I WAS SITTING IN A private room in the maternity ward of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles with my closest friends when the call came in.
My best friend, Ean’s, wife, Dani, just gave birth to the most beautiful twin girls, Hope and Allie. They both look exactly like him, dark brown hair and bright blue eyes that already have that twinkle. The twinkle that says, “Buckle your seatbelt, Justin, you’re in for a bumpy ride.” The twinkle that I love. The twinkle that he lost after his life became a nightmare. The twinkle that I thought was gone forever.
Ean and Dani each lost their spouses in the same horrific car accident almost two years ago. Ean also lost his son and unborn daughter that day and until Dani, he was lost too. Dani put that twinkle back in Ean’s eyes and I thank God for her every single day.
When I entered the room, I gave him a slight nod which he returned because he knew exactly what I was thinking. “You made it, buddy, you survived,” I silently said, to which he responded, “Abso-fucking-lutely.”
The room was filled with laughter and joy but the call quickly shattered the joy and eliminated the laughter. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t stop shaking, I couldn’t think or speak. Ean caught my phone as it was falling out of my hands.
Austin House is on fire… An explosion…
While frozen, my mind became flooded with memories. The people who saved me…the people I saved…
And I run.
I need to be there…
I’m almost at the front entrance to the hospital when the sound of my name stops me in my tracks. I turn around and notice my girlfriend, Lysee, and Ean running towards me, followed by the rest of my friends. I want to take the time to appreciate how the people I love are always there for me but—right now—getting to the shelter is infinitely more important.
Austin House is a shelter where victims of domestic abuse seek refuge after escaping abusive relationships and misplaced teens can turn their lives around. It’s a safe haven. A place for them to get back on their feet. Austin House provides job training and skills that help the people who live there find jobs while providing in-house schooling. It’s also the place that I have dedicated my life to over the last decade.
“I have to be there!” I shout as I start moving again.
“And I’m fucking driving!” Ean shouts as he jogs to catch up with me. “You really think I’d let you face this alone?”
Ean, Lysee, and I jump into Ean’s car along with his sister, Riley, and her boyfriend, Luke. As we race to the shelter, the silence in the car is deafening, the air is thick with worry, and all I can think, over and over, is…I need to be there…
When we arrive at Austin House, it looks like a scene out of Armageddon! The street’s blocked off and flooded with red and blue flashing lights, along with about one hundred people huddled together, hovering under blankets to stave off the early fall chill. I can feel my lungs burning and realize that I haven’t taken a breath but can’t figure out how to.
At Lysee’s wail, I snap out of my impending panic attack and we jump out of the car before it has a chance to come to a complete stop.
“He’s over there!” I shout to Lysee as we race towards Jayden Jaymes, the man who owns and runs Austin House, the man who I call a friend.
“What happened?!” I call to him and when I see him up close, I gasp. Jay is very imposing and self-assured. He’s incredibly strong, both mentally and physically. Six-and-a-half-feet tall with a body made of steel. But looking at him now…I hardly recognize him. His dark skin is ashen in hue and his knowing eyes are vacant. He isn’t the man I know and I’m gutted.
“There was an explosion!” he shouts over the chaos. “We were all in the common room celebrating a birthday when suddenly the door burst open and this guy comes storming in, demanding that we release his family.” He stops at the memory and we remain silent, allowing him the time to gather his thoughts before he continues.
“We refused and he turned and ran out the door shouting that we were ‘All going to burn in hell.’ We thought that was the last of him and went back to celebrating, but not five minutes later, a bottle on fire crashed through the front window and the lobby went up in flames.”
“Jesus Christ,” Lysee mutters.
“A Molotov cocktail?” I ask, my words laced with disbelief.
“That’s what we think. Our staff quickly grabbed everybody and rushed them towards the back exit while a few of my directors and I grabbed fire extinguishers and tried to put out the fire.”
“Jesus Christ…” Now it was my turn to say it.
“Jesus Christ!” Ean says, even though he heard this all before. I hadn’t realized he was behind me.
“He’s over there.” Jay points his chin towards a man being put into the back of a cop car; head down, wrists in handcuffs. “He ran after the explosion and hid in an alley by the apartments over there.” He then throws his head in the opposite direction, towards a cluster of apartment buildings a block away.
“The cops received a complaint about a noise in the alley. They called the police and he was found cowering behind the dumpster.”
He looks up at me and our eyes meet, sending a chill throughout my entire body. Still, the only thought that crosses my mind is, you chicken-shit asshole! Any man who could ever lay a hand on a woman with the intent to cause her pain is the definition of coward and don’t even get me started on men who abuse their children.
“Jayden Jaymes?” We turn and see two men in suits approaching us. “I’m Detective Jeremy Cooper, and this is Detective Chris Wayman.” Cooper then turns to Jay and says, “We were told you’re the person who owns this shelter.” At Jay’s nod, he continues. “We’d like you to come to the station to answer some questions regarding Mr. Jones.”
“Certainly, Detective,” Jay answers and turns to me. “Justin could you please join us?”
I nod that I will. I then turn to Ean and, like I did in the hospital, I wordlessly communicate with him. This time, I’m asking him to back me up. Ean nods back, a silent affirmation that he always will.
That’s the great thing about knowing someone since you were two years old. You can have an entire conversation without uttering a single word. In this case: “Can you please come with me while I’m being questioned? I need your support,” answered with, “You know I always have your back, brother.”
He is my brother.
“Detectives, I would like Mr. Montgomery to join us,” I say after introducing myself and explaining my connection to Jay and the shelter. Ean is around the shelter almost as much as I am so I know that Jay will be okay with this.
“Is he a lawyer?” Detective Cooper asks.
“No, that would be me. Mr. Montgomery is a member of my family and like myself, he is invested in the success of this shelter and the people who live in it.”
“Very well, Mr. Sinclair. Please follow us to the station where we can talk in private,” Cooper instructs before he turns and heads to his car.
Ean quickly runs over to Riley to tell her what’s going on. A couple of times I notice her looking my way. When she sees me looking back at her, she nods and I nod in return.
Soon Ean is back at my side, like he always is. He lets me know that Riley and Luke told him they’ll find their own ride back and not to worry.
All I can do is worry.
I know I should talk to Lysee and tell her what’s going on, but I know Riley will. I also know that Lysee will be okay. She always is.
To be continued…