The State Patrol cruiser stopped behind Mayson’s vehicle and the officer got out, walking to the edge of the road, sweeping his flashlight beam before him.
He looked into the ditch at the wrecked car, but didn’t go down. He seemed to be scanning the banks and bottom of the ditch rather than the car.
He was a big man with broad, square shoulders and muscular arms that challenged the seams of his uniform. His nametag read ‘Davis’. As Mayson watched him, shadows flickered on his face to the time of the traffic light and the cruiser’s strobes.
Something cold slipped down her spine, as unexpected as it was sudden. He had switched his attention to her, and now his face was almost completely in shadow.
“Careful…careful…”
A picture flashed through Mayson’s mind; a terrified woman with bloody face and hands. She held her hands up, palms out, pleading…
The voice and the vision collided in Mayson’s head and she staggered, nearly tumbling into the ditch.
The trooper caught her, snatching her upper arm before she tumbled back down into the ditch. There was nothing solicitous about his grip. His large hand almost completely encircled her bicep, and she knew she’d have bruises.
Mayson’s phone rang. Startled, she fumbled in her pocket, aware that the trooper was starting to pull her away from the ditch… and away from her SUV. She finally grabbed the cell phone, tapped the answer button and put it to her ear.
“May?”
“Lori.” The hand on her arm let go. That and Lori’s voice gave her sudden relief that chased the coldness from her body.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes, the State Patrol is here—” Mayson broke off as she turned to look at the trooper.
He was gone.
NaNoWriMo 2015
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