Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
JULIA
J ulia gripped the door handle as the engine roared into another curve. Her stomach somersaulted as Sierra urged more speed from the vehicle.
“Slow down, Sierra. You’re driving way too fast.”
“You weren’t invited, so you don’t get a say.”
Julia sneaked a quick gaze toward her stepdaughter before she returned her eyes to the road blazing past them. “I wasn’t letting you leave there alone. You’re drunk. And this is a really stupid thing to be doing.”
“Yeah, well, I do stupid things. Remember? That’s why my bitch of a mother is trying to destroy my family.”
“Sierra–”
“What?” she snapped.
Julia sucked in a shaky breath as she glanced sideways again, noting the glassy haze in Sierra’s eyes. “Please slow down. You’re going to hurt someone or yourself.”
“I already told you…that’s what I do. I hurt people.”
“You hurt yourself the most,” Julia said.
Sierra tightened her grip on the steering wheel, her lower lip trembling until she tightened it, her jaw flexing.
Julia’s mind raced with panic as they hurled around another curve. Blood rushed in her ears. “Please, Sierra, pull over and let me drive. I’ll take you wherever you want to go, but please stop this.”
“Stop what, Julia? Stop what? Stop being me? Stop being ‘that girl’? The one who destroys everything she touches? The one who disappoints everyone because she’s unlovable?”
“Sierra, that’s not true. You are not unlovable. You don’t destroy everything you touch.”
A tear fell to Sierra’s cheek, and she flicked it away, trying hard to maintain her hardened facade.
“Sierra, please. Pull over, let’s talk.”
“There’s nothing to talk about, Julia.”
Julia slid further down in the seat, pressing her foot against the floor as though it would slow the car. “Okay, then pull over and just listen. Please, Sierra. I know you’re upset. And I know this is hard. But, please, Sierra. Give me the chance to talk.”
Sierra slid a teary-eyed gaze sideways to Julia, her lower lip trembling as she studied her.
“Please, Sierra,” Julia begged, her voice breaking.
More tears fell to Sierra’s cheeks as she bobbed her head up and down, pulling some of her mascara along with it to stain her cheeks black.
Julia swallowed hard, about to breathe out a sigh of relief as she flicked her gaze back to the road in search of a safe spot to pull over along the river’s edge.
Instead, her eyes went wide. A deer stood in the middle of the road, flicking its tail as its eyes glowed in Sierra’s headlights. “Sierra, look out!”
Sierra flicked her gaze back to the road, her jaw gaping open before she yanked the wheel to the side in a desperate attempt to avoid the animal.
With her responses delayed by the alcohol, she failed to recover from the swerve. Gravel crunched under the tires as they hit the shoulder before going weightless.
Time slowed. Julia’s stomach flip-flopped as her jaw unhinged and a guttural scream ripped through the air. The car plunged over the river bank, sailing for what seemed like an eternity before it finally slammed into the water.
Julia jolted forward, the seat belt catching her under her ribs as it fought to hold her back. The impact with the water failed to trigger the airbags, leaving Julia with a full view of the water inching its way up the hood.
“Sierra,” Julia hissed as she scrambled to collect her thoughts and form a plan. “Sierra, are you okay?”
She glanced sideways, finding an unconscious Sierra slumped against the steering wheel.
“Oh, no,” she breathed as she hurried to remove her seat belt. It stuck for a second until she finally ripped it loose as cold water started to lap at her feet, entering the car as it began to sink.
She pulled Sierra back, gasping at the blood running from a slice in her forehead. She pressed her fingers against Sierra’s neck, her shoulders slumping as she felt a thready pulse beat back against them.
She sat back in her seat, the water now reaching her ankles as it rose closer to the windshield. She dug into her pocket for her cell phone. With her trembling hands, she fumbled it, dropping it into her lap. With a cry, she grabbed for it before it plunged into the waters rising in the car faster than she hoped.
Her hands barely allowed her to key in the three digits she needed before she pressed the phone to her ear.
A calm dispatcher’s voice spoke a second later. “Nine-one-one, what is your emergency?”
Her words came out with a frantic urgency despite her trying to calmly describe the situation as she’d been taught by her cop sister. “My stepdaughter and I were in a car accident. We’re in the river, just south of the city. She’s unconscious.”
“I am dispatching police and ambulance to your approximate location. I want you to stay on the line while I triangulate your exact location.”
Julia bobbed her head up and down as she ran a hand through her hair. “Okay.”
“Are you injured?”
“No, uh, not that I know of. I’m able to move. But my stepdaughter is unconscious.”
“Is she breathing?”
“Yes,” Julia said with another nod. “Yes. She has a pulse. But we’re sinking. Fast. The water’s already up to my shins.”
“Okay, I need you listen to closely. Are you able to free her and make it to the bank?”
“Yes, yes, I’m a good swimmer. I just need to get us out.”
Julia breathed hard as she reached over to unbuckle Sierra’s seat belt. A terrified groan escaped her as it refused to budge. “I can’t get her seat belt off. I’m going to have to put the phone down.”
“We’ve got your location, ma’am. You do what you need to do to get safe.”
Julia nodded as she tossed the phone into the backseat and struggled with the seat belt buckle.
“Come on,” she groaned between gritted teeth as it refused to budge.
Tears fell to her cheeks as she tugged with all her might to free her stepdaughter. “No,” she cried as it refused to budge.
The water lapped at the seat as she sank back into it, sitting on her heels. She sucked in a deep breath before she leaned closer to Sierra and fought to tug the chest strap away from her, sliding it under Sierra’s arm. She fed it through to loosen the lap band before she climbed into the back seat and tugged Sierra backward.
She braced her feet against the car’s tiny console as she struggled to free the woman from the front seat.
“Come on, Sierra, work with me here.” She adjusted her grip around the woman’s chest and leaned back, pulling as hard as she could.
Sierra’s hips broke free of the belt, and they both tumbled backward as the car pitched forward, groaning as the water continued to press against the car.
Julia landed against the leather seat with a smack, gasping for breath. She clutched Sierra to her chest, stroking her hair. “Okay, Sierra. Let’s get out of here.”
The water had already risen to the back windows. She’d never be able to get the door open at this point. She shifted Sierra off of her before she leaned forward and tugged at the headrest of the passenger seat.
She wrangled it upward enough to press the release button and yank it from the seat. With the metal ends poking toward the window, she slammed it into the glass, breaking it. She used the metal to clear away any jagged edges, running it around the edge of the window.
Water spilled in over the window’s edge, filling the car faster.
“Time to go, Sierra,” Julia said as she tossed the headrest away and gathered a limp Sierra into her arms. She maneuvered her closer to the window as the car dipped below the surface.
Water rushed in around her, and she gulped in a big breath as she exited through the window before she returned to grab Sierra and tug her through the window.
With her stepdaughter wrapped in her arms, she kicked to find the surface. Cold air hit her face as she shot out of the water with a gasp.
As the cold water surrounded her again, she lay back, tugging Sierra on top of her to keep her face out of the water.
Her eyes darted around, desperately seeking the best way to get to land. Sirens rang out in the night air and flashing lights caught her attention. She kicked her feet to propel herself toward the rescuers, using her free arm to assist with the battle.
Emergency workers splashed into the water as she reached the bank. They lifted Sierra from her grasp before they pulled her out of the water.
A flurry of activity surrounded her and Sierra. “Ma’am, ma’am, are you in any pain?”
Julia’s eyes stayed trained on her stepdaughter before she finally pulled them away to glance at the paramedic hovering over her. “No. Uh, a little. I’m okay. Please…just help my stepdaughter. She hit her head, and she hasn’t regained consciousness yet.”
“We’re working on her, ma’am. I’m going to have you shimmy onto this stretcher here, okay? And we’re going to carry you up to the ambulance.”
“No, no, I’m not leaving her. Please.”
“Ma’am, she’s okay. We’re going to take her up, too, as soon as we make sure she’s stable, okay?”
Tears slid from her eyes as they carried her up the hill away from a still-unconscious Sierra.
Before she could protest, they had her loaded in the back of the ambulance and were rolling, sirens blaring to the hospital. Another flurry of activity descended on her when they arrived at the hospital.
She was poked, prodded, and sent for a variety of tests from CT scans to X-rays. She drummed her fingers as she sat alone in her cubicle, waiting for her test results. More than that, though, she wanted information on Sierra.
Finally, a doctor flitted into the room with a tablet. “Hello, Mrs. Harrington, how are you feeling?”
“Nervous. How is my stepdaughter?”
“Let’s talk about you, first, okay?”
Heat washed over her as she balled the blanket in her fist. “Is something wrong?”
“Looks like the seat belt caught you under the ribs. You’ve got some inflammation there which may be pretty painful, but no bleeds, which is the good news. Everything looks pretty good considering your history with your previous accident.”
She breathed a sigh of relief at the news as she nodded. “Good. That’s good.”
“You saved your stepdaughter’s life pulling her out of the car.”
“Is she going to be okay?”
The doctor nodded. “She is. She’s still unconscious, but given her blood-alcohol level, I’m not surprised. She also had some other drugs in her system. Do you know anything about that?”
Julia shook her head. “No.”
The doctor arched an eyebrow. “Was Ms. Harrington the driver?”
Julia swallowed hard. A DUI was the last thing they needed. She shook her head. “No. She’d had too much to drink. I was driving. There was a deer. I swerved to avoid it, but the tires caught the gravel, and I couldn’t recover.”
“You were driving?”
Julia nodded, her features pinching. “Yes.”
“Okay. I’m sure the police will be by to speak with you about it. The good news is your blood-alcohol level is clean.”
“I didn’t have anything to drink at all. That’s why I was driving.”
“Smart choice. Your stepdaughter is lucky to have you.” The doctor drummed her fingers against the tablet’s top for a second. “Also, there’s no answer at your emergency contact. Is there another number we can try? Or a secondary contact?”
Her brow furrowed as she wondered where Grant was. “Uh…try my stepson. Dr. Kyle Carter. He’s–”
“Oh, Kyle. I didn’t realize you were his stepmother. I can give him a call.”
“Thanks,” Julia said as she settled back in the bed. “And can I see Sierra?”
“I’d rather you stay put for now. Once your adrenaline wanes, you may be in some pain. Let’s get that under control first, okay?”
Julia’s shoulders slumped. “Okay.”
“She’s okay, Mrs. Harrington. I promise. I’ll give Kyle a call and let him know you’re here.”
“Thanks,” Julia said again as the doctor left her behind.
She let her head fall back against the pillow, lamenting another hospital visit. Her mind searched for a reason why Grant wouldn’t answer his phone. Was he asleep?
She sucked in a breath as she waited for news from anyone. After twenty minutes, discomfort set in with every breath. She fidgeted in the bed, trying to find a comfortable position.
A nurse flitted into the room, checking the vitals on her monitor. “You in pain?”
“Yeah, a little.”
“I’ll get you something. Dr. Benson ordered pain meds for you. I’ll bring them right in. And we also reached Dr. Carter. He’s on his way.”
“Thanks. How is Sierra?”
“I’ll check for you. I’ll be right back.”
“Thanks.” Julia’s mind whirled as she waited for the pain medication. They’d gotten a hold of Kyle, but where was Grant? Maybe they’d given up on trying to reach him once they’d reached Kyle.
The nurse returned with a report of no change in Sierra and a pill for her pain. She downed it with a gulp of water before she tugged the blanket higher and settled in to wait for relief.
Kyle raced in minutes later, perching on the edge of the bed. “Julia! Are you okay? What the hell happened?”
“Kyle, I’m fine. Where is Grant?”
“I have no idea. I asked Worthington after I got the call, and all he said was…out.”
“Out?” Her stomach twisted at the words. Where had Grant gone, and why wasn’t he answering his cell phone?
“Julia, what happened? The nurse said you were in a car accident?”
She fixed her eyes on him as she nodded. “Yes, with Sierra. Can you go check on her? Oh, and give me your phone. I need to call Grant.”
“Yeah, after you explain what happened. What were you doing in a car with Sierra at this hour? I thought you were checking on her.”
“I did,” Julia answered.
Kyle raised his eyebrows, prodding her to continue.
“You have to promise this stays between us.”
His forehead creased as he grabbed her hand. “Of course, Julia.”
She sucked in a deep breath. “I went to see Sierra. It was obvious she’d been drinking. A lot. And she said she’d taken something else, but she didn’t say what. She wanted to go out.”
Kyle slid his eyes closed as he shook his head. “Please do not tell me she got behind the wheel.”
Julia pressed her lips together with a sigh, flicking her gaze to her lap.
Kyle shook his head. “And you went with her?”
Julia nodded. “I couldn’t let her go alone. She was so upset and just determined to ruin her life.”
“She almost ruined yours. How stupid can she be?”
“She was in pain.”
“I don’t care what she was. She could have killed someone. She could have killed you!”
“She was about to pull over, but there was deer in the road. She swerved to avoid it, but she couldn’t recover. We went into the river.”
Kyle’s shoulders slumped as he let his head drop with a sigh. He cupped her face in one of his hands. “Thank God you’re okay.”
“I’m fine. Sierra is the one I’m worried about.”
“Yeah, I’d so say. She’s probably handcuffed to a bed after this.”
Julia shook her head again. “No. I…told them I was driving.”
Kyle’s face registered surprise and disappointment.
“Kyle, please. The last thing we need right now is a DUI.”
“Fine. I just…don’t agree with the constant protection of the Harringtons from themselves.”
“Hey, I protected you from yourself once, too.”
He flicked his icy blue eyes up to hers, his thumb rubbing the back of her hand. “I know. Okay, I get it.”
“Can you go check on Sierra now?”
“Yeah. And I’m also going to check on you. That’s the one thing I believe Grant about. You’ll lie about how you are so no one fusses over you.”
“I’m fine, concentrate on Sierra. And give me your phone.”
Kyle pulled his phone from his pocket and handed it to her. As he backed from the room, he said, “He won’t answer if it’s my number showing up.”
“I’ll try anyway,” she answered, already dialing Grant’s number.
The line trilled before it went to his voicemail. She slid her eyes closed, considering leaving a message, but deciding against it since it may cause confusion coming from Kyle’s phone.
Instead, she ended the call and dialed Worthington’s number.
After two rings, the man picked up the phone. “Dr. Carter, is there any word on Mrs. Harrington?”
“Worthington, it’s me. It’s Julia.”
“Mrs. Harrington! How are you? Dr. Carter said you were in the hospital?”
“Yes, but I’m fine. Sierra is also fine, more or less. I can’t get a hold of Grant. Do you know where he is?”
Silence filled the line between them. Julia’s pulse ramped up, sending the beeping that monitored her heart into a frantic pace. “Worthington?”
“Uh, I’m very sorry, Mrs. Harrington, but…”
She held her breath, waiting for him to finish the statement.
“Mr. Harrington has been arrested again…for murder.”
A cold wave of shock crashed over her, and her heart skipped a beat. A numbness spread through her limbs as she struggled to make sense of the situation and form an appropriate response, but no words came. She simply sat in stunned silence wondering how they’d get through this… again.