39. Iris
Iris
T he pain never comes.
Footsteps crunch on the gravel driveway around me, and strong hands lift me from where I sit on the front porch.
‘You’re okay, Iris,’ a voice says. ‘You’re safe.’
When I finally dare to open my eyes, I’m being placed in the front seat of a police car. My arm burns and blood trickles down my hand and fingers. I groan in pain.
‘Ma’am, I’m Inspector Wyatt. Paramedics are on the way. You have a graze from a bullet but you’re going to be fine.’
I nod and my head feels woozy from the blood loss.
‘I’ve been working with your husband.’
‘Is-is-is he okay?’
‘Sam’s fine. Your information led us to two locations, and he was at the other one, which is all clear.’
‘And…’ A sob tears through me, and I glance over at the house. ‘Are they dead?’
‘Matteas is dead. Gregor was shot but it’s not life-threatening. He’s under arrest and will be questioned once he gets the all clear.’
‘Did you find Eva and Archie?’
The Inspector narrows his eyes at me. ‘The house has been cleared. Should they be here?’
‘Yes. They’ve been here almost the whole time I have.’
My heart starts to race. We need to find her. She’s as evil as her husband, she can’t get away with it, and she can’t get away with that poor boy.
The Inspector’s radio comes to life.
‘Shots fired on the driveway into Orlando Estate.’ It’s a male voice, but the static makes it impossible to recognise.
I jump out of the car to my feet and immediately the world spins. I feel the blood flow thicker down my arm.
The Inspector puts an arm around my waist, careful to avoid my bad shoulder and guides me back into the front seat of the car. ‘Iris, you need to stay seated and not panic.’
Easier said than done. That could be my husband down there, only metres down the road, and in trouble while we sit here doing nothing.
‘I need backup immediately and an ambulance,’ the voice on the radio says. ‘Female victim, bullet wound to the right shoulder.’
My breaths come quickly, and I burst into tears. ‘That’s h-h-him,’ I say between sobs. ‘It’s Sam. You need to go help him.’ I try to steady my breathing, but it’s no use. Pain and panic are thrashing around my body and making me shake violently.
Everything’s a blur, but amidst the panic, there are already officers racing down the driveway away from the property. They’re responding to Sam’s call. Please let him be okay.
Inspector Wyatt removes his jacket and wraps it around me, gently rubbing my good arm. ‘Help is coming, Iris. You’re okay.’