Protector - Laurel Dewey [202]
“Hold on to me, Emily!” Jane ordered Emily as she let go of her Glock and slid her other arm over the side of the tower.
Sheriff George, along with his deputy and Dan, ran toward Chris’ body, kicked away his gun and called up to Jane. “I’ve radioed for help!”
“I’m gonna die!” Emily shrieked.
Jane looked down at the trio standing sixty feet below, realizing it was too risky for them to try to catch Emily. “Emily!” Jane said abruptly. “You want to live?”
“Yes!” Emily said, choking on her tears.
“Then quit thinking you’re gonna die!” Jane felt herself losing her grasp on Emily. “Grab my wrist with your other hand!”
Emily complied. The child’s weight started to pull Jane over the side. To brace herself, Jane curled the tip of her boot around an eight inch metal rod that jetted out from the tower’s surface. “I’m gonna pull you up, but you gotta help me. Come on!” Jane harnessed every last ounce of energy and yanked Emily toward her. Emily tightened her shoulder muscles and wedged her boots flat against the side of the tower. The child struggled against gravity but was finally able to reach the edge of the tower with her hand. Jane grabbed Emily by the belt loop of her jeans and hauling her frail body closer to safety. With one last pull, Jane swung Emily onto the tower’s flat surface.
Emily collapsed into Jane’s arms. “I’m safe,” she sobbed, as if questioning it.
Jane held her tightly. “You’re safe.”
Emily buried her head in Jane’s chest. “It changed,” she whispered. “It really changed.”
“What changed?”
Emily held on to Jane tightly and then passed out.
Chapter 29
The Denver police contingent—led by Sergeant Weyler—showed up in Peachville about three o’ clock that afternoon. They spent four hours at the water tower, taking crime scene photos and interviewing Sheriff George and his deputy. Emily was driven to a local doctor’s office to be examined and then released to her home in Peachville, in the temporary care of a nurse.
By seven p.m., the shooting death of Detective Chris Crawley in Peachville was the top story on every Colorado news station. Likewise, everyone in Peachville knew the true identity of Jane Perry and that she pulled the fatal trigger. Jane paced nervously in the front yard—a cigarette carelessly dangling from her lips—and watched as cars crept in front of the house. The occupants often pointed at her. Some of their faces showed fascination and awe; others looked disgusted and angry.
“How does it feel to be on display?”
Jane spun around and saw Dan standing on the sidewalk, outside the front gate. “Dan!” She quickly crossed to the gate. “How’s your head?”
“Oh, it’s nothin’. Couple stitches.”
Jane noticed that Dan seemed reticent. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. How’s Emily?”
“She’s in her bedroom with the nurse and Sergeant Weyler. They’re talking. I haven’t had much of a chance to be with her since it all went down.”
Dan looked away. “I keep thinking this is some sort of dream . . . or nightmare. God, what you must think of me—”
“What are you talking about?”
Dan stiffened, keeping his distance. “All the comments I made to you about cops and how worthless they were—”
“Dan, I agree with you! I don’t have a lot of respect for most cops—”
“And me tellin’ you how I was gonna rescue you! Man, I looked like a fool all these weeks!”
“Dan, you did rescue me . . . and Emily.”
“You don’t need to patronize me—”
“If you hadn’t distracted Chris, God only knows what would have happened!”
“You weren’t that far behind them—”
“Every second counted! You did make a difference. And that’s not me bullshitting you!” Jane let out a deep sigh. “Look, I realize this is awkward. But I want you to know something. I hated having to lie to you all those weeks.”
“You were just doin’ your job,” Dan replied curtly.
“Okay, fine, you’re pissed off at me. I can deal with that. But Emily really likes you. Before we leave, you owe her a decent good-bye. So do me a favor and put aside your attitude when you talk to her!” Jane turned toward the house.
“Jane, wait!” Dan called