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Besides, if I ever have a free minute, I’m supposed to meet with the sheriff and discuss the idea he has about organizing new protocols for emergency management for his department. I’m not going to be able to put it off for much longer. I’m sitting at my desk thinking about how to put the meeting off for a few more weeks when he knocks on my open door and walks in a few hours after my conversation with Ray.
“Hey, Margot, do you have a minute?”
“Sure, come on in.” The smile on my face freezes as I see who is with him.
5
JAKE
The sheriffand I leave Margot’s office, and my worst fears are realized. Not only are we stuck working in the same building, but we’re working together.
My boss has even outlined my responsibility to the county and to our mutual departments in detail. He wants a new emergency preparedness plan for all the schools to start. He wants a detailed plan for fire, bomb threats, weapons, and even snow days that is individualized for each school.
I don’t have a problem with the work, and after seeing the fire shine in Margot’s eyes when we start to discuss our ideas, I actually find myself looking forward to working with her. We set a time that works for both of our schedules to meet and outline what we need to do.
The work isn’t the issue. It’s the way I want to touch her every single second I’m around her.
Once I’m safely in my office, the reality hits me that I’m once again going to be around Margot all the time. I pick up my phone and send Laura a text, because of course I never ended things with her.
We both got busy, and I haven’t even seen her since the run I took to get away from her.
Jake
Hey. I think we need to talk. This isn’t working and I don’t want to end things with just a text.
I look at my phone as I lock it and know that she won’t text me back right away. She’s busy on crew and I have things that I need to get done as well. The noise in the office fades into the background as I get paperwork done and reports reviewed. As the hours drag by, my phone never goes off.
Normally, it wouldn’t bother me, but I don’t want to forget again.
After finishing work for the night, I push myself out of my chair to the sound of my knees creaking. Rubbing my hands over my face, I know that I’m getting older, and at my age I can’t stand the idea of not being as strong as I used to be. Waving to the dispatchers on my way out, I holler, “I’m gonna be 10-8. Heading home. If you need me, lose my number.”
They don’t bother acknowledging me, but I know that as soon as I get in my car and check my mobile CAD screen, it will show my status update. The dispatchers we work with are amazing. It isn’t until I’m pulling into my driveway and signing off duty that I notice my phone has gone off.
Three missed calls and six text messages. The calls are from dispatch, and the texts are from Abby.
Abby
Hey, I need you to answer the phone.
Hey, I need you to head over to the bar, something happened with Margot.
HEY! You. I know you’re getting these. There’s something wrong with Margot. She was at the bar, but she’s not answering. Her phone called 911, and there wasn’t anything on the other line. Don’t make me give this to you as an official call.
Jake, I’m not kidding. No one at the bar knew where she was. I’m gonna make it official.
I pull my car back out as I press call on my phone. My heart is racing as I wait for them to answer the line.
“Thank God. I need you to get to the bar. She got attacked.” The line goes dead.
I drop the phone and feel my heart fall into the pit of my stomach. It’s too familiar, too much like what had happened before.
I can’t lose Margot.
Not when I haven’t had a chance to get her back. I turn the radio on in my car, hoping to hear anything that is useful as I turn my lights and sirens on while speeding to the other end of town.
It takes me three minutes and forty-two seconds to get from my house to Lucy’s. There are four cruisers in the parking lot, as well as the fire truck and an ambulance by the time I pull in. I slam the door to my cruiser and spot Travis, one of my deputies.
“Trav, what the hell is going on?” I bark, not caring what I’m doing or the scene I’m potentially making.
