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By the time I backed Cope’s car out to follow him to the courthouse, the light had turned red, and I was glad. I needed a minute to remind myself who I was dealing with. I knew better than to fall for Cope’s charm, but he sure as hell wasn’t making it easy. He worked the handsome-enough-to-be-a-politician thing like a pro.
Add in how considerate he’d been, and before I knew it, I’d be convincing myself he wasn’t such a bad guy after all. Again, I knew better.
I pulled partway out of the lot and glanced in the rearview mirror while I waited for the light to change; I needed to put on some lipstick when I got to the courthouse. I also reminded myself to make sure I had my press credentials around my neck before I went upstairs.
When I looked up to make sure the light hadn’t turned green, I saw a car barreling toward me out of the corner of my eye. “Please stop,” I begged out loud seconds before it slammed into the side of Cope’s car.
I felt the crunch of metal as though it was inside my body. My teeth gnashed hard. I heard a sound so loud it hurt my ears milliseconds before the car’s airbags deployed. They slammed into my body, both from the front and from the side.
That was the last thing I remembered.
I knew I was in a bed. I could hear lots of beeping sounds…and voices. One in particular sounded familiar. My eyes fluttered open, but it was too bright, so I closed them again.
My body hurt, and it was hard to breathe.
“We’ll get her up to X-ray and see if anything’s broken,” I heard another voice say. “Have you managed to reach her next of kin?”
“I’m working on it,” said the familiar man’s voice.
“Cope, what can I do?” I heard a woman ask.
“Get over to the courthouse. Explain there’s been an accident and that I need a twenty-four-hour continuance.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier if you went and I stayed with her?”
“No,” I heard the voice snap. It was Cope’s. That’s what the woman had said. “I’m not leaving her here alone.”
“She won’t be alone. I’ll be with her.” The woman’s voice sounded more soothing.
“Please, Stella, just do as I ask.”
I felt a hand on my arm and tried again to open my eyes. Why did the lights above me have to be so bright?
“Hey, Ali, how are you doing?” said the woman.
“Too bright,” I groaned.
“Cope, she’s awake. Get a nurse, and turn those lights off.” I felt her squeeze my arm. “I’ll let you know when you can open your eyes.”
“I need you both to step outside,” someone else said.
“She wants the lights off.”
I heard movement.
“Go ahead and open your eyes now, sweetheart.”
When I did, someone I didn’t recognize was standing over me.
“What’s your name, miss?”
“Um…Ali Graham,” I murmured.
“Do you know what day it is, Ali?”
It hurt to talk. “Tuesday?” I whispered.
“That’s right. Do you know why you’re in the hospital, Ali?”