Chapter 16
Colby and David faced Megan. "So the plan is, you ran out of gas, need a telephone," started Colby.
"Just try to get in the house, assess the situation," continued David. "If Mr. Eppes sees you, and Rosa is the threat we think she is, he won't expose you. He may even be able to give you some information."
"But you try nothing on your own," Colby added. "This is recognizance. We could 'Rock-Paper-Scissors" for it or something…"
"No," Megan said, "I think she's more likely to trust a woman who shows up in the middle of nowhere unannounced." She handed her cell, badge, and weapon to David. "Keep an eye on these for me?"
"Only for five minutes, Megan, only for five minutes," he answered. "After that they're your responsibility again."
She smiled, grimly. "Right," she said, and headed for Rosa Marimot's driveway.
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This time when the door opened, Alan stumbled in before either of his sons could react. Don whipped around where he was standing, and Charlie looked up from the mattress five feet away from his brother.
"Have you thought about it?" Rosa asked, prodding Alan with the muzzle of the rifle.
Don unconsciously took a step forward, but Rosa's screech stopped him.
"CHOOSE! CHOOSE! CHOOSE!" Even over her voice, they all heard the round chamber in the rifle.
Alan was crying. "I can't Rosa," he sobbed, "I won't. You'll have to kill me before I will tell you to kill one of my sons."
Don and Charlie both paled, and for a moment the only sound in the room was Rosa's harsh breathing. Just as Don decided that she was out of control enough to risk a frontal assault, he heard Charlie's voice.
"Me. It should be me, Dad."
Alan and Don both turned their faces to him, stunned. "Charlie…", began Don, but Charlie was struggling to his feet.
"Don't you see?" He was looking at his father, locking his eyes with his. "It has to be me. Don is the strong one, Don can help you…after. I wouldn't be able to do that. If Don…if Don dies, Dad, I'll die, too. I couldn't face it here without him."
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She could see David in him. If he had lived, her solemn child, he would have been like Charlie. Even at two, everyone remarked on his intelligence, his gentle heart.
Alan wasn't going to be able to choose, she could see that. She aimed the rifle at Don. If she chose Don for Alan, then they could keep Charlie…
She redirected toward Charlie. If they kept him, though, she could never look at him without seeing David, without feeling again all the pain, all the loss, the paralyzing of her very blood…
How had this all gone wrong? They were going to be a family. She had planned for so long for them to be a family. Now Alan was sobbing in front of her, she was trying to decide which boy she had to lose…
Her face lost all expression. That's it, I understand now. It's a test. G-d will give me back David, like He gave Isaac back to Abraham. I just have to give him up willingly this time.
The round already chambered, she sighted a kill shot to the heart, pulled all her energy and concentration into the trigger…
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Don saw her make her decision. He saw it on her face, and it was reflected on his. Alan saw that, and without thinking, without hesitation, pressed himself backwards into her, throwing off her balance, and then his, sending them both to the floor. Her shock gave him the time he needed to twist around to face her, get his hands on the rifle…
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She didn't understand at first what had happened. She saw Charlie slam back the few inches he had been standing from the wall, slide down it, smearing blood. Saw the blossoming crimson on his shoulder. Her aim could not have been that far off. Not since she was 12 had her aim been that far off. Then she was on the floor, staring up at Alan…at least, she thought it was Alan, but she'd never seen his face look like this. He was trying to tear her beautiful rifle from her hands, and she was struggling, nearly had control when Don was there too, and then it was all over. The two of them together ripped it from her easily, left her curling into a fetal position on the floor…
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Megan heard the shot, threw herself behind Alan's car. Was someone shooting at her? Colby and David heard the shot, burst out of the trees and crossed the clearing to her, without cover, expecting to die any second. The three of them breathed heavily, looked at each other, saw that no one was hit. Realization hit them all at once. Someone in the house had been shot.
"That's probable cause, damn it," spat out David, shoved Megan's weapon back in her hand. "We're going in."