The flashing lights of the ambulance lit up the dark park and drew my attention for the umpteenth time. My eyes darted to the still open doors of the van, but I couldn't see much, and my anxiety rose again. I hoped and prayed that he would survive, but the uncertainty tugged at my heartstrings and made me feel queasy.

"Can you tell me what happened, Miss Andrews?" I focused on the policeman who was staring at me with his thick moustache and beady brown eyes. He looked at me with a serious expression on his face, a notepad in his hand, ready to write down any detail I would give him.

I thought for a second, realizing that the events of the last thirty minutes had been so stressful that they were a jumbled mess in my head. But I knew my statement was important, so I bit the inside of my cheek and began to speak after I had collected my thoughts at least a little.

"I was just walking in the park, enjoying the fresh air and all that. And suddenly I heard a loud bang that echoed like crazy. At first I didn't know what was going on, but then people started screaming, running and ducking. I think it was only then that I realized it was a gunshot. As I was trying to find cover, I noticed a person on the ground lying on his back and I didn't give it a second thought, I just ran towards him and then I saw that the man had been shot."

I gestured towards the ambulance to make it clear that I meant the patient who was being treated. I swallowed and continued after my interviewer nodded encouragingly.

"I don't know really... It all happened very quickly. I don't think there was a second shot, and if there was, I didn't hear it. I just concentrated on the injured man and tried to help him. Soon other people came and told me they had called 911, and I just kept trying to stop the bleeding until the ambulance arrived."

The officer noted down my information, and my eyes immediately fell on the ambulance again. This time the paramedics closed the doors of the car and I watched as they drove away with sirens blaring. My hands were sweating so much by now that you would have thought I had just held them under a tap. In fact, I would have liked it to be the case. After all, there was blood on my hands and I couldn't wait to scrub it all off my fingers.

The uncertainty was wearing on me and I wished I could have taken a look inside the ambulance just to see if the man was still alive. At that point, I could only hope and try to think positively.

After all, you wouldn't have sirens blaring when you're transporting a dead body, would you?

"Was the victim still conscious when you helped him? Did he say anything?" I focused on the policeman again.

"Yes, well, he was conscious and talking. I don't know if he said anything to me or just babbled to himself. I couldn't understand him properly, I think he was speaking Spanish, which unfortunately I can't speak nor understand. I do think he said the name Alex... But I'm not entirely sure."

I bit my lip, because I didn't feel like I was much help. I regretted that I hadn't taken more Spanish lessons at school, making it one of the subjects I hadn't excelled at. Maybe it would have really helped me in the situation I was in, had I studied harder. In the back of my mind, I put Spanish lessons on the list of things to do in my free time. It was right between learning how to knit and cleaning out my closet.

"Don't worry, you're doing great. Did you notice which direction the shot came from?" I shook my head, because I didn't want to guess at such important things when I had no idea or actual knowledge of the path of a bullet.

"The open space of the park didn't really make it possible to determine where it came from, and thus it literally came out of nowhere. It's not like anyone was prepared to notice things like that. That was probably why everyone was running all over the place." I only received a nod in response, and before another question could be asked, we were interrupted by someone jogging towards us.

All attention turned to the newcomer, and for a moment I assumed it was one of the other officers running over. But it didn't take me even five seconds to recognize him for what he was. Damn attractive and incredibly angry, guessing from the way he had his eyebrows drawn together, and if I interpreted the murderous gleam in his eyes correctly. From that deadly stare aimed directly at the cop, I deduced pretty damn quickly that he wasn't here to play, and with that attitude, most likely wasn't an enforcer of the law either.

"Are you the one who can tell me what the hell happened here?" The tone of his voice cut through me like an icecold punch, and I saw the officer visibly swallow as well. He quickly tried to play down the instant intimidation he must have felt and cleared his throat before turning to the man and raising his thick eyebrows.

"I'm Officer Quert, and if you tell me your name and how you're involved in today's incident, we can talk right over there, but I'm indisposed right now." I watched the interaction with more interest than I should be showing in this situation, I was sure. After all, strangers were of little concern to me unless they were seriously injured. But I had a hunch, a suspicion, really, that it was possible that this man was involved in the shooting. Maybe he was the shooter and was now trying to interfere in the investigation to divert attention from himself. Anyone who was in the area was a suspect if you asked me, and especially guys who interrupted witness statements and wanted to know what was going on in a very aggressive way.

"I'm pretty sure my cousin just got gunned down, so excuse me if I don't want to waste any fucking time." I watched as the dark-haired man tried to control his emotions and not completely lose it, which obviously wasn't easy for him. But if it really was his cousin who had been shot, I could understand his reaction. Maybe he wasn't a suspect after all and instead just a worried and upset relative.

My internal research came to an abrupt halt when I noticed my cell phone ringing in my small purse. I dared to take a look at it, as the attention was no longer on me anyway. Despite the size of my bag, it took me an embarrassingly long time to find my phone and I was surprised when the caller was persistent enough not to hang up after such a long wait. I had an idea who was calling me so insistently, though, and when I finally pulled out my phone and looked at the caller ID, my suspicions were confirmed.

After a quick glance up to see if I had been perceived again, and seeing the two men staring intently at each other and not caring about me at all, I took a step back and answered the call.

"Where the hell are you, Mary? We've been waiting for you for over an hour. I've been standing outside freezing my balls off waiting for you." My darling sister's lovely voice and gentle, caring words boomed through the speaker before I even had a chance to greet her. Typical behavior, I'd say.

"I'm going to tell Benny you said balls and then you have to pay the cookie tax!"

Taken out of context, I guess my words were.... interesting. Perhaps a little unsettling too, so outsiders probably wondered if my brain was still fully functioning.

At least it seemed that way, because suddenly two very confused faces were staring at me.

I bit my lip in embarrassment and tried to find a way to defuse the situation, but I was unable to. How was anyone supposed to recover from interrupting the police's work in a shooting with the word "balls"? Sheepishly, I cleared my throat.

"Sorry, my sister's on the phone, she's been worried. I hope that's not a problem?" The policeman scrutinized my pleading look and my hopefully innocent-looking posture and finally nodded slightly.

"Thank you, I'll take care of it quickly."

With that promise, I turned away and ducked a little closer to the phone, as if that would make me invisible.

"Brit, this is a really bad time. I'm in the park, and there's been a shooting, and I hopefully just saved someone's life, and shit is hitting the fan here."

The words came out of my mouth at the speed of light and I barely understood them myself. If I hadn't formed these thoughts myself, I probably would have had trouble interpreting them. But Brit and I shared such a close sibling bond - we'd grown up together and she knew me well enough, so of course she understood everything I threw at her straight away.

"Speak a little faster and maybe I'll understand the gibberish you're spouting, little sister."

Or maybe not.

What was the point of this close relationship between siblings if not to understand each other's nonsense and finish each other's sentences?

I didn't let my disappointment show and tried again, this time louder and clearer.

"I said the shit hit the fan in the park and I just stopped a guy from bleeding to death, so it's really uncalled for and frankly undeserved to berate me right now. I could let it slide though, because you didn't and can't know that I witnessed a crime. Apologize later!"

Brit definitely answered something, I could hear her voice in my ear. What I heard even more clearly was the clearing of someone's throat behind me. And that was reason enough to ignore my sister. I cautiously turned around and found myself - surprise! - looking at two faces that regarded me as if I no longer had all my wits about me.

I should have considered accepting donations at this point, after all, people were looking at me like I was a piece of art in a museum and the rent was due, so a tip would be welcome. But I knew it wasn't the right time for my silly little thoughts, especially when I saw the less than pleased look on the officer's face, so I tried to smile and got a blank stare in return.

"Brit, I'll call you right back." My last words to my sister before I hung up and shuffled back to the police man. I'd rather take the risk that my sister would tear me apart later after I'd hung up on her so ruthlessly than incur even greater displeasure from a police officer.

"I'm really sorry about that, family can be hard, you know."

"I'd say there are more pressing matters at the moment, Miss Andrews."

I pressed my lips together and nodded in agreement. He was right, of course, and I understood the gravity of the situation I was in. But honestly, I was glad I could distract myself. As a nurse, trauma and injuries of any kind were an unavoidable occurrence, but seeing a patient being admitted to the hospital and being in the middle of a crime scene with a gunshot victim, were two very different things.

However, I would have to deal with the consequences and the possible need for therapy later.

The officer exhaled loudly, scanned his notes and glanced briefly at the victim's supposed cousin. Then he looked back at me.

"Ms. Andrews, I don't believe I have any more questions for you at this time. But please be prepared to be called to the station over the next few days to make an official statement. And if you remember anything else from today, call me or come to the precinct immediately."

The officer handed me his card and I glanced at it briefly before nodding in agreement.

"I'll do that. Thank you. Can I go now?"
"Yes, we've taken down your details, so you're dismissed."

A sigh of relief escaped my lips and I gave the officer a parting smile. However, before I could leave the scene and try to forget the events of the last few hours, my eyes caught on the dark-haired man.

He practically fixed me with his gaze and a shiver ran down my spine. I couldn't say why I reacted like that, whether it was fear, disgust or coincidence. Perhaps my subconscious and my human instincts were confused by being stared by a complete stranger for no reason.

Whatever it was, it made me uncomfortable, and without trying, I felt my facial muscles tighten in revulsion.

Creepy.

Finally, I turned around and jogged away. At the same time, I dialed my sister's number, and it didn't even take two rings for her to pick up.

"You said shit twice, and my son is going to hear about it, so get ready to pay the cookie tax as well!"

"I knew you understood me the first time!"

***

Question of the day: Do you think you would administer first aid if you came across an injured person?

xx Mika