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I had no idea how he found me, but I was so grateful he’d made it in time. I would’ve jumped in the water to get to them, but I wasn’t sure I could make it before he stabbed her with that knife. And with the horrid things he was saying and the crazed look in his eyes, I was sure he would have.
“Huntsville Police Department!” the officers yelled as they made the clearing, fanning out around us.
It was a sudden burst of activity as two of them rushed over with guns drawn to where Justin towered over Alonzo.
Two others surrounded Sofia, who began to sob in earnest.
Another ran over to me and Elizabeth, calling for a medic.
“Are either of you injured, ma’am?” the young officer asked me.
“I’m not.” I studied Elizabeth’s still scared face. “He had her under the water... I don’t think she’s hurt but I’m not sure?”
He took off his jacket and draped it over her, gentling his voice. “The paramedics will look her over. It’ll be okay.”
I nodded, my eyes automatically seeking out Justin again, but he was preoccupied speaking with an officer.
I turned my gaze to Alonzo who was now sitting, slumped over with his head hung down. It had dawned on me at some point during Sofia’s pleading who he was and what was happening, but I was still having a difficult time understanding his hatred of me and all he’d done to get back at me for what he thought I’d done to his family. And, as Sofia turned wounded eyes my way, it became painfully obvious to me that all of us had suffered because of Christoph’s selfish actions. I couldn’t control Sofia or Alonzo’s feelings, but I was done letting the past control mine.
The medics made it a couple minutes later, and one team looked me and Elizabeth over, while another tended to Alonzo. He was stoic and angry while they checked him out, then an officer cuffed him and led him away down the trail, but not before he turned and shot me a hateful scowl over his shoulder.
“She looks good,” the medic said after checking over Elizabeth. “We can take her to the hospital so the doctors can check her out.”
I wavered, not really wanting to scare her any more today, but I knew it was for the best. I nodded. “Okay. Give me a second?”
“Sure.”
Since she wouldn’t let go of me, I carried her with me over to where Sofia still stood. Her eyes were wide and frightened when she looked up at me.
“Miss Olivia, I’m so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen! You have to believe me!”
“I know.”
That stopped her cold. She’d obviously been expecting my vitriol. “You do?” Tears quivered on her lashes along with her voice. “You believe me?”
“Of course I do. I heard you pleading with him to save her. More importantly, I’ve seen how good you’ve been with her all these months.”
She bit her lip and nodded.
“Why didn’t you just tell me the truth?”
“I know. I should have. But I knew you and my dad weren’t speaking, and I...” She looked away, then back. “I was curious about you, I guess. I was in the U.S. with my grandmother, and I was choosing colleges. I figured, why not see you and meet my sister, right? I just didn’t count on loving you both.”
Tears filled my eyes. “Oh, honey.” I pulled her in for a hug. “We love you, too.” I drew away. “What did the police say?”
She swiped her eyes. “They want me to come to the station and answer some questions about my brother.”
“I have to give my statement too. If you need my help, just let me know.”
She nodded. I knew it had to hurt that the truth would exonerate her but convict her brother.
“Okay. I need to go and get Elizabeth checked out at the hospital. See you later?”
“See you later.” She ran a hand down Liz’s head. “Bye, Lizzie Bear.”
Elizabeth didn’t say anything, just kept her head on my shoulder, which was a bit alarming.
I turned and found Justin waiting for me by the ambulance.