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The bright blue lightbars of three patrol cars converging on the scene filled Lucy with relief.
There was a crowd surrounding them now, all looking down at the body staring sightlessly at the sky. Someone’s camera flashed—and then another.
Murmurs rippled up and down the street about what had happened. Many had witnessed—or heard—Willard’s threats.
A few had seen Sniper’s attack and were even talking about him being a ten-pound hero.
And they were right,Lucy thought as she held him in her arms and snuggled the puppy close. She felt her eyes burn, remembering how she’d come across the little stray that night on the beach, just by chance.
Or maybe it wasn’t.
You knew I would need him even before I did, Lord,she whispered,thank You for your most perfect gift.
* * * *
NICK AND LUCY GAVEtheir statements to one of the cops at the scene, while the other officers began talking to the witnesses.
When Nick finally slid behind the wheel of his sedan, he reached over to cover her trembling hands with his. “I wish you had more time here. Leaving right after what just happened will be tough.”
She’d been calm and matter-of-fact during the questioning, despite the horror of seeing a man die in front of her. He could only imagine how she’d feel once the numbness and shock faded.
“It’s so different, from seeing death as a hospital nurse. No matter what that man did, I didn’t want to see him die.”
“I didn’t either. Just focus on what could have happened. If not for folks in the neighborhood distracting him and Sniper’s determination, it might have turned out so differently. Will you be all right?”
She nodded sadly. “But what an awful way to end this trip. “
They made it to the airport with only an hour to spare. Even without her driver’s license to show, the TSA agents and law enforcement officers managed to clear her for departure just in time.
Nick rested his hands on her shoulders outside of the TSA checkpoint, then drew her close for a last embrace. “I guess you’d better get into that line,” he said with a long sigh. “You’ve got a lot waiting for you when you get home. I’ll be praying for you.”
She looked up and their eyes met. “I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you did to help me. It meant a great deal.”
Her voice sounded distant. Formal. As if she was closing the final chapter of a book she planned to store away. And already, he felt the sting of losing her.
“You can’t leave just yet.” He gently framed her head between his hands and kissed her. “Just try to remember all of the good times you had here. And forget the bad.”
They stood together for a long moment, silent and lost in the finality of saying goodbye.
Then she kissed him back and was gone.
