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“We didn’t want her to be alone,” Callie explains.
“Thanks, I appreciate you looking out for her.” I bump her shoulder making her laugh.
“That’s what families do.” She shrugs, not realizing the weight of that statement. Of course, that’s what families do, I just wouldn’t know. I’m glad I’m being looped in.
“Guys, guys!” Thea jogs up to us, embracing Callie when she sees her. “I’ve gotta go, hopefully, I see you lickity split.” She’s hopped up from some pre-run powder she took, making her smile from ear to ear. “Bye, love you.” She kisses me, giving my ass a pat.
“Love you too, I’ll be here when you’re done,” I assure her, even though I know she knows. I love seeing her excited, but I hate watching her walk away from me. A time like this is not when I want to be separated from the one person who means the world to me.
“Any chance you guys want to watch the race with a view?” Malec asks Nathan and Callie, clearly scheming.
“Would that offer be for the same reason that there are at least double the amount of police patrolling than usual?” Nathan asks, his senses already picking up what’s going on without being told.
“Yep.” Malec and I say in unison.
“Then, point me to the roof you want me on.” Malec and Nathan walk off, his hand on Callie’s lower back as she happily trails beside them, glad to be included. I’m relieved they’ll be up and out of the action. I only want to focus on Thea, especially if shit goes down.
I find a spot next to a street lamp to stand that will give me a good view of the crowd, as well as the racers taking off. Thea stands with the front of the pack along with the other seasoned runners. She waves when she spots me and I wink just before the announcer starts their countdown.
Then I watch as the most precious thing in my life gets farther and farther away. The pain in my chest is purely anxiety. I’m not used to it. I’ve never been an anxious person, not until I met Thea.
Worrying about her and her safety is way more important than my own safety ever was. I’m still convinced I might need to start seeing a cardiologist because of all the heart palpitations I’ve had since she’s been in my life.
“If this race is like any of the other notorious ones, the finish line is where we need to focus,” Malec says, coming up beside me.
“Agreed.” I’ll give him credit, he’s taking this very seriously and he seems to know what he’s doing.
“I’ll make my rounds, and check in with my guys. I gave one to Nathan, I want you to keep one too.” He hands me a handheld radio. “Don’t steal it. I can’t afford to buy new ones yet.” He says it so seriously it makes me laugh, helping ease some of my tension.
“No worries, man.” I shake my head as he walks away through the crowd, thinner than a few moments ago now that the race is underway.
The majority of the spectators are taking their places along the barriers on either side of the finish line, waiting to cheer for their runners as they return. The volunteer crews are readying their places, preparing to receive the racers as they finish.
The rest of Main Street to my right is mostly empty, but I scan it anyway. I scour continuously left to right until my neck aches, accounting for every person who walks by. Looking for any more familiar faces.
I hope Jameson isn’t rash enough to show up, but then again, I never thought he was very smart. His ideologies, and his speeches, were always full of lies and random propaganda. He couldn’t keep his agenda straight, but I know he wanted destruction and that’s what worries me.
The majority of the hardware he had was confiscated at the farm after Kyle was killed, but it’s not hard to get your hands on similar stuff. The average person can make bombs out of items in their house, they’re just not dumb enough to do so.
The radio in my hand picks up chatter and I have to hold it to my ear to focus on it. “We’ve got a commotion down here at the barricade at the end of Main St. Appears to be a domestic situation.”
My neck prickles… This can’t be a coincidence. A disturbance that could potentially distract part of the police force? This doesn’t feel right.
“Get them out of here, but don’t leave the post unmanned. Stay alert.” Malec’s voice filters through, voicing my thoughts exactly.
I keep my guard up, scanning the area even more intensely. That could be part of a bigger scheme, but I hold on to the hope it’s simply bad timing. I need this event to end smoothly, I need my girl home safe.
“I’ve got movement, out of the northeast alley. One man, shirtless, appears to be carrying a backpack.” Nathan’s voice cackles out over the radio and every neuron in my body reacts. This is it.
Before I even know what I’m doing, I’m halfway across the street heading straight toward the alley that was mentioned. I hit the sidewalk as a person stumbles out, struggling to right themselves. A person I know distinctly. Who I’ve been checking coroner’s reports on for weeks.
Curtis.
His eyes are glazed and a sheen of sweat coats his skin. Nathan was right, he is wearing a black backpack, but it’s heavily duct taped around the straps and his hands, holding it snugly onto his shoulders. He couldn’t have done this himself, he doesn’t even look like he knows what’s happening. He’s a zombie, glancing past me like I’m invisible.
He steps off the curb, stumbling again, making the blood pound in my ears. If what is in his bag is what I think, this could be deadly for both of us. It could be deadly for a lot of people.
“Jesse, stand down. Wait for backup.” I hear Malec’s voice shout through my radio, but I ignore it. This is my mess to fix. Curtis was my responsibility and I failed him.
