Page 15 of Roma King
“Hey! Who are you? Where’s Corey? What the fuck have you done with him?” My entire being is vibrating with fury, but I sound like I’m about to cry. My mother told me from an early age that I was a true Celt. Her mother immigrated from Ireland in the sixties, my father’s parents from Wales earlier, in the twenties. Thanks to their combined DNA, I have pure Celtic fire for blood, and my temper is legendary. I can go from calm to apocalyptic in five seconds flat, but people often make the mistake of misjudging me: when I’m angry,beyondangry, I usually burst into tears. That is where I’m at right now.
“I swear to god, if he’s hurt… Just do the right thing. Take him back home,” I hiss. “You’ve no idea the damage you’re doing.”
“Can you look out of the window for me, sweetheart?”I hear myself ask.“Can you see if there’s a big white ambulance pulling up outside your house?”
“Um...I’ll see.”There’s a rustling. A banging. A clattering. I remember there being some sort of commotion when I spoke to Corey, but it seems louder now. Closer somehow. I hold the phone with two hands, frustration leaving the bitterest of tastes on my tongue. I want to scream and shout. I want to tell him to get the hell out of there, but it won’t help. It’s too late. The time for warnings has passed.
“I can’t see anything,”Corey says softly.“I don’t think anyone is coming to help.”
My heart shatters.
“They are, sweetheart, I promise. You just need to hang tight, okay?”
“Wait. I think…there might be someone coming now. I think there’s a car coming.”
“Does it have lights on it, Corey? Is it big, like a van? You’ve seen an ambulance before, haven’t you?”
“Yes. I’ve seen one. The men came to help Momma when she broke her arm.”
“That’s great, sweetie. And does it look the same? The car?”
“Mmm. Yes, I think so. It’s white. I see a man now.”
“You’re sure you can’t open the door for him, Corey?”
“No, it’s…I can’t reach the handle. It’s too high up. And I think you need…to press some buttons.”
“Okay, baby. Don’t worry. The men are there to help you now. They’ll be able to get in. They’re going to help you and your brother, okay? You can trust them.”
“Okay. I’ll wait in the hallway. I can see the man through the glass.”
“That’s great, sweetheart. Just be careful, though. They might need to smash the glass to get in. We don’t want you getting hurt, okay?”
“Okay.”
More banging. More scuffling, and then loud, abrasive thumping. At the time, I’d thought it was the EMTs arriving on the scene, but Detective Holmes said the door was wide open when the ambulance crew arrived. Now, with every unbearably loud crashing sound, I feel like I’m about to jump straight out of my skin.
“Are they inside now, sweetheart?”the recorded version of me asks.
“Nearly. There’s a hole in the door.”
“Okay, won’t be long, Corey. Just keep being brave, okay? You’re doing so well.”
“I’m…I’m a bit scared.”He’d whispered the words as if he were confiding in me.
“That’s okay. You’re allowed to be a bit scared. This is a bit of a scary situation, but I’m so impressed, Corey.You’re being very strong. I bet your mom and dad are going to be so proud of you.”
“Really?”Hope colors his voice, as if pride isn’t something he’s used to inspiring in his parents.
“I sure do.”
An ear-splitting crash echoes on the other end of the line: the door is giving way. I slowly close my eyes, knowing what’s coming next. I’m dreading the moment, but there’s no stopping it.
“He’s inside,”Corey says quietly.
My response makes me shiver violently; my insides are made of ice.
“Good, sweetheart. Okay, now go with the men. They know what to do. You can hang up the phone now. It’s okay, they’re gonna take really good care of you. You can trust them.”
