Page 35 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Two

They all assented, and the next thing he knew, they were atthe house, each taking their particular entry point asMario hacked in and disabled the security system.

Simon chose to go in through the back. He remembered whatMatthew had said on the phone. About the hot tub article. Surely it wasn’t asetup.

Except of course it was a setup, and the moment Simon wasthrough the back gate, his entire body started to shake. She was there. In thehot tub. Her hair floating on the water. Her face completely submerged.

Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.

He didn’t remember telling the others, but as Simon racedtoward her, Jasper’s voice rang out that an ambulance was on the way. Simonyanked her out by the underarms, scraping her back on the tile coping but noteven caring. He laid her down flat and felt for a pulse. There wasn’t one.

Damnit, damn it, damn it. The curse rattled through his head at the same time that the instructions for CPR filled hismind. Compressions, breath, compressions, breath, and all thewhile he was screaming and cursing. “Breathe, damn it, Frannie, breathe.”

Again, and again, and again and then—oh, thank God—shecoughed, turned her head to the side, and threw up a lake full of water.

“I’m here,” he said, taking her hand as he crouched besideher.

Her eyes fluttered open. “Aaron,” she said weakly. “Mydrink.”

“I know, baby,” he said as the chatter broke through hisearpiece. Trevor had intercepted Aaron in the house, and he and Leah had takenhim down. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“I knew … you’d come.” Her voice was weak. Thready. But shewas alive, and the ambulance was on its way, along with cops who’d detainAaron.

Then Aaron himself was there, struggling as Trevor and Leahled him, cuffed, onto the back porch.

“This is a mistake. I’d never hurt Frannie. I went into thehouse for a minute. Dammit, Frannie, with your history, you shouldn’t drink ina hot tub.”

“You son of a bitch,” Simon said. “You tried to kill her.You did kill Leslie and Pruitt.”

“What? What are you talking about? And no. Frannie wasdrunk. I must not have realized how drunk she was. I’m so sorry.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Trevor said, and then, in a move thathad Simon silently applauding, he gave the bastard ashove, and Aaron fell hard onto his knees. He’d have one hell of a limp as hemaneuvered prison, and Simon couldn’t help but smile.

He rode in the ambulance with Frannie, holding her hand allthe way, his pulse so fast he thought he would pass out from fear. She had tobe fine. She’d talked to him, she’d smiled at him. Soshe had to be fine, but he couldn’t completely believe it, not until twodifferent doctors had told him that she was okay. She’d barely slipped underwhen he’d arrived. She hadn’t lost oxygen to the brain long enough to cause anydamage.

He was crying when he was finally allowed to go to herbedside after she was admitted for observation overnight. “I’m staying withyou,” he said. “I’m staying right here all night.”

“Good,” she said. “Thank you.”

“You’re mine, Frannie. I’m not letting go of you. Not now,not ever. If you want out of this, out of whatever we have, you’re going tohave to fight your way out. Because I’m hanging on tight. You almost diedtonight, and it almost killed me, too. I’m in love with you. I am absolutely certain of it. And this is going to last. It’sgoing to work.”

“Then I guess you better kiss me,” she said, her voice stillraw from choking on the water. “Don’t you know that’s how all the best storiesend?”

Epilogue

I stand on the platform with Matthew on one side ofme and Simon on the other, my hand tight in his. We’ve already been past thestep and repeat, but still the cameras are flashing as the crowd of reportersand photographers gather around us.

Matthew steps forward, holding the mic. “Thank you so muchfor coming to our wrap party for Spiraling. I loved this script fromthe first moment Frannie showed it to me, and I think it’s appropriate now thatI turn the stage over to her.”

I squeeze Simon’s hand, then look out at the crowd. Over theyears, I’ve come to recognize most members of the press, so their faces alllook familiar, and it’s easy to smile. Why not? This incredible film iswrapped, I’m alive, and Simon’s hand is warm and comforting in mine.

“I really just wanted to thank youfor coming. I’m so excited for this project. As you all know, there were somestumbling blocks after Freeway Flix changed ownership, but I owe Matthew andHardline Entertainment a debt of gratitude for keeping the project alive. I’m happyto answer any questions about the film you might have, but I would like toreiterate that I won’t be talking about Aaron Kepner, Freeway Flix, or anythingrelated to Bright Eyes.”

Beside me, Simon tightens his grip, and I appreciate it. Ashe well knows, I’ve spent countless hours talking to the police and givinginterviews about my relationship with Carolyn and Aaron. Thankfully, my lawyerhas already made clear to the press that I can’t talk about his attempt to killme. But that doesn’t mean I can’t feel the topic bubbling in the air.

In front of me, a dozen hands shoot up, and I point to John,one of the reporters I’ve known for over a decade. “We understand you have somepersonal news. Care to give us an official statement?”

I glance sideways at Simon, who takes a step forward. “I’mpretty sure she asked for questions regarding the movie.”

“Oh, come on, Simon,” John says. “You both know what we’reall waiting for.”