Page 34 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
Somebody’s car had flipped over into the ditch on the other side of the road. I saw the patch of black ice in time to slow down. I slid across it without trouble and picked up traction on the other side. I pulled over and put my car in park. I called nine-one-one as I leapt out of the car and rushed across the street.
The grass along the sides of the ditch was slick with frost. I slid down and braced myself on the side of the car with my boots on the frame. The dispatcher answered.
“Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency?”
“There’s been a car accident at the intersection of Kensworth and one-oh-sixth. A car has flipped over in the ditch.”
“Are there people inside? Are they okay?”
“I’m checking now.”
“All right, sir. I have responders en route to you now. Please tell me what you see.”
I had to scale down the side of the car a little farther. It was a silver Honda Civic. “The roof is submerged in the water. It’s not high enough to be a drowning threat.” I balanced precariously on the frame. If I slid, I might get stuck between the car and the slippery walls of the ditch, and then I’d be useless to the people inside. “I don’t know how they’ll get them out of the car.”
“I have fire and ambulance dispatched. Don’t worry, sir. It’s their job. They’ll know what to do when they get there. Can you see inside? How many passengers are there? Are there any children in the vehicle?”
“Hold on. I have to put the phone down.”
“I’ll be here,” the dispatcher said.
I put my phone in my pocket and crouched down. The car creaked beneath me. “Fuck,” I growled, lowering myself farther until I could peer in through the passenger window.
When I saw the mess inside the car, my heart stopped.
“No,” I breathed.
Panic engulfed me for a good five seconds, and I furiously tried to wrench the door open to get to Lina and Kelli, who were both unconscious and hanging upside down in their seatbelts. Unconscious, or worse.
The door was held shut by the steep walls of the ditch. There was no way I could get them out on my own. Even if I could, I’d be unclipping their seatbelts to send them head first into about half a foot of ice-cold water.
I knew I couldn’t touch them. If they had a neck or a spine injury… No. I couldn’t think about that right now.
With a shaking hand, I pulled my phone back out of my pocket. “There are two women in the car. I can’t get to them. I think they’re unconscious. I know them both.”
“What are their names?”
“Lina Nelson and Kelli Rollins,” I said.
“Do they have family in the area?”
“Uh, fuck. Yeah. Kelli does. A mother. I don’t know her name.”
“We will worry about that, sir. May I get your name?”
“Callum Gabriel.”
“Thank you, Callum. Help is only a minute away. You should be able to hear the sirens soon. Are you somewhere safe?”
“I’m on the car.”
“When the responders get there, they will need you clear of the area. When you hear the sirens, I need you to stand clear, all right?”
“But I—”
“Sir.” Her voice was stern but calming. “I know you know these women, but you’ve done all you can for them by calling me tonight. You understand? You have to let the professionals work. You will only get in their way.”
“I understand,” I said. My tongue was thick in my mouth, and my voice sounded hollow.
