Use your sweatshirt.”
Esau yelps, bringing my attention around. He’s trying to hold Taryn in place against him, but she twists and shoves out of his hold. Dives for Justin. Kneeling beside his body on the concrete, she inches her palm to rest in the center of his back. Shakes his unresponsive form gently, then harder. “Help! Audrey!”
Following my twin, I squat on Justin’s other side. Set the cold gun down amidst the shards. Blood, hot and viscous, squelches under the soles of my Converse. My eyes broaden in terror and visceral disgust. It’s blood. So. Much. Blood.
But we do what Lamb said, balling up my sweatshirt and pressing it to the wound in Justin’s shoulder. He doesn’t even flinch. Taryn puts a trembling finger under his nose, eyes lifting to mine when she finds breath. He’s alive.
Three deputies come in the back door and move to flank Sheriff Lamb. Their bodies are a wall of tan sheltering us from the maniac outside. It’s silent inside the bakery, the only sound in my ears my own ragged breathing.
Chapter 23
Hours Later
Hospital waiting rooms are just as dreary and depressing as they are on television. Pale green walls. Stiff green vinyl chairs. Linoleum floors that squeak under my socked feet. I took my shoes off after I noticed I was tracking rust-red over the floor. My pants are crusted with red-brown. Nothing I can do about that now.
Karen paces, her thick-soled shoes smacking with every angry step. No, not angry, I realize. Worried. She’s trying to hide it, but I’ve finally learned to read her. The gruff exterior she presents is a disguise for the softer emotions she conceals underneath.
A nurse just took Taryn to be patched up. She insisted Esau and I be looked at first, even though she was the one clutching her ribs and wincing whenever her weight shifted. Her damaged hand had clung to mine so tightly it was painful. I didn’t let go until the absolute last moment, when the nurse insisted.
Esau slumps in the chair beside mine, eyes trained on the hallway. Butterfly bandages hold together a gash on his temple. The nurse told us we were lucky to get out with scrapes and bruises. She’s right. We were lucky. Any or all of us could have been killed. Shot where we sat, our breath severed before we knew psychotic hatred was gunning for us.
Lamb comes in, drawing my attention away from my twiddling thumbs. He takes our measure as Karen pivots and meets him in the middle of the room. “Well?”
The man rubs a thumb along his crisp collar. He glances over a shoulder at us then down the hall. Grimacing, he continues. “They got out of the downtown area before we could put up blockades, but we found where they were firing from. There were bullet casings and a second gun on the roof of the post office. We should be able to trace the gun’s ownership. We’re also looking through security footage from the shops up and down the street. We have them on camera, wearing a ski mask. We should be able to glean some clues from the footage.”
Karen’s crossed arms tighten over her chest. “Maybe. But the assailant seems smart. They’ve cleaned up each of the other scenes. Pretty thoroughly.”
Lamb taps the brim of his hat, dangling from one hand. “You know as well as I do that they eventually slip up. When they do, we’ll be ready. It’s a matter of time.”
Karen exhales. A haunted expression veils her features. Her hands weave together in front of her stomach. “Not always.”
The sheriff inclines his head.
“What else?” she asks finally.
“One of my deputies spoke to the motel manager. She got a name, but my gut says it won’t lead to anything. Sounds like an alias. We’ll run it anyway, of course.”
“Any credit card information?”
“She paid with cash.”
“So it was a dead end.” She curses roughly.
“Not quite. I have techs going over the room now. I’m hoping they’ll find fingerprints, or maybe some DNA we can use. Someone like who we’re dealing with, chances are they’re in the system already. Most criminals don’t go from zero to shooting at people without at least some minor infractions in between.”
“There’s usually a progression.”
“Right.”
Lamb clears his throat. “We found Audrey’s stolen phone, too. The sim card had been taken out, which explains why we couldn’t track it, but we’ll re-insert it. Dig around and see what we can find.”
I try to cover my jolt by shifting in my chair, but both adults turn to look at me. They must have caught it. Karen studies me for a second, speaking to Lamb without moving her eyes from my face. “Maybe we should take this discussion elsewhere.”
They step into the hall.
I wait a second, debating. Then I slink across the room. Pressing my body against the wall, I strain to hear what they’re murmuring down the corridor. From this vantage point I’ll be able to see Taryn when she emerges from the exam room, too.
Nurses and doctors move between the rooms. A low tide of worry starts to ascend from low in my belly. I refocus on Karen and Sheriff Lamb.
“You think they’re stalking the girls, like before?” My guardian asks.
“Must be, to know where she’d be this afternoon.”
They pause, a loud alarm over the intercom drawing their attention. Someone yells for assistance. Something about a code blue. That’s bad, isn’t it? Footsteps pound over the floor. I hope whoever needs it gets help.
Raking a hand through my hair to push it behind my ears, I wait. Wondering what tragedy is unfolding.
Karen shifting her weight and planting her hand on her hip draws my attention back to her and Lamb. “What about the license plates? Have you figured out where they’re coming from?”
The sheriff hums. “I have my suspicions.”
“Anything else?”
Lamb goes quiet, so I dare peek around the corner. The sheriff is running the brim of his hat through the palm of one hand. “Come with me.” They move around the corner out of sight.
I sag against the wall. Lamb is right. CuteAshlee must be following us. I had already known that, deep down, but hadn’t let myself truly accept it. After today, I’d be stupid to deny it.
When my eyes lift, Esau is watching me. His arms rest on his lap. Shoulders rising and falling on his breath. “Want to talk about it?”
I sit in the chair next to his. “Not really, but thanks.”
His head bobs once, firmly.
Karen and the sheriff are gone for long minutes. My mind starts to race. What didn’t he want me to hear? It can’t be anything good. And what is keeping Taryn? It shouldn’t take so long to clean up a few cuts and bruises. My mind replays her wincing and holding her side. What if she was more seriously injured than I suspected? I give myself a reprimanding shake. I’m not even going to entertain that thought. My jaw clenches.
Esau’s hand taps his armrest, drawing me out of my thoughts. “Want to hear about this year’s corn maze? We’re already mapping it for planting.”
I know what he’s doing: trying to distract me, and I’m grateful for it. He launches into a detailed response at the nod of my head.
After what seems like forever, Sheriff Lamb returns with Karen. The look in her eyes makes me shoot out of my chair. It’s a composition of sadness, worry, and maybe even regret. A cold sweat breaks out over my skin. “What happened? Where’s my sister?”
Karen puts an arm around me. “We have an update on Justin, and a plan. Let’s go to Taryn’s room, and we’ll explain it to you both at once.”
Esau strides over to join us. “I’m coming.”
Karen doesn’t argue as she leads us to my sister.
Anxious steps and familiar voices emanate from down the hallway half an hour later, once Esau and I are back in the waiting room. The swish of clothing chafing underpins the approaching cloud of movement.
I tense even though I can clearly see the deputy stationed in the hallway.
“Where is it? Didn’t she say to make a left?”
“That’s definitely what she said.”
“Wouldn’t we have found it by now? Maybe we should ask someone.”
Deputy Kelley stops Fiona, Marisa, and Viv from entering the waiting room, checking their ID before moving out of the doorway. They goggle at us over his shoulder, looking around for Taryn and the FBI agents.
Our friends burst in through the double-wide doorway, hastening straight for us. The girls are on Esau and me before we can stand. They take turns hugging both of us in tight, relieved arms. Words of apology and encouragement wash over me. Our friends are here. For this moment, it’s almost enough to quiet the worry rushing through me like a river running toward the mouth of the sea.
Fiona lowers herself into the seat beside mine, a big plastic bag in her hands. Catching my eyes, she leans in. “Have you heard anything? Or is he still in surgery?”
I give a small lift of my chin. “The bullet nicked his carotid, but missed all of his organs. They managed to patch it up. Karen’s in with him now. She told me she’d let me know when he wakes up. He’s going to be fine.”
Her body sinks back against the chair, her fingers tightening around the bag’s handles. “That sucks. Totally and completely and royally sucks.”
I nod.
She looks around. “Where’s Taryn?”
I open my mouth, not sure where to start.
“Audrey! Taryn!” The plaintive voice makes my heart slow, then speed. I jump up.
After being checked by the deputy, Noah barrels in, chest heaving. Messy black curls ring his face. His eyes are wild behind the black plastic frames that make my insides go soft. His mouth hangs on a jagged breath as he looks me over from head to toe. Then his attention circles the room, looking for something—or someone—before returning to me. “You okay?”
My legs run for him almost before I can decide to move. Colliding with his warm, familiar form, I wrap my arms around his waist and hold on tight. Eyes shut, his clean, fresh scent is like a balm for my decimated emotions. His arms wrap around me without hesitation, his chin coming down on the crown of my head. “I got here as fast as I could. Had to wait for Abuela to get to the house to watch Anza and Mattie.”
I nod against his chest.
“Any updates on Justin?”
“He’s gonna be okay.”
My gaze shifts to Karen, who has entered the room but is texting furiously. Sheriff Lamb stands near the double doors, talking quietly on his cell.
Noah’s arms tighten around me. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I should have been. I could’ve helped. Done something. I’m sorry.”
My body pushes back just enough to meet Noah’s eyes. “If you’d been there, you would have been hurt, just like the rest of us. You could’ve,” I swallow, “could’ve been killed.”
There’s a tightness around his eyes, as if he disagrees but won’t say it.
Someone taps on my shoulder. Fiona. Her worried eyes search mine. “Audrey, where is Taryn?”
Viv and Marisa stand behind her, watching me.
My attention moves to Esau, whose hands are white-knuckled on the arms of his chair.
My lips tremble. Tears build behind my eyes until the pressure is so great I don’t know if I can hold it back. My chest rises and falls rapidly as I battle for control. I cut a glance to Karen, whose nod is so subtle I might have imagined it.
Fiona’s face falls when she sees the tears spilling down my cheeks. “Oh, oh no. No.” She shakes her head, disbelieving.
The color drains from Marisa’s face. Viv’s mouth falls open.
My tongue doesn’t cooperate when I attempt to speak. No sound comes out. Swallowing, I try again. “Taryn is fine,” I whisper, “but I have a lot to tell you guys. There’s a plan. Can you keep a secret?”
Clutching Noah’s shirt in one hand for an anchor, I beckon them closer, and start talking.
<< Breaking << Breaking << Breaking >>
The scrolling weather update cuts to a local news anchor in the studio. Hair perfectly coiffed in waves that fall to her shoulders. Graphic black and white dress half hidden behind a desk. A somber expression behind bright eyes. Looking directly into the camera, she speaks.
