Author's note: Yay! Almost done with the depressing stuff! Have some more tissues handy!
"Guys?" Benny was crouched in a bush outside his house. "I'm in. Cops there?"
"Yeah." Mimi's voice was determined. "Waiting for your signal."
"Right." Benny hung up, redialed the number, and strode into the house. "Allison, baby, I'm home!"
Allison poked her head out of her study. "You!" Catching herself, she added, "I mean, hi baby."
Benny forced a grin. "I decided to apologize for whatever I did. I'm exhausted. I'm going to bed."
"No!" Allison caught his arm, while Benny discreetly pushed the "send" button on his phone. Allison gave Benny a death look. "Charlene told me about Roger's little escape plan. I must say, he is brilliant. Don't worry, he's not dead. Not yet. He's too important a piece of the puzzle right now."
Benny nodded. "I see. And what puzzle is that?"
"Oh no. I'm not stupid, Benny." Allison shrugged. "Don't worry about your pal. He's fine…well, he'll heal. Charlene had to teach him a lesson." She began dragging Benny upstairs. "As for you, honey…"
She froze. The stairwell was illuminated by flashing red and blue lights, as police cars filled the driveway. "What?" Allison glared at Benny.
He wrenched his arm from her grasp. "You're the one in trouble now, Allison."
"You asshole!" Allison shot Benny a look. "Traitor!"
Charlene pushed past them, dragging Roger, who was half-unconscious. She kicked open the front door. "Don't come any closer!" she yelled. "I swear I'll kill him!" She pressed a gun against Roger's temple. He moaned, but was in too much pain to move.
"Roger!" Mimi tried to rush forward, but Maureen caught her. "No! She means it."
Mimi looked at Collins. He nodded, moving forward. "Mrs. Davis, please. Let him go."
"No!" Charlene pointed the gun at Collins. "Fine. Fine. I won't kill him. I'll kill you instead!"
Inside the house, Benny was frantically searching for anything to help Roger. His hand brushed against a gun, and he grabbed him, praying he wouldn't have to use it.
Charlene swiveled as she heard Benny approach. She dropped Roger, pointed the gun and Benny, and fired. Benny instinctively fired back. Both of them went down hard. The police and paramedics rushed in, but Benny stood back up, his shoulder bleeding. "Don't worry about me. Take care of Roger."
Roger was rushed to the hospital, followed by Maureen and Mimi, and was rushed in for immediate surgery. Collins drove Benny, who ended up with ten stitches after the bullet was removed.
Maureen and Mimi paced in the waiting room, anxious to hear Roger's condition. Finally, a doctor emerged, smiling. "He's stable. He's going to survive. Ms. Marquez, your boyfriend is a very lucky man."
Mimi smiled. "Yes, he is." She glanced up. 'Thanks, Angel."