Page 98 of Jessica's Hero

Why did I leave Jess alone? Why didn’t I learn my fucking lesson?

Through the whooshing of my frantic breaths I hear unintelligible shouting.

My lungs burn as the cold air rushes in and out of them.

Like I’m trapped in a horror movie, I watch Jess struggle against the woman holding her down. But she can’t seem to free herself.

Can this really be happening?

Jess attacked in broad daylight? Right in the cemetery?

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice another car parked in an adjacent path; an old sedan that looks like it’s seen better days. The woman—no, the criminal’s car, no doubt. But did she happen on Jess by accident? Or did she follow her here?

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

The word repeats with each footstep.

I’m closing in fast, but is it fast enough?

I have a flicker of a thought for my Glock, but it’s still at home. I didn’t bring it like I usually would, thinking it felt wrong to bring a gun to visit Jess’s mom.

Now I’m cursing myself. Blaming myself.

I swore I’d protect Jess and I failed.

A hundred yards out, the words become more recognizable. The woman screams, “You took everything away from me!”

What?

“First you took Liam,” she shouts, “but that wasn’t enough! You took Kane! Eliza was my friend and you got her killed! You even fucked with my job! You have to pay!”

My legs are on fire as I push them faster than I ever have before.

In my head, one word repeats.

Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.

Then.

Everything shifts.

Jess draws up her legs and kicks the woman off her.

As she falls back, Jess springs up and punches her square in the face.

The woman howls, clapping her hands to her nose.

The alert on my phone shrills, signaling Jess’s call for help.

But I’m nearly there.

Jess grabs her purse off the ground and pulls something out of it. Then extends her arm towards the woman, and a moment later, another howl erupts.

Pepper spray.

The pepper spray I insisted she carry everywhere, just in case.

“You bitch!” screeches the woman. “You ruined everything!”