Rule of the Fist

Chapter 8

Riley would never forget that day. Not if she lived to be ninety. Rain was coming down in thick sheets from the gray sky above. Riley watched it all from the living room window, curled up on her favorite chair with a book. Their house wasn’t particularly fancy, but it was cozy and nice and had a view of the forest in the backyard. Nate, only 11 at the time, sat on the opposite couch, watching TV. Abby was stretched out on the floor, drawing.

Riley turned a page of her book and glanced at the window again, searching for the headlights that would announce the arrival of their parents. They were out for their anniversary dinner, but had promised to be back home by seven.

Riley was just beginning to doze off when there was a knock at the door. She jumped up off the couch, ready to leap into the arms of her waiting parents. Sean went to the door and answered it, but on the threshold, rather than their parents, stood two police officers. “Are you Nathan Robinson?” One of the officers asked him.

Nate nodded, looking wide-eyed at the cop.

“You’re going to have to come with us, please,” the other officer said.

Nate stiffened. “My mom told me never to go with strangers.”

“Son, your parents have been in an accident. You’ll have to come with us. We need to put you in the care of an adult,” the first officer said.

Riley’s memory blurred after that. But she knew that the officers had lied. What happened to her parents was no accident. She clearly remembered being in the hospital, with the murmur of voices all around her. 

“…A young couple.”

“…Robbery.”

“…Just shot them both.”

Later, they got the full story from the officer. The restaurant their parents had gone to was out of town. They were in the parking lot when approached by two robbers.

Her parents had complied with the instruction, handing over their money and ID. Even so, one of the robbers had shot her dad. Shot him right there in front of witnesses. Then they'd turned around and shot her mom too.

Although they had managed to track down and capture the people who had hurt them, the officer told the children rather bluntly that Conrad and Katie Robinson were badly injured. They had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Your parents will be fine,” the nurse who had been in charge of them had assured them.

Later that day, however, as Riley sat silently with Abby and Nate in the hospital’s empty lobby, they received the news that their parents were dead. Riley remembered a swirling feel of dread that almost made her keel over, compounded with confusion. She hardly understood what was going on. All she knew what that point on was that she would never see her parents again. Never hear their soothing voices telling her it would be okay when she had a bad day at school. She would have to rely on memories.

 The issue of what would happen with the Robinson kids was never a question for the police department. Their parents had stated very clearly in their will that if something should happen to them, they were to be placed into the care of Mark and Judy Green.

Riley hadn't realized that she had started to cry while telling Henry what had happened. It was hard to tell the tears from the rain streaming down her face. 

Henry stood in front of her, looking unsure of what to do. Angrily, Riley wiped tears from her face, ashamed of having cried in front of him. Finally, Henry stepped forward and hugged her. Nothing more, nothing less. Riley realized that they were pretty much the same height. From up close, his freckles looked a lot bigger.