Chapter 2
Diana lay sprawled across the painted wood of the porch, her expensive heels tangled beneath her. She pressed a hand to her fair, rosy cheek, which was rapidly blossoming into a dark, angry bruise. She stared up at the Sheriff in absolute, unadulterated shock, her chest heaving beneath her silk blouse.
"You assaulted me!" Diana shrieked, her voice shrill and trembling with indignation. "You struck a defenseless woman on her own property! I will have your badge for this, Ramirez! I will see you rot in a federal prison!"
Robert did not spare her a second glance. The rage simmering in his veins was eclipsed entirely by the terrifying, continuous shrieking of his daughter’s heart monitor. He dropped back down to his knees, his utility belt clinking heavily against the wood, and gathered Emma back into his arms.
"Emma, baby, keep your eyes open," Robert pleaded, his voice cracking as he tapped her pale cheek. "Look at me. Look at Dad. The ambulance is coming."
"Dad, I'm so thirsty," Emma whimpered, her eyelids fluttering wildly. Her tiny hands gripped the fabric of his sheriff's uniform, seeking whatever comfort she could find in the suffocating heat. "My chest hurts really bad."
"I know, sweetie, I know," Robert whispered, tears mixing with the sweat on his face.
Mrs. Gable dropped to her knees beside them, her phone still tightly clutched in her hand. Her fair skin was pale with terror. "Sheriff, they are three minutes out. What can I do? Do you need water? Ice?"
"Get a cold, wet towel," Robert barked, his professional training fighting through his panic. "Do not bring ice, it will shock her system. Just cool water. Hurry!"
Mrs. Gable scrambled to her feet and rushed into the Harrington house, completely ignoring Diana, who was finally pushing herself up from the floor.
"Get out of my house!" Diana yelled after Mrs. Gable. She turned her venomous glare back to Robert. "This is trespassing! That child wandered onto my property and destroyed my prize-winning rose bushes! She had to be taught a lesson!"
Robert slowly turned his head. His eyes were dead, reflecting a darkness that made Diana involuntarily take a step backward.
"If her heart stops beating," Robert said, his volume dropping to a lethal, quiet whisper, "I am going to unholster my sidearm, and I am going to empty the entire magazine into your chest. Do you understand me, Diana?"
Diana opened her mouth to argue, to threaten his career again, but the absolute, murderous certainty in the Sheriff's eyes silenced her completely. She smoothed her trousers with shaking hands and backed away toward the front door.
"You are insane," Diana muttered nervously.
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"Here! I have the towels!" Mrs. Gable yelled, running back out of the house. She draped the cool, damp cloths over Emma's forehead and the back of her neck.
In the distance, the wailing sirens of an approaching ambulance pierced the heavy summer air. Robert pulled his daughter closer, praying to a god he hadn't spoken to in years. The bright colors of the lawn seemed to blur and fade as Emma's monitor gave one long, continuous beep.
