Chapter 29
CHAPTER 29
NOAH BARRETT
A n hour later, I’m sitting in my squad car by the bridge that comes into Willow Shade Island, clocking the cars as they appear. It’s a great place to snag speeders who don’t pay attention to the slowdown to thirty-five miles-per-hour.
As I clock traffic, my thoughts turn to Savannah. Things are going well. Our relationship is headed in the right direction. She’s changed. She’s more open, and I think she’s finally seeing me as more than a friend.
I close my eyes and remember how it felt to have her in my arms. To kiss her, not as a fake kiss, but to really show her what she means to me. This is the beginning of something great, I can tell. My emotions surge as I think about getting to see her again tomorrow before my shift.
My radio crackles and dispatch comes through with a domestic disturbance involving a woman with a knife. The address she gives makes my blood run cold. It’s my family’s house. I flip on my lights, jerk my car into drive, and turn around, stomping on the gas.
I race to my house, parking in the long circular drive. I throw open the door and rush inside. Courtney is standing in the living room, a knife pointed at her own neck. She’s wearing a white sundress and high heels. She jerks around to look at me, standing in the entryway, her eyes wild. “Don’t come any closer!” she yells, her hand out toward me.
Tobias stands in the middle of the living room under the chandelier, his arms out wide, shielding Keira, Kiki and Skyler who are cowering on the sofa. Keira has her hands over her ears, her legs pulled up. Kiki’s arms are wrapped around Skyler, and she’s cradling her to her chest. Skyler’s face is buried in Kiki’s shoulder.
I scan the area for Savannah, and I see her by the grand staircase, Levi and Micah both standing in front of her, and I’m instantly thankful my brothers are instinctively protecting her. Cricket stands by the kitchen, her phone in her hand, and it looks like she’s filming Courtney.
“I’ll do it,” Courtney says, the knife pricking the skin on her neck. A thin line of blood runs down her neck and stains her white dress. “Back off!”
My heart races as I assess the threat level. Courtney is unhinged, but she’s not threatening anyone else at the moment. Everyone is standing a safe distance away from her. Situations like this can turn on a dime, but right now, Courtney is the only one in danger. I put my hands out so she knows I’m not going to come at her with a weapon.
“Hey Courtney,” I say, talking to her in a soothing voice. My priority is to calm her down. I need to de-escalate the situation. “It’s all right. I’m just here to talk to you.”
Courtney’s gaze bounces back to Tobias. Her bright red fingernails shine in contrast to her skin, white with the force of her grip on the knife. “I don’t understand. All I want is our family back. Can’t you see? I love you.”
“I know you’re hurting,” I say, trying to get Courtney to focus on me. “But this isn’t the answer. Set down the knife and we can talk.”
“No!” Courtney yells, and Skyler whimpers. Kiki smooths her hair and murmurs softly in her ear. Courtney jerks back to facing me. The knife presses deeper into her neck, the skin dipping in with the pressure. “I want Tobias back. I’m ready now. I was too young before.”
“I understand. And I can hear how much pain you’re in.” I take a tentative step forward. Courtney either doesn’t care or doesn’t notice. Her body trembles as she gulps in air.
“Yes,” Courtney says, turning back to Tobias. “I am in pain. I miss what we had.”
“Can you take a deep breath for me? Focus on me, Courtney. We’re going to work through this.”
She looks at me. “I just want him to listen.”
“We’re all listening,” I say. “Now, take a deep breath.”
Courtney inhales, and I relax a little. She’s listening. That’s a good sign. “Let it out slowly,” I say.
She closes her eyes and lets out a breath.
“Good. Now why don’t you set the knife down so we can talk?”
Courtney shakes her head. “No. He said he wasn’t in love with me anymore.”
“I know how painful that can be,” I say, telling the truth. “It must feel overwhelming.”
She nods. “Yes.”
“It’s okay. Even though you’re feeling overwhelmed right now, it will get better. You can talk to me about it.”
“I just don’t know what to do. No one understands.” She hesitates, lowering the knife a little. More blood stains her dress.
“That’s good, Courtney. Drop the knife.” I take another step toward her as I see her calming down.
Tears spring to her eyes, and her arms fall to her sides. “I messed this up, didn’t I?”
I move closer. “Why don’t you set the knife on the floor? You don’t want to scare anyone, do you?”
Courtney’s gaze flicks to Skyler, and she balks. “Okay.” She releases the knife, and it clatters to the floor.
I kick the knife a safe distance away and I keep talking to Courtney in a soothing voice. “Are you feeling lightheaded? How about we go outside to get some fresh air?”
I convince Courtney to step outside with me. Officer Monroe pulls up in his squad car as I’m talking to her. Courtney agrees to be seen by paramedics, and I radio it in. The ambulance comes quickly, and we get her situated inside.
Relief floods over me as I head back inside my family’s house to get the knife for evidence. Kiki hugs me as I enter, tears in her eyes. “Thank you for coming so quickly. You were amazing.”
“No problem.” I bag the knife for evidence and give it to Officer Monroe. He takes it to his car.
Savannah rushes up to me. “I can’t believe she barged in like that. You were so calm.”
I pull her into my arms. “I’m glad she didn’t hurt anyone.” My throat tightens as I stare into her eyes. “I don’t know what I would have done.”
“You did a great job.” She blinks back moisture.
I hug her to my chest until I feel her trembling subside. “It’s okay now. She’s gone.”
Tobias comes to my side. “Can we file a restraining order now?”
I nod. “Yeah. We can. The hospital will be able to assess her mental health and get her the help she needs now.”
Tobias nods. “Thanks, bro.”
As I leave my family’s house, I take in a deep breath. I knew Courtney was not in her right mind, but I had no idea she was teetering on the verge of catastrophe.