Under the Stars

“What’s going on in here? Bris?” One of the men goes to Gavin lying on the floor. “He’s dead!”

They turn on us, but Mark stops them by holding up his badge. “Mark Fitzhugh, detective. Call 911,”

Without hesitation, one of them grabs the phone off Gavin’s desk.

“Molly, please…” I’m holding her hand, not even caring what’s happening around us, not looking at Gavin’s body dead on the floor. “Please wake up.”

Mark’s arm goes around my shoulder, and he pulls me close, speaking low. “She needs to be checked for internal injuries, but she’s strong.”

Still holding her hand, I look over my shoulder to Joshua. He’s sitting up, but he’s holding his head, seeming dazed.

“What happened to you?” The bartender asks him. “I’ll get your uncle.”

“It’s okay,” Joshua says, looking around the room. His eyes land on Molly, and he pushes off the floor, crawling to where she lies. “Did he hurt her?”

“He was choking her, but Lara stopped him,” Mark says quietly. “Gavin is dead. I need you to tell me exactly what happened here.”

Their eyes meet, but we’re interrupted by the arrival of EMS. They push us aside, telling us to leave the room while they take Molly’s vitals and then load her onto a stretcher. Joshua quickly stands and falls back, avoiding their notice, but I rush forward.

“Please…” I touch the paramedic’s arm. “Is she going to be okay?”

“Are you a relative?”

“I’m her sister.” The lie has become so common, it feels like the truth.

“Her pulse is strong. If you’d like to meet us at the hospital, here’s the card.”

I take the white slip of paper, and they carry her out. The music downstairs has stopped, and all the house lights are on. Bouncers are clearing the bar, and I look over at Joshua.

“Do you still have my wallet? In your pocket?”

He reaches in the hoodie pocket and pulls out a small leather case. “Sorry.” He hands it to me. “Didn’t know that was in there.”

We make our way down the stairs and out to the street. Mark slips his phone into his coat pocket.

“I called a Lyft to take you to the hospital,” he says. “Tell me what happened so I can give a report.”

“It was all pretty fast.” Joshua touches the cut on his head. It’s already starting to bruise. “She was ahead of me, running after him. I don’t know why he was on foot, but we followed him here. He went into his office first… Molly was right behind him. When I went in, something slammed into my head. There was a gunshot. That’s all I remember.”

A silver car pulls up at the curb.

“You need to get that checked at the hospital.” Mark points to Josh’s head before pulling me to his chest. “Look at me.” Our eyes meet, and warmth floods my chest. “It’s over. Don’t think about it any more. Stay with Molly, and I’ll meet you there.”

Leaning down, he kisses me gently, pushing my lips apart and sweeping his tongue into mine. My entire body relaxes against his, and I believe him.

“You okay?”

Reaching up, I touch his cheek. “Is he really dead?”

“He’s dead.”

For the first time in my life, I feel an enormous weight lifting off my shoulders. Is it possible they’re all dead? The list is clear?

Climbing into the backseat of the car beside Joshua, I’m still internalizing the meaning of what happened.

They’re all gone.

Several hours later we’re back at Joshua’s apartment. Molly is lying on the bed, and Joshua has a bandage on his forehead. He’s boiling water for hot tea, and he keeps telling me she’s going to be okay. I’m trying not to hover, because I know she hates that. I can’t believe they let her come home, but apparently, being stubborn works in hospitals as well.