Anxious

Chapter 15: Closer

****

There was a knock at the door, a teenage Leslie jumped in her chair then, peered through the window. She saw a police cruiser parked ahead of a black car with tinted windows. Her heartbeat quickened, and she felt a coldness come over her body; it was like nothing she'd ever experienced. She opened the front door, and stood face-to-face with a uniformed policeman of average height and build. He wore a mustache that sank low; the look on his face made Leslie even colder, despite the heat from the sweltering, August weather.

"Hello, Miss Locks? My name is Officer Ferrine, this is Detective Gallo."

He pointed to a man in a suit, that stood at the bottom of the porch steps. Leslie nodded, desperate to know what this was about, but too shy or nervous to speak.

"May we come in? We have to talk to you, and it may be... easier if you're sitting down."

Leslie stood frozen for a moment. Words reached her lips, "My mother isn't home..."

The man in the suit spoke, with a kind voice, "This is about your mother, Leslie."

"May we please come inside," the other man pleaded.

Leslie stomped into the living room, and sat down in her recliner. The officers followed cautiously; the detective sat on the couch, and looked at her with eyes as kind as his voice.

"I'm so sorry to be the one to tell you this, but your mother was in a car accident with another vehicle. It was a head on collision. Her Hyundai exploded on impact; she was killed instantly."

The young, street cop added, "The driver in the other vehicle was killed on impact, as well, but they were carrying two passengers that have been evacted to the hospital in critical condition. Doesn't look like anyone is going to make it. I'm sorry Miss Locks."

"Leslie?" Detective Gallo tried to get a fix on her gaze, but her eyes had gone cold now, too.

She shivered hard, as a chill ran up her spine. Tears filled her eyes; she couldn't see.

"This can't be..," her eyes finally caught the man's worried stare. "Are you sure? How can you be sure?"

"We found her personal effects, sweetheart. When you're ready, you should come down to the local station, and we can take you to identify .. some things."

Everything around her faded away; she felt like her chair was sinking into the ground. Grey surrounded her; she couldn't focus. She grabbed for the arms of her chair, but much too late. Before she thought she was going to hit the floor, there were strong hands around her arms.

"Mama?!" she screamed, and heard a voice over her head speak.

"Do we need an ambulance, Gallo?"

"Hurry, call it in."

Her world went black.

****

"MAMA!!"

"Shhhhhhh, Leslie. I am right here."

She felt a hand on her own, and her eyes popped open. They were no longer in James' Audi. He had paid for it to be parked in a public garage back in Baker City, and rented a Ford Expedition SUV. Things felt more secure from up here, to Leslie, and she was sure that James felt the same way. However, frantic thoughts were crossing her mind right now.

"James, what if these people had something to do with my mother's death?! They must know where my house is, or Dan wouldn't have been so persistent about me leaving when I did. They are probably waiting for me there! We can't go there!!"