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What do I do? Run? Risk peeping inside?
The decision was made for Theodosia when a shotgun blast exploded directly over her head—BANG—nearly rupturing her eardrums. Then the man inside came flying out the back door. He was a big guy, half-dressed in a wifebeater shirt and saggy khaki pants. “Is that you, Binger?” he cried. “How many times do I gotta warn you to stay away!”
Not willing to stand her ground and try to reason with the man, Theodosia was already on the run. Flying down the length of the garage, gasping for breath as she rounded her Jeep, she pulled open the door and jumped in.
“What was that horrendous noise?” Drayton asked as Theodosia hastily cranked the engine.
“Trouble,” she said as she threw her Jeep into drive and took off, tires spinning momentarily as they spewed a mix of dirt and seashells.
But not before the man with the shotgun bolted out after her and leveled his shotgun at the back of her Jeep.
“Go!” Drayton shouted as he turned and caught sight of the wild-looking man. “Faster!”
Theodosia tromped down hard on the gas pedal. And just as she gained what she hoped was a safe distance from the gunman, another loud BOOM split the air and the back window of her Jeep blew out.
“Duck!” she cried as shards of glass exploded inward, tinkling like silver bells and flying everywhere. “Drayton, head down, cover your eyes!”
Theodosia drove like the devil himself was on her tail. Down six blocks, then a hard right, then six more blocks. Finally, she pulled over in front of a dark church.
“Are you hurt?” she asked Drayton.
“No, no,” he stammered as he brushed bits of glass off his shoulders. “I’m fine, unharmed, but what about you?”
“Good, I’m good,” Theodosia said.
“You weren’t hit by any flying glass?”
“No, I’m...” Theodosia’s right hand reached back and scrubbed at the back of her head. “I’m okay.” Then she felt something warm and wet on her scalp. “Oh wow, something stings. I think I was hit.” Her hand came away showing flecks of bright red blood.
“Turn on the overhead light and let me look.”
Theodosia obliged, parting her hair for Drayton to take a look.
“I can see a few shiny flecks caught in your hair and, I’m afraid, stuck in your scalp as well.”
“So I was hit?” she asked in a tremulous voice. This wasn’t what she’d bargained for at all.
Now Drayton sounded calm. “You have a few bits of glass embedded in your scalp. We need to get you to an ER.”
“Oh man.” Shots of adrenaline continued to surge through Theodosia’s veins, making her feel shaky and weak in the knees.
At seeing her discomfort, Drayton said, “Get out and switch seats with me. I’m going to drive.”
“You sure?”
“Oh yes.”
***
Drayton drove (slowly and cautiously) to the ER at the Charleston Medical School, then helped Theodosia out of her Jeep and into the nurse’s station. A few quick words got Theodosia into a curtained area where a nurse took her vitals and assured her that Dr. Samuels would be along shortly.
“I feel so dumb,” Theodosia said, perched on a padded table, her legs dangling. “I should have anticipated something weird like this.”
Drayton shook his head. “You couldn’t have known we’d encounter a person who was armed and dangerous.”
“Still, this is my own fault. I went bumbling in without thinking about any consequences.” As she was talking her cell phone buzzed. She glanced at it and saw it was Riley. “Oh, crap, it’s Riley.”
“Don’t answer it,” Drayton said.
