A Bounty of Pictures

Chapter 14

My jaw drops. That makes so much sense! No wonder the investigation was going nowhere.

"But he was on duty at the time." Parker states.

"He was not present at the scene then. But we know he is friends with Richard Myers."

"What should we do then?" I ask.

"There's not much the public can do now. Myer's is dangerous.  I advise to keep doing what you're doing but keep an eye out."  Dr. Novak digs through a drawer. "If anything comes up you can contact me or Westland's detectives."

Parker takes the business cards and I stand up to go.  I'm done with this. I'm ready to move on with my life. We say goodbye and leave with a smile.

Neither one of us speak until we reach the main town.

"What should we do?" I ask staring at the brick street.

"I want to do what Dr. Novak says but I can't just let Peyton's murderer have his freedom."

"I agree. But there's nothing else we can do. Harlow is going to try anything to stop the investigation." I twirl a loose strand of hair around my index finger. "Why don't we contact Westland's detectives?"

"Good idea. But it's kind of late, tomorrow?"

"Sure. I want to sleep anyways." I look down at my chipped, pastel pink nail polish.

"Okay, sounds good." Parker turns into my neighborhood and within seconds we're in my driveway. "Do you want me to come in?"

"No, I'll be fine. Thanks though." I smile slightly and close the door. Parker waves and goes in the opposite direction to his house. Moms car is in the garage and the light in her room is on. She's probably reading a Tom Clancy book.

I unlock the door and tell mom I'm home. I wash off a peach in the kitchen and go to the basement to take out my laundry in the drying machine. Mom's probably mad I didn't take it out. I find an empty basket and throw the wrinkled shirts in.

The house is oddly quiet. Usually mom would have come to refill her glass with water and we'd talk about our days. Maybe she fell asleep reading.  I climb the stairs and hang up my clothes in the closet.  I leave my room to turn off the light in moms room. I pop my head in the door and see moms body on limp on the floor.

I scream moms name and run over to her to place my fingers on her neck. She's breathing perfectly fine. My heart starts to slow back to its normal pace and I snap my fingers. I don't know what to do!

Moms phone vibrates on the bed stand. I quickly jump up and grab it. Dad's face smiles on the screen and I answer the call.

"Dad–" I start.

"Hey sweetie. I thought I called your mother. I–"

"Dad! Moms unconscious on the floor! I can't wake her up!" I yell.

"What?" He asks panicked.

"I can't wake up mom! She's on the floor unconscious. I don't know what to do!"  A tear burns it's way down my cheek.

"Chloe, calm down. Please call 911!  I'm on the way home so I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Okay. Okay." I breathe. We hang up and I call 911. Minutes later, two of mom's coworkers walk through the door.

I usher Sam and Pauline to mom's room.  Pauline wipes a tear away from my cheek. I stare unable to take my eyes off mom. Sam starts to check her pulse and blood pressure.
"Pauline, her blood pressure is low and her lips are dry." Sam says.

"She fainted by dehydration. Chloe, have you been home all day?"

I shake my head, "no. I came home maybe a half hour ago."

Pauline nods, "do you know what she was planning to do today?"

"I think dad said she was helping our elderly neighbor move into her new house."

Pauline checks mom's pupils and tries a smelling salt. "Something's not right, Sam."
Sam moves her head to the other cheek and dried blood sticks to the carpet. I cover my mouth and Pauline runs to a blue box.

"She must have hit her head when she fainted. That explains why she's not fully responding to us." Pauline says tearing off plastic packaging around a roll of bandages.

Dads footsteps walk down the hallway and enters the room. Dad wraps his arm around my shoulders, "is she okay?"

"We think she fainted from dehydration and hit her head on the desk when she fell." Sam points to the desk next to her body. "Once Pauline finishes wrapping the bandage, I'll check her pupils again and then take her to the hospital. You and Chloe can meet us over there."

"She'll be okay, right?" Dad reassures. Sam replies with a yes. Pauline finishes wrapping the bandage and leaves to get the stretcher.

"What's going on?" Parker's voice fills the silence. Sam looks up and smiles at Parker then returns his attention to mom.

"Mom fainted and hit her head." I inform him.

"I hope she'll be okay!"

"I think she will." I look up to him, "how'd you know something was going on?"

"I saw the lights flashing down at my house."

"Makes sense." I look at mom.  Parker squeezes my hand and I lean into his shoulder. I watch Sam check her pupils again and reaches for the gray box. He takes out a plastic bag with clear liquid. Dad leaves to help Pauline. My eyes stay trained on mom's brown hair, still in her ponytail from this morning. Sam sticks a needle in her elbow's vein and the liquid flows into her body.  Parker texts someone his phone as Pauline and dad come back.

"Chloe, do you want to go with mom?" Dad asks. I nod in response. "I'll drive the car. Parker, you can come if it's okay with your folks. Chloe might someone to sit with."

"That sounds fine but I think that's up to Chloe." Parker smiles.

"That's fine with me." I say barely paying attention.

Pauline secures mom on the stretcher and Sam hangs the IV. Parker and I follow them out to the ambulance.

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Angela