On Monday, I spend the first part of the morning in my studio working on several paintings, including Jamie’s. Then, as the shop is closed, I take advantage of my free time to catch an Uber ride downtown to do a little shopping. Christmas is just weeks away now, and I want to pick up some gifts for my parents, and for Chloe.

After browsing a few of my favorite shops, I find myself at the entrance to Clancy’s Bookshop – one of my favorite downtown spots.

There’s a strong security presence at the main entrance, which is something new. I don’t remember ever seeing an armed security guard posted at the doors. But inside, the atmosphere is festive with all the colorful holiday displays and the seasonal music playing on the sound system.

I’m browsing a rack of calendars, looking for something for my dad, when I hear someone call my name.

“Molly?”

I turn, surprised to see a familiar face. The pretty blonde. “Oh, hi. You’re Jamie’s sister-in-law. Beth, right?”

“Right. Well, almost sister-in-law. Shane and I aren’t getting married for a couple weeks yet, but the truth is, I already feel like his family is my family.”

“That’s nice.” I smile at her. “I don’t have much family, so I envy you. I know Jamie has a big family. I’ve seen his brothers and friends stopping by since he moved in. I think I’ve seen a sister, too. A petite blonde?”

Beth nods. “That’s Lia. And there are two more sisters. So, what brings you in today? Is there anything I can help you find?”

“You work here?”

“Yes. Actually, I own this store.”

That takes me completely by surprise. “You’re kidding? It’s a small world then. Clancy’s my home-away-from home. I love this place.”

Speak of the devil, Lia walks up behind Beth and bumps her hip, a big grin on her face. “Hey, princess.”

Right behind Lia is an incredibly good-looking guy wearing a gray knit cap and dark sunglasses, dressed in a black leather jacket and distressed jeans.

Beth confers with the couple for a moment, discussing lunch plans. Then she introduces us. “Lia, this is Jamie’s neighbor, Molly.”

“Hey,” Lia says, giving me the once over. “How’s it going?”

“Great, thanks. I’ve seen you a couple of times in my apartment building. My apartment’s on the second floor, next to Jamie’s.”

Her eyes light up. “Oh, you’re that Molly – the one Jamie can’t stop talking about.” She offers me her hand. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Jamie’s cool sister.”

She says this with such a straight face, I can’t help laughing. I like her already.

“And this is Jonah Locke, Lia’s boyfriend,” Beth says.

Jonah Locke? Holy cow! The name and the face register then, and I realize I’m talking to a real-life rock-and-roll celebrity. I can feel my face heating up. “Nice to meet you,” I say, trying not to gush like a teenaged fan girl. “I have quite a few of your songs on my favorites playlist.”

Jonah offers me his hand, and we shake. “Nice to meet you too.”

“Why don’t you join us for lunch?” Lia says. “Do you like Mexican food?”

“Absolutely! If you’re sure you don’t mind.” I glance at Beth, trying to gauge her feelings on the matter. “I don’t want to impose.”

“Hey, the more, the merrier,” Lia says. “Besides, any friend of Jamie’s is a friend of ours.”

A red-haired hunk who’d been lurking in the background comes forward. “Don’t forget me!” He elbows Beth. “Let’s go get your purse and coat. I’m starving.”

“Don’t mind him. That’s Sam – Beth’s bodyguard,” Lia explains, as she catches me watching the redhead follow Beth up the staircase.

Beth has a bodyguard? Why does she need a bodyguard?

A few minutes later, Beth and Sam return, and the five of us head out. The restaurant’s just ten minutes away, Lia explains, so we’ll walk.

We hadn’t gone more than a few blocks from the bookstore when all hell breaks loose. Everything happens so quickly, I can’t even make sense of it all. Just as we’re crossing an intersection, a car comes barreling around the corner, and it’s obvious it won’t stop in time to miss the pedestrians in the street. Beth is directly in the path of the car, and I scream out a desperate warning. She would surely have been run down if Sam hadn’t shoved her out of the way, sending her flying across the rough pavement. She lands on her hands and knees, rocking forward, and just barely avoids hitting her head on the road.

“Beth!” I scream. I run to her and drop down beside her to assess her injuries. Her palms and knees are covered in blood, abraded with tiny bits of gravel and broken glass. “Are you all right?”

She wavers unsteadily on her hands and knees, and I encourage her to sit before she topples over.

Sam’s not so lucky. He must have been hit head on and thrown across the street directly into a lamppost. There’s blood on the lamppost and Sam’s lying like a lump of clay on the ground. Even from where I’m crouching beside Beth, I can see that Sam’s left femur is at an unnatural angle. Clearly, his leg is broken. But what’s far more worrisome is the bloody gash across his forehead. His face is coated with blood. He’s not moving. Oh, my God, is he…? My stomach roils.

Beth catches sight of Sam and lets out a frantic scream.

“Beth, stay down,” I tell her when she tries to get to her feet. I press my hands on her shoulders to coax her back down. “You’re bleeding.”

“Sam’s hurt!” she cries, pointing in his direction.

My attention is momentarily diverted by the sound of angry shouts and gunfire. It looks like Lia shot out the back tires on the car that hit Sam.

“Get out of the fucking car!” Lia shouts, as she points a black handgun at the driver’s window of the car that hit Sam. “Get out and put your hands up, now!”

Jonah’s in the middle of the street trying to control traffic. “I called 911,” he yells to Lia.

“Call Shane!” Lia yells back at him.

Crowds of curious gawkers gather on all corners of the intersection. It’s utter chaos, with people milling about, and traffic at a dead stop. Angry motorists, many of whom probably don’t realize that someone’s been hit, start yelling and honking. Lia’s holding the driver of the vehicle at gunpoint, threatening to shoot him right through the car window if he so much as moves a muscle.

I glance down at Beth, whose face is deathly pale. I think she’s going into shock. “Beth?”

She glances up at me, her tearful eyes wide, but she says nothing. Then her gaze returns to Sam’s lifeless body, and she cries out in agony before leaning over to retch. We both watch in horrified anticipation as a man leans down to press his fingers to Sam’s throat as he searches for a pulse. His stoic expression tells us nothing. We honestly don’t know if Sam’s alive or not.

“Go to Sam,” Beth gasps, her voice barely audible. “Please! I’m fine. Help Sam!”

I’m torn, loathe to leave Beth sitting alone out here in the middle of the street with all these cars. But Jonah’s doing an effective job at blocking traffic. Lia has now dragged the driver out of his vehicle and has him pinned against the side of the car, his hands behind his back. I watch as she secures his wrists with a long plastic zip-tie.

Just as I honor Beth’s request and go check on Sam, Beth passes out, slumping to the ground. Jonah runs to her and crouches on the ground beside her.

“Is she okay?” Lia yells to Jonah.

Jonah takes off his jacket and lays it beneath Beth’s head, protecting her from the hard ground. “I think she passed out.”

When I reach Sam’s side, the stranger kneeling beside him is still checking Sam’s pulse.

“Is he alive?” I ask, my voice quavering.

The air is rent with the sound of shrill sirens speeding to our location.

“He has a pulse,” the man says, “but it’s weak.”

We both glance down at the spreading pool of blood beneath Sam’s head.

“Head injuries bleed a lot, you know,” the man says. “At least he’s alive.”

* * *

Three patrol cars arrive almost simultaneously, boxing in the chaotic scene in the intersection. One of the officers takes over directing traffic. Another takes custody of the driver from Lia.

A moment later, two emergency squads and a fire truck arrive. I stand back, my arms wrapped around my torso as I watch the EMTs tending to both Beth and Sam. One team of EMTs places Beth on a stretcher and loads her into an ambulance. Another team is carefully assessing Sam.

Lia climbs up into the ambulance with Beth. She looks right at me as the ambulance doors are shutting. “Call Jamie!”

It takes longer for the second team of EMTs to stabilize Sam and get him transferred to a stretcher and loaded into the remaining ambulance. Jonah climbs in with him.

I’m pulling out my phone even before the ambulances have pulled away. Jamie answers on the second ring, and it’s difficult for me to hear him over the noise of the car horns and the sirens.

His voice is instantly sharp and to the point. “Molly? What’s wrong?”

I finally lose my composure and give in to tears. “There’s been an accident. Beth is hurt, but I don’t think her injuries are life threatening. But Sam – he was hit by a car. He’s alive, but he’s hurt badly. He hit his head hard, and there’s a lot of blood.”

“Where are you?” he asks. He sounds a little breathless now, as if he’s on the move.

“Downtown, a couple of blocks from Clancy’s. I’ll grab a cab and come get you. You’ll need help navigating the hospital.”

“I’ll be waiting for you out front.”