Page 41 of The Catcher
As they burst out of the rear of the school, they sprinted across the yard toward a large building mostly made of glass. The sunlight glinted off the windows, casting reflections that danced across the grass.
The janitor fumbled with the keys at the door before finally opening it, and they rushed inside. The air was thick with the scent of chlorine. Noah’s heart raced as he heard the sound of water still pumping into the pool.
“I thought the pool was supposed to be drained?” Noah questioned, his brow furrowed in confusion as they approached the edge of the covered pool.
“It was. It usually takes a few days. I don’t know why it’s filling,” Wright explained.
“Get this pool cover open!” Noah commanded as he hurried around the pool, trying to peer below the opaque cover. His heart was still racing as he spotted a dark mass beneath the cover, a sinking feeling settling in his stomach. “Hurry up!”
The janitor scrambled across the room anddisappeared into a back room, re-emerging moments later. “The faucet handle is gone!” he reported, his voice panicked.
Noah knew they couldn’t afford to wait any longer. Without hesitation, he reached for his everyday carry knife. He slashed the top cover wide open and jumped into the pool. Beneath the surface, he found a few inches of space, enough for someone to keep their head above water if they could hold on to the edge or tread water. But the girl was nowhere near the edge.
Her hands were tied behind her back, rendering her unable to swim or keep herself afloat, barring using her legs. Noah’s heart sank as he saw her lifeless body floating beneath the water’s surface.
“Give me a hand,” he called out, his voice strained with emotion, as he cradled the Matthews girl and brought her to the surface. Another officer jumped in to assist him, and together, they lifted her out of the water while others hurried to drag her body back to the side of the pool.
Noah’s mind raced as he assessed her condition. Time seemed to slow as they worked to save her, their efforts fueled by a sense of urgency to bring her back from the brink. As McKenzie moved into performing CPR on the girl, Noah watched with bated breath, his heart pounding in his chest. Each second that passed felt like an eternity, the weight of the situation bearing down on them all.
“Come on, kid, come on, breathe!” McKenzie urged, his voice filled with desperation and determination.
But there was nothing. No response.
Noah felt a sense of helplessness wash over him as he watched McKenzie alternate between thirty chestcompressions and two breaths, his movements methodical and precise. Yet despite his efforts, there was still no sign of life from the girl before them.
The minutes continued to tick by, each feeling heavier than the last.
Noah stared on, his heart heavy. Before long, the distant sound of sirens could be heard approaching, growing louder with each passing moment. EMTs appeared on the scene, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness of despair.
But Noah knew, deep down, that it was too late. He had seen this before and witnessed the devastating outcome of similar situations. Memories of Alicia’s death flooded his mind, the pain of loss still fresh despite the passage of time.
“Noah. Hey, Noah!” Porter’s voice broke through his reverie, pulling him back to the present. “You okay?”
Noah nodded silently, his gaze fixed on the scene before him.
“What now?” Porter asked.
“Collect what evidence we can find and inform the parents.”
With a heavy heart, he rose to his feet, water dripping off him in cascades, a physical reminder of the futile attempt to save a life. But deep down, he knew that some battles couldn’t be won, no matter how hard they were fought.
12
Noah was met with a tumultuous scene as he returned home to his cabin beside the lake that afternoon. The weather had turned ominous, with dark clouds looming overhead and the distant rumble of thunder echoing through the air. Rain poured in torrents, whipped by strong gusts of wind rattling the trees and battering the windows.
With each step he took toward his cabin, Noah felt a heaviness settle over him, a weight that seemed to grow with each passing moment. The death of the Matthews girl had triggered painful memories of Alicia’s tragic end. It was a wound that never truly healed, a constant reminder of his failure to save her.
As he returned the truck to Ed, the older man offered him a sympathetic glance. “You missed out today. I caught some great fish. Do you want to come in? Have a drink, maybe?”
“No,” Noah replied quietly, his voice barely audible over the howling wind. “Another time.”
He turned away without a care for how it came out.
Entering his cabin, Noah found a note written by Mia on the kitchen counter. She explained that Gretchen had invited them over for supper and a sleepover, assuring him not to worry as they would be back Sunday evening. Despite the comforting words, Noah couldn’t shake the isolation that enveloped him.
Still soaked from the swimming pool, Noah went to the bathroom and showered. A rush of warm water cascaded over him, mingling with the tears that flowed freely down his cheeks — one hand against the wall. Leaning against the tiles, he closed his eyes and let memories wash over him.
The Matthews girl’s death brought back everything that he’d tried so hard to bury inside. He saw Alicia’s face, etched with pain and fear in her final moments. He heard her cries for help echoing in his mind like a haunting melody. And despite knowing deep down that he could never have saved her, Noah couldn’t shake the overwhelming sense of guilt that ate away at him.
