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Some rational part of her brain knew she should thank him, but nothing was rational anymore and adrenaline snaked its way through her body setting her blood on fire. “I didn’t need your help. I could have handled them on my own.”
He glanced down at the pink and black 9mm held in her hands. Warmth spread to her face as she tucked the pistol into the waistband of her pajama shorts. She avoided his curious gaze and crouched down to get a good grip on William’s ankles while the smell of his unwashed body accosted her nose.
“What are you doing?” Arthur asked.
“Getting him off my yard and out of sight so the kids don’t see this mess.” She groaned under the dead man’s weight as she dragged him down the driveway.
“Let me help.” Arthur moved the sling so his rifle was on his back.
Tessa’s shoulders tensed and she clenched her teeth. “I said I don’t need any help.”
Arthur stood in the middle of the road watching as she pulled the body across the asphalt to the empty lot of sagebrush on the side of the hill. Goat heads tore into the bare flesh of her feet, but she didn’t stop moving until she couldn’t see her house anymore. She dropped his ankles and picked out the thorns from her skin, barely feeling the sting. This is so wrong on so many levels.
She couldn’t look at the dead tweaker anymore, but she couldn’t just leave him there like that. This felt like a bad science fiction movie. She knew she should call the cops and report everything. Except, I don’t have a phone! The anger came in waves. None of this was right. She killed a man—no, Arthur killed him— and someone needed to be notified. He should be in jail, not dead. But this stupid druggie came to her home and threatened to kill her dog. What if he’d actually gotten in? What would he have done to her kids?
And what happens when the cops find out you didn’t report a crime? She yanked her hair into a messy bun, trying hard to focus on the facts and not the fear fueled rage that was tearing her apart. You’re an accomplice to this murder. Was it murder? She didn’t know. Tomorrow, she needed to drive down to the police station and report it. But what would happen if they accused her of something and tossed her into jail? The kids needed her to be there for them. And what would happen if they took her truck? Officer O’Brien seemed pretty keen on knowing what vehicles still worked. She kicked the nasty body with her bare foot, cursing the druggie who put her in this position.
But she didn’t shoot him. Arthur shot him. That was the truth and she could always explain it was self-defense if her name got pulled into this mess. What would Landon say? He of all people would understand. She drew in a ragged breath, still full of adrenaline fumes and rage. This wasn’t her problem. She had enough problems of her own. Tessa marched up the hill.
Arthur was still standing there with his arms folded across his chest. He’s the one who pulled the trigger so it’s his duty to report it. Now that she had settled it, and made a firm decision, she nodded once in his direction as she stormed up her driveway.
His soft chuckle danced through the night as he turned to leave. “You make sure you bring those kids over tomorrow. Dinner is at 5 o’clock.”
She wasted half a bottle of bleach and a gallon of water scrubbing the blood from the walkway. Whatever stains remained she hoped wouldn’t be too visible in the light of day. She wasn’t trying to wipe away the evidence, she was trying to make sure her kids didn’t see. And her knuckles bleeding from hitting them against the concrete with the sponge was atonement for whatever sin she’d committed in protecting her home.
The whole situation had lasted no more than twenty minutes, but she felt like she’d aged ten years. Her body ached from the tension and exertion as she put the cleaning supplies away. Moose’s growl was no more than a low whimper when she stepped onto the bottom of the stairs.
“It’s alright.” The rapid thump of his tail hit the carpeted floor, but he didn’t move away from Emily’s closed door until she’d reached the top step. He yawned, stretching out his back and padded into her room. Tessa cracked open Emily’s door.
Mason had fallen asleep on the floor using the giant teddy bear as a pillow and Emily was buried deep in her bed under a mountain of stuffed toys. The weight of everything that happened tonight crashed down at once as she stared at her babies who’d slept through gunshots outside of their home. Tessa didn’t want to leave them alone. She wanted them safely tucked into her bed, but she couldn’t stop shaking and the tears fell fast as a painful knot tightened in her chest.
She backed away from the room, unloading the magazine and clearing the pistol before she stowed it in her bedside table. Sobs racked her body as she climbed onto the bed. I almost killed a man tonight. The adrenaline that fueled her earlier ebbed away, leaving her hollow and weak and alone. She pulled her knees to her chest and hugged herself as tears ran down her face. Is this what the world is like without power? Vigilante justice and no one to call for help?
Her father’s warning raced through her mind as she rocked back and forth. She should take the kids to base where it might be safer. But what if Landon never comes back? The fear was too much. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to wish it all away. The mattress creaked under Moose’s weight.
“You’re not supposed to be up here,” she whispered. He circled around the foot of the bed and settled onto the quilt beside her. She ran her fingers through his thick brown fur and buried her face against it, listening to his snores and trying not to focus too long on any one thought until the rays of the dangerous sun crept over the mountains to start a new day.
