104.7°

US HWY A1A

Jupiter Beach, Florida

2 September, 2019

1030 am

.... Dr. Warren Grayson, Chief epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, has confirmed that Pangea has caused three hundred fourty-two fatalities in the Birmingham area, with unknown numbers continuously being infected. However, reports from Pensacola, Florida, of sixteen cases have not been confirmed.

"We are doing all we can to inhibit the spread of H3N9, but we need the public to be vigilant as well. If you..."

"Jesus Christ." With a sigh, Desiree clicked off the radio, and pushed her charging adapter into the cigarette lighter. She'd let her phone almost die waiting to get a good enough signal, but the Florida coastal road she'd decided to take had proven a dead zone. It didn't matter. There wasn't anything in the world she was going to let stop her now. No towerless area, or dead battery, or long, hot trip in an old Mustang would keep her from getting the answers he promised.

'He' was the charismatic and self made extreme sport god, Jameson M. Knight. A thrill seeker with no fear and a great head for business, he'd found a way to make his need for adrenaline extremely profitable. To Desi, however, he was always Jaime, the subject of so many envious dreams Sammy had shared with her. Many nights he'd talk for hours, explaining all the reasons why he envied Jaime so, and why he would follow his idol anywhere.

Tired from the last four hours on the road, Desi pulled into a rest stop to stretch her cramping legs, and her mind drifted back to the night before that stupid jump.

"Why, Desi?" He had said, his eyes red with hurt. "Why not be happy? This will be something so big for us-both of us."

"No, Sammy," she'd said impatiently, "this is all you. More of that same conversation. More of nothing ever being enough."

He'd sat there, staring at his shoes, rendered speechless by her blatant anger. Time and again she'd rewritten in the pages of memory what she said next. Over the last two months, that scene had changed drastically, from what was really said, to what she wished she had.

"Sammy," she said, her palms on his weathered face, "don't you see it? I love you so much, just the way you are. I love the way you sing to me at night, and hold me when I sleep. I love the way you always make me smile, even when I'm so down. I love the fact you listen, and are happy to do it."

Her lips pressed against his, softly tingling with he had felt for her. "But most of all, Sammy, I love knowing, that no matter what, you will always be there."

Such a beautiful way to express her heart. To have him see that she loved him as she always had. If she'd just swallowed her pride and said that, they would have held each other close and drifted away to sleep. Desiree Parker was a feisty one, though, and never ceded when she knew she was right.

"You know what, Sammy?" Her real words echoed through her mind, loud and painful. "When you get yourself killed tomorrow, it won't be because of me."

The coldness of her words clawed like icy fingers from deep in her stomach, and grabbed tight her heart. The crushing emptiness flowed over her again, just as it had every day since he'd been gone. Not bothering to notice if anyone could see her, nor caring if they did, she pounded her head on the steering wheel and began to cry.

The ping of her phone roused her from her despairs. Using her thumb, she opened the message and inhaled sharply, and steeled herself for the knowledge she was about to receive.

*Where are you?

*Jupiter Inlet... I think.

*Alright, cool. You're about an hour away.

*From?

*South of Highland Beach, there's a small park called Yamato's Rock. I'll be there waiting.

*Whatever, Jaime. But after we meet, forget that you ever knew me or Sammy.

*He was my best friend, Desi. And that's the only reason I'm doing this.

*Fine. Be there soon.

Yamato's Rock

2 September, 2019

135 pm

It couldn't be true, Desi thought as she pulled away from the gas pump, and back onto A1A.

Could it?

The things that Jameson had spent the last hour telling her, they didn't make sense.

Like a philosopher on the cusp of a great truth, she scoured her memory for something, anything, she could find that would confirm what he'd just told her.Then it hit her.

The day before they had their final argument, she'd asked him to get her something for one of her all too frequent migraines. Sammy had told her they had nothing, and left for the pharmacy, returning a lot quicker than she'd expected.

"I forgot, I had these in the glove box." Holding out his closed hand, he dropped the contents into hers.

"What are they?"

His eyes dropped to the floor. "Got them from Selina, the nurse at work. I was asking her about your headaches, she gave me these. Sheba said we can get them over the counter if they work for you."

The way he had kept looking everywhere but in her eyes had pinged on her B.S. radar, but she'd let it go at the time.

When she woke the next morning and saw two more on the kitchen counter, she thought he'd left them for her, though she didn't know why.They didn't do a thing for her headache.

Now, with what she'd learned today, she realized that the pills were for Sammy.

Desi felt her insides clenching, as another realization hit her like a prize fighter's fist. Sammy had been on the phone with Jaime when she woke up, and had probably left them to answer it.They had argued when he hung up, and her final jab had caused him to leave.

She didn't see Sammy again till five days after the jump, but by then, he had become I'll, and they never really talked again. Pulling off the highway into a muddy, vacant lot, Desi let the waves of despair wash over her. She wanted to hurt now. Wanted to feel every bit of emotion as it bled from her broken heart.

God she missed him, missed the way his deep blue eyes lit up when she got home. She would poke fun at him for being like a little puppy, bouncing with excitement every time she walked in the door. It used to annoy her, but she'd trade her soul to just hear his voice.

The wail of sirens, and the splash and crunching of multiple tires on the wet limerock snapped her back to the here and now. From the side and rear view mirror, Desi watched a truly chaotic scene begin playing out in the small, muddy lot.

But why were...

"Ma'am," the FHP officer shouted. He had drawn his service pistol, training its barrel in the direction of her head. "Follow my instructions, exactly. Place your left hand on the steering wheel. Now, using your right hand, switch the vehicle off."

"What's going on off....."

"Open the door with your right hand. Exit the vehicle with your back to me. Now!"

With her heart racing, and whole body shaking, Desiree did as the State Trooper instructed. She'd seen too many news reports to run her mouth or in any way not comply.

"Place your left hand behind your head. Now your right, interlacing your fingers. Good. Walk back to my voice."

Her hands on her head, she slowly walked backwards. Having seen the officer, she knew his gun was covering her every move, and that scared her enough to take every step as the most important thing she'd ever done.

Finally reaching the officer, she felt his rough hands grab hers, as he slapped the cold steel cuff around her wrist.

After locking it, and twisting her arms down to the small of her back, he secured the other wrist, and plopped her down on a small grassy hill.

"What is all this, officer," she began to yell. Desi was tired, heartbroken, confused, angry, and now scared to death.

"Anything in this purse gonna stick me? Needles, knives, anything?"

"No sir, but..."

"It's her," the officer said into his radio, as he studied the ID he'd fished from her handbag. Watching in dumbstruck confusion, her eyes followed another officer as he rooted around inside her car."Found it," the officer yelled over, as he rose from her passenger side door. Between the thumb and forefinger of his gloved hand, he held up a small pistol.

The acid burn of panic rose fast from her throat, as icy fear gripped her spine. "That is not mine!!! I have never se...."

"Desiree Parker," the officer boomed as he lifted her to her feet. "You're under arrest for the murder of Jameson Knight."