Impact

Chapter 2

It was past nine. Speckles of stars painted themselves against the darkness above, which poured into the woods from the sky. The moon shone a soft blue glow to illuminate the area. A group of police cars on the side of the road lit the trees in blue and red flashes, almost blindingly.

Christine and Ashtyn sprinted to catch up with the man, who had stopped running and stood still, held his ground. His fist tightened around the ring box, shoving it into his pocket.

Tattoos snaked up to decorate the side of his neck and his arms. He breathed heavily through his mouth, exhausted from running. Most people would try to escape at the sight of the P.D.C.N. jackets, but this man paused, almost relieved.

He swatted at a bug that tried to bite him, and this was seen as a sudden movement. Ashtyn drew her semi-automatic pistol from her holster, prepared to shout at the man, maybe even shoot him, but Christine angled the muzzle of the gun downward at the ground. Truth be told, Ashtyn, who had the best aim in the department, probably would've missed if she had shot due to her inability to properly cup the grip in her hand from the bandage.

"Officer Datcher, absolutely not!" Christine growled at Ashtyn, who nodded and flushed red. "Sir, I'm not going to hurt you. Neither is she. We want to help you. I'm Officer Christine Roberts, and this is Officer Ashtyn Datcher. Please tell us your name."

He closed his hand around the branch of a tree beside him to keep himself steady. Ash nearly drew her weapon again, but Chris looked at her over her shoulder.

"Scott Williams," he mumbled under his breath, maintaining a fair distance between himself and the negotiators. "Please don't shoot me. I haven't done nothin'."

Christine glared at Ash. "We are not going to shoot the man, are we?"

Ash shook her head no.

"I'm sorry about my partner, Mr. Williams—" Christine started, but he cut her off.

"Scott. Please, call me Scott."

Both of the women were taken aback by his kindness and lack of resistance.

He cleared his throat. "Did anyone get hurt? I wasn't tryin' to hurt nobody."

Ash spoke this time. "No, Scott. Nobody got hurt. And nobody needs to."

"Do I gotta go to jail or somethin'?"

Ash nodded. "Yes. I'm sorry. But giving me the ring gives you a shorter sentence than if someone has to fight you for it, which we don't want to do."

His hand tightened so hard around the branch of the tree that it snapped. Ash lifted her gun slightly. Scott quickly apologized for frightening her, so she lowered it. He scratched at a piece of loose bark from the tree. "Can you tell them workers at the jewelry store I'm sorry? I wanted to sell the ring. Pay for some of Momma's treatment."

"Is your mother in the hospital?" Christine asked.

He nodded. "She ain't doin' too good. That's why I'm tryin' to help her. She's dyin' and I don't want her to, 'cause she's my Momma, you know? I wasn't the best kid when I got here from my previous foster families, n' she took me in and raised me. It's the least I can do."

"I was a foster kid, too. I understand the pain of the system and the relief you feel once you've found the right family," Chris said, looking over at Ash momentarily. "What happened to your parents, if you don't mind me asking?" she asked hesitantly.

He chuckled, breaking the piece of bark off the tree. "Ain't here no more. Birth mom killed herself twenty years ago when my birth dad got put in jail. They were both a little insane, but not me. I wanna die after I help Momma, 'cause I don't wanna be in this life anymore."