Jessie did as she was instructed. She was breathing heavily and her right arm felt like it was about to fall off. But Karen looked worse off. Her eyes were opening and closing slowly as if she might pass out.

Mind if I hold that for you? Jessie asked.

Karen glanced over at her, her eyes cloudy.

Thats probably a good idea, she said.

Jessie stepped toward her, taking the gun with one hand as she eased Karen back with the other. Her right forearm had a massive gash in it. Jessie thought she saw bone. She wanted to attend to the wound but couldnt do anything until Gilliard was secure. So she did all she could for now. Pointing Karens gun at Oscar-winning actor Paul Gilliard, she yelled as loud as she could.

Here! Were in here!

*

Jessie almost enjoyed the ambulance ride.

This was the rare time that shed been in one where she wasnt the one being attended to. Though her head hurt and she was told shed need a CT scan at the hospital, the EMT was pretty sure she didnt have a concussion. So she was able to sit beside Karen and offer moral support.

The detective had been stabilized. She had an IV in one arm. The other arm, where shed been stabbed, was heavily bandaged. Shed need surgery at the hospital. But for now she was doped up on pain meds and smiling woozily.

Somewhere behind them, Jasper Otis and Paul Gilliard were in their own ambulances. Otis had lost a lot of blood and was still unconscious, but he would survive. Gilliard would eventually recover too, maybe in time for his trial. But it wouldnt be easy.

Theyd later learn that his diagnosed injuries included a fractured vertebrae in his lower back, facial lacerations, and, most surprisingly to the doctors, a broken arm. Apparently Jessie had punched him so hard and so often in the same place that the bone had cracked.

Jessie was just allowing herself to close her eyes for a moment when her phone rang. She looked at the screen but didnt recognize the number. Deciding this wasnt the time to be cautious, she answered it.

Jessie Hunt, she said.

Ms. Hunt, this is Officer Marie Gattis. I was assigned your sister, Hannah.

Is she okay? Jessie demanded immediately.

Shes fine, Gattis assured her quickly. But we did have a little excitement.

What does that mean? Jessie asked, trying not to lose her cool.

Shes with me now. Ill let her fill you in on the details. But the gist is that multiple arrests have been made, including Richard Rico Carter. Were en route to the station so Hannah can provide a statement.

Regarding what?

When the response came it wasnt from Gattis.

Jessie, we did it! Hannah shouted through the phone.

Please, Jessie begged. Someone tell me what is going on before I completely lose it.