Conrad was in his study, having fallen asleep in his chair facing the window.
"Victoria?" He yelled as he heard someone come through the door. The maid glanced at him, unsure of what to say. He mumbled an apology and ran his hands through his silver hair.
He had driven all night. Back and forth, from one edge of town to the other. He was foolish enough to believe she went to the South Fork Inn. After realizing she wasn't there he scouted every motel, hotel and inn looking for her. He didn't find her car and he didn't find her. He called a friend at the police station but they hadn't heard anything. He was grateful that she hadn't been taken into any hospitals. Underneath the relief he felt a knot in her stomach. If she hadn't stayed somewhere overnight where was she? Was she out in the storm?
Assuming she had car trouble, he drove over an hour in every direction looking for her car on the side of the road but he didn't see it. At 9 a.m. the head of security called to check in and Conrad realized he had driven all night. He handed over the lead to the security team, ordering them to drive down every road and try to locate her cell phone by the tower she was closest to.
Conrad told himself he was going to catch some sleep, but instead went into his study to stare at the driveway. Regardless of their previous fights, this was unlike Victoria. She would do a lot out of anger, but worrying him this badly was out of character for her.
Checking his watch, Conrad was grateful for the 4 hours he had gotten to sleep. He would be useless if he continued without resting and yet he knew he would never forgive himself if anything happened to her. Why had he pushed her buttons last night? He wanted so badly to repair their marriage and yet his actions always contradicted his inner desires.
He jumped when his phone rang. The security hadn't been able to locate her, but they found the last cell tower her phone had hit and he immediately grabbed his keys, demanding the location. The security guard tried to warn him that her phone hadn't been on for hours but he didn't care. He refused to entertain any notion that didn't end with Victoria home with him.
Conrad stood at the side of the road, looking all around. Over twelve hours ago her phone had hit a cell phone tower within 100 feet of the spot he stood. He didn't see any cars on the road or along the shoulder. He had driven this road the previous night. After Victoria wasn't at the South Fork Inn, he thought she would look into a hotel in the other direction to throw him off. Was she headed that way when her phone hit the tower? He walked up and down the stretch of highway, searching for something. Anything. Searching for her. And then he noticed.
He was so angry that it didn't catch his eye immediately. The black skid marks on curve of the road. They were right before the guard rail began. Instinctively he ran into the woods, screaming her name. He was suddenly aware of the bent tree branches. Something had been here. And then he saw it.
His heart broke. Her car had hit a tree. The front of it caved in, wrapping itself around the enormous tree. As he approached he noticed her broken phone. He saw her curled up in the backseat. She seemed so small back there and he saw dirt and blood. He tapped at the window but she didn't respond. His heart sank at her lack of response. Panic set in and he ran around the car, punching the front passenger side window to unlock the car. He had been careful not to get any glass on Victoria, but he hadn't thought of himself. His knuckles were cut and his hand dripped blood. He hit the automatic unlock button before running to the other side for her.
"Victoria, wake up! Vic! C'mon, wake up!" He pleaded, his voice breaking. She didn't move. She felt ice cold and he scooped her up into his arms. He ran back towards the road, yelling loudly for someone to call 911. Her body was limp in his arms. He hated the way her head swung from side to side lifelessly and the way her arm dangled. Still, he refused to believe she wouldn't be alright. She was a fighter. She had to be alright.
It took three EMT's to get Conrad to let go of his wife. He finally relented, but held her hand as they worked quickly on her.
"It's weak but we've got a pulse."
"She's alright?" He asked, dumbfounded.
"It's hard to say, but she's breathing. We're gonna do all we can, Sir."
"I'm coming with you." He yelled as he leapt into the back of the ambulance. He tried not to focus on how hard the paramedics were working towards saving his wife. He brushed the hair out of her forehead, suddenly aware of the gaping wound. He left a small kiss on the side of her head. His hand never left hers as he spoke quietly to her.
"Victoria, you've got to wake up. I didn't mean what I said. I love you, Vic. Always have, always will. You can't leave me, not like this. Wake up, my dear. You can yell at me; you can throw things at me. I don't care what you do. I just need you here. Daniel needs you. Charlotte needs you. We all need you. And I need you. I can't do this without you. Please, Victoria, you've got to fight."
He said a silent prayer that she would hear his pleas and return to him.