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No,nowI had their complete and undivided attention.
“You all come here for what?” I asked. “This office is trying to do a job, obtaining information that will save lives, and you’re all here for fuckin’ what? You wanna broadcast footage of a mother dying in front of her kid, for ratings, then expect him to, what? Come out for an interview? Every single one of you can fuck right off. You want news? Go back to your offices and wait for official bulletin releases. Or do what they suggested yesterday and leave Darwin—and just keep fucking drivin’.”
I noticed a few of them look behind me, into the yard, their eyes widening. And when I glanced back, I saw why.
Doreen was coming across the yard, whistling a cheerful tune, and swingin’ her baseball bat, just as two police cruisers arrived. “Right on time,” Doreen said as she walked up, still swingin’ her bat. “If any of you leeches had a fuckin’ brain cell between ya’s, you’d know blocking access to a government building is abigno-no.”
The cops got out, and while they began to speak to the reporters, asking them to move along, Doreen opened the gate for me.
The reporters and cameramen slowly dispersed, but not before giving me a lengthy glare and getting in their vehicles.
“Thanks, Hewy,” Doreeen said.
One of the cops, the oldest of them, gave her a nod. “No worries, Dori. You weren’t actually gonna use that bat, were ya?”
“Nah.” She winked. “Nice day for a home run, doncha reckon?”
He grinned and went back to the remaining reporters, and I looked up at Doreen. “How is he?”
She shrugged her reply, meaning not great.
So I ran across the yard and up the stairs. I pulled open the door and found him at the control panel. He’d surely been watching the security screen and seen it all. And all the anger I’d felt, that rage that had fuelled me, melted away.
“Hey,” I said gently.
His eyes met mine.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
No, he wasn’t.
I went over and spun his chair so I could kneel in front of him. “Jeremiah, baby, it’s okay to not be okay.”
He sagged and gave the slightest shake of his head. “I knew it would happen. It’s like a shadow I won’t ever be rid of.”
I put my hand to his face. “I’m so sorry. I came as soon as I saw.”
He closed his eyes. “Doreen went home, got a news flash on her phone, and came straight back,” he murmured. “She thought it was just going to be the interview, so she watched it. She knew... she didn’t think I should be here alone. She didn’t have to come back...”
I knew I liked her for a reason.
“Thank god she did.” With my hand at the back of his neck, I tugged him forward and all but lifted him to his feet so I could hug him properly. “I’m so fucking mad,” I hissed. “I can’t imagine how you feel.”
“Just... sad.”
I hugged him tighter and rubbed the back of his head. “I got you.”
He nodded against my throat but didn’t say anything for a few beats. “Thank you,” he said, so softly. So sad. “I’ve never had anyone care before.”
I pulled back and put my forehead to his. “I care. A whole fuckin’ lot.”
Doreen came through the door, stood the bat up in the small entryway, and Jeremiah immediately stepped away from me. I didn’t care what Doreen thought, and I knew for a fact she wouldn’t care. I kept my hand on his back so he’d know I wasn’t going anywhere.
“Well, me and Bruce’ll be off now,” she said.
I hadn’t even noticed the dog.
