The Choice
The blue-eyed, wild-haired woman turns the key to start the car. The dusty white third-hand Toyota explodes into a magnificent fireball. The dozen or so witnesses on the sidewalk gape and scream in shock, panic, and fear. The smell of burnt metal, rubber and human flesh fills the air and hits them. A 40-somehting woman pukes her lunch out on the pavement. Another nearly faints. Rain starts to fall as the firefighters arrive and put out the fire. Everyone at the scene knows they are too late. The driver's remains is all charred. A closed-casket viewing will be inevitable. The uniformed police officers get out of their patrol cars and sadly shake their heads. Yes, they all knew her well. They have warned her a thousand times, but she never ever listened. She was always lucky and way too stubborn. Everyone falls silent as her boyfriend tumbles out of the car before it fully stops. His dark handsome face contorts and pales. He opens his mouth but no sound comes out. He holds his head with both hands as tears drop out of his widened eyes. He slowly kneels down on the ground. His pain and disbelief are too obvious. Rain and tears flow down his face. It was all his fault. He has gotten her killed.
He said it was not big deal. He said he would set things straight. He said he would keep her safe. But he failed to keep his words and now she is dead. All of a sudden he realizes he's just a police detective, not Batman. He has a gun, a badge, a dog, and a house. He doesn't have powerful secret weapons or super powers. And he didn't really pay attention to the threat. The alleged threat targeting the person he loved most. The alleged threat threatening to shatter his heart and soul. The threat issued by one of the demented criminals he captured and paralyzed on purpose last year.
It wasn't his fault, really. He's a good cop, a decent man. He always does what he's paid to do: to protect and serve. He always puts his duty first. And he just wanted to keep that crazy son-of-a-bitch off the street forever. he just wanted to make sure the piece of shit wouldn't hurt anyone anymore. So he did the right thing. All his fellow brothers in blue closed their eyes and turned the other way. The assistant district attorney simply raised her painted brow and said not a word. No witness. No evidence. Just a a serial rapist and robber's word against his. Even the big shot defense lawyer from Philly had to admit defeat and threw in the white towel in the court. And then he let his guard down and became careless. Or maybe he was just too happy that Stephanie finally chose him over Ranger.
Yes, he did know all about her and Ranger. Yes, she did make her decision. Yes, Ranger did accept her choice and walk out of her life as she requested. She was no longer a bounty hunter. They moved in together. They planned to get married next summer. They would try to have a baby as soon as possible. The clock was ticking so loudly. The both of them decided they needed to stop fooling around and get serious. He was going to buy her a ring next week. They would be happy, contented and fulfilled. They would be surrounded by family, friends and love. No one can get between them. Not even Ranger.
So he dismissed Ranger's warning with a snort. So he told Stephanie there was nothing to worry about with his warm, charming, confident smile. He knew he would keep her safe. He's a famed police detective for God's sake. He has his pride, dignity, and ego. He has all the resources and all the right connections and he fears no one. He didn't need a bunch of ex-military goons to guard his woman, the future mother of his kids. And a street rumour was nothing but a street rumour. He was more than sure the forever wheelchair-bound convict had lost all his power and influence. But he was wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
Joe Morelli kneels in the rain. He doesn't hear his cell phone ring. He doesn't hear a taxi screeching to stop. He doesn't hear Eddie Gazarra and Big Dog trying to hold Frank Plum back. He does hear the familiar sound of the Porsche. He stays where he is. He doesn't turn back to take a look. He can feel Ranger's cold gaze on his back. He has done all he could to force Ranger to back down, to stay away from Stephanie. He has told Ranger he had everything under control. He has told Ranger he wouldn't let anything happen to Stephanie. He had the tech people stop by and get rid of the trackers on Stephanie's car only this morning. But now Stephanie is dead. And it's all his fault. All his fault.
He closes his eyes. He smells the unpleasant and unmistakable scent of a painful, violent death. And now he just wants to die...