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A siren woke me at dawn. Blue and red lights flashed through the blinds, painting the walls of my room in a panic. For a crazy second, I thought maybe Lee had come back to cause trouble, or that the bank was already there to take the house.
When I put on the first vest I could find and went outside, the street was a real circus.
There were two patrol cars, a sheriff’s SUV, and neighbors huddled on the lawns, their faces twisted with curiosity. I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and stepped onto the porch, trying to look braver than I actually was.
The street was a real circus.
A tall man in uniform approached, broad-shouldered, serious, the kind of person who makes you want to stand up straighter.
“Are you Ariel?” The sheriff’s voice was clipped, but not unfriendly. His eyes shifted to the group of neighbors. “I’m Sheriff Holt. May we come in for a moment?”
I opened the door, my heart pounding. The living room suddenly seemed small. The radio on her shoulder crackled as her gaze moved over the family photos and the pile of unopened mail.
“Is everything alright?” I managed to say.
He lowered his voice. “I wish that were the case. Mrs. Higgins collapsed on her porch early this morning. A neighbor saw her and called. The paramedics arrived first, but…” He broke off.