Page 97 of Jessica's Hero

Plan set, I make my way to Fussy Flowers and buy one of the ready-made bouquets—a fragrant one made of blue carnations and delphiniums. I chuckle to myself as I get back into the car. The florist and I are on first-name terms, and I’ve bought so many blue flowers at this point I know all the names.

As I get closer to the cemetery, my thoughts shift to my own dad’s grave. I’d like to get there soon, with Jess of course. Maybe next month, once Jess is fully recovered, we can take a trip to Rochester like we’ve been talking about. I can introduce her to the magic that’s the garbage plate, which, aside from my mom, is the thing I miss most about living there.

I make the right turn into the cemetery with a smile on my face, which I know isn’t the typical expression for this place, but I can’t help it. Everything that involves Jess makes me happy.

About a hundred yards in, I spot Jess’s car and park behind it. She’s already out, and I can see small footprints cutting into the thin layer of snow. Once I shut off the car and get out, it’s easy to spot Jess’s path into the cemetery, headed north towards the back of it.

In the distance, Jess’s blue coat is a bright speck of color amid an expanse of white and spots of dull gray. But surprisingly, she’s not alone. Another person is standing beside her, and from the looks of it, another woman around Jess’s height. Obviously, I can’t recognize who it is, not from this distance, but the fact that it’s a woman makes me feel better.

If it was a man… I’m not sure I would be as calm.

It’s not that I’m jealous. Far from it. But the idea of Jess alone in a graveyard with an unidentified man? The memories of her abduction are far too fresh for that.

Most likely, it’s just another person visiting a grave. Someone Jess knows who came over to say hi. Maybe they even knew Jess’s mom and decided to pay their own respects.

Everything is fine, I remind myself.Remember what the counselor said during our first appointment the other day. That it’s natural to feel some paranoia in the beginning. But don’t feed into it. Accept the feelings and move on.

Yes. Everything’s fine.

With one eye still on Jess, I lean back into the car to grab the flowers. Just as my hand is wrapping around the crinkly paper, the woman she’s talking to starts gesturing.

Not in a consoling way, or even something that could be construed as normal conversation. But angry. Violent.

Then the woman takes a few steps forward while Jess scuttles back.

Inner alarm bells start clanging.

Everything isn’t fine.

My first thought is that it’s another one of those bitchy women who has it out for Jess. One who has no sense of manners. One who doesn’t care that Jess was clearly having a private moment.

Regardless of the why, I won’t let it continue. Not anymore.

Gritting my teeth, I drop the flowers back on the seat and slam the door shut.

Rage flares hot.

Then, as I start jogging towards Jess, the woman shoves her.

Hard enough to knock her to the ground.

The rage explodes, white hot and searing.

As I start running towards them, the woman leaps on Jess, arms swinging.

Rage turns to fear.

What is she doing?

Before my eyes, I watch in horror as the woman grabs Jess’s throat.

Jess is struggling to get up, but she’s at a disadvantage. She’s on the ground, pinned down, obviously taken by surprise. She wasn’t thinking she’d need to defend herself.

Heart racing, I run faster. But I’m still too far away. There must be a good three hundred yards between us. Enough for this woman to do real damage.

Could she choke Jess out before I get there?

Fuck!