Page 120 of Pretty Broken Dolls

Katie managed to turn her body to face the agent. She was dressed in army fatigues despite not being in the military—more than likely having been expelled on a dishonorable discharge. She didn’t know for sure, but it didn’t matter at this point.

“That’s good. You should look at the person who’s going to shoot you in the face.”

“No matter how hard you try, you’re never going to change your past. It is what it is…you’re the daughter of a murdered drug addict.”

“She had me when she was addicted and on the street.” She stepped closer. “When I was taken away, she never looked for me. She always told me that I would be nothing. She just left me there so that those monsters could have their way with me in foster home after foster home. Her demise was an inspiration to me. It was only fitting that those women got what they deserved in that way. Publicly.”

“You have a chance to rise above that situation, Dawn. You can do it right now. Show the world that you are stronger and better than all the others…”

She shook her head adamantly as if she tried to convince herself that she never got a fair shake. “I am better than the others, my mother, and I’m better than you. Goodbye, Detective Scott.”

A shot was fired, but not from the agent’s gun; it had come from above. Lizzy had shot the junior agent with Campbell’s gun.

Katie leaned back against the ride, relieved, tired, and glad that everything was over. She looked at the woman who could’ve had a life, but let her past overtake and corrode her. Her wide open, lifeless eyes stared upward to the stars—she was dead. The bullet had pierced her chest and blasted her heart into pieces.

Sirens approached.

“We’re going to be okay, Lizzy,” she said. Closing her eyes, she tried not to let the tears fall but they did.

Katie could hear voices yelling and the sound of police-issue boots hitting the pavement and heading in their direction.

“We’re here!” yelled Katie. “It’s okay…”

McGaven finally appeared with John at his side followed by several deputies. They rushed to Katie and helped her up. “You okay?”

“I think so,” she said, feeling dizzy as her surroundings whirled like the nearby merry-go-round. “Get Lizzy to the hospital…and there’s a wounded security guard near the employee area…Oh, and Agent Campbell is dead.”

The officers and John began to rescue Lizzy from the ride, gently lowering her to safety.

“We need a couple of ambulances,” McGaven ordered the deputies. “Now!” He turned back to Katie. “C’mon, let’s get you out of here.”

“I never want to go to the fair again,” she said. “Ever.”

McGaven wrapped his arm around her, to help her walk. “Nice dress. What happened to your shoes?”

“A funny story…”

Chapter Fifty-Two

Two weeks later

Friday 1600 hours

“I, Sean Patrick McGaven, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter.”

“As sheriff of the Pine Valley Sheriff’s Department in Sequoia County, California, you have been officially promoted from deputy sheriff to detective.” He handed a detective shield to McGaven and shook his hand. “You’ve earned it.”

“Thank you, sir,” he said.

Cheers erupted from the audience.

McGaven turned toward the crowd with his shield held high in the air and let out a whoop and holler.

It was a beautiful day. Spring was near and nature beginning to bloom. It was a perfect day to celebrate McGaven’s promotion. Katie whistled along with the group from the department, and with Denise, John, and Lizzy.

Her friend Lizzy had been convalescing and Katie had been enjoying this longer visit. Lizzy was expected to make a full recovery from her injuries and planned to return to the coast and begin her new job in another two weeks.

McGaven said, “Hey, we’re all going to Danny’s. You coming, Katie?” He had Denise in tow with her young daughter.