My phone had an alarm go off and showed the Code Black alert. This was part of the security measures Fritz had established to protect my family and friends. It was sent to anyone close to me. The alert was for use in extreme cases. If you received the alarm, you were to push a button twice to indicate if you were currently safe and get to a designated secure location as soon as possible. If you tapped only once, you were in danger, and someone was sent to wherever you were. Fritz had been worried about a kidnapping situation. He and his team could track everyone’s cell phone, smartwatch, laptop, and vehicle location. I tapped the button twice so everyone would know I was safe. Then I remembered I could have just used the app to trigger the Code Black. I was still getting used to having it and hadn’t thought about that until now.
I guess I wasn’t surprised when Brook came running into the restaurant, followed by her mom and dad.
After I introduced them to the detectives, I explained what was going on. In the middle of it all, my mom and dad called. They conferenced-in Fritz, so I had to explain everything again. Fritz confirmed the location of everyone and said he’d have security at my house soon. In the meantime, he called our local police to update them on the possible threat. Mom confirmed that a police car was in front of their house.
◊◊◊
I debated whether to cancel on the Northwestern event, but decided that I needed to do it. The governor made sure a state trooper kept an eye on me. I did my best acting job and put on a happy face. When I was done, we packed up and drove home. I let Ian drive because I wasn’t sure it was a good idea for me to drive in my state of mind.
By the time we hit our home city limits, I’d received a call that the brother and father were caught trying to board a plane out of the country. I let Fritz know.
◊◊◊
After dropping off Brook and her family, I found myself at the Pearson farm. Zoe took one look at me and put me to work mucking out stalls and putting down new straw while she did other chores. I wondered why I always seemed to get this job or washing horses. Not that I minded, but she brushed, babied, and fed them, while I did the dirty work.
It turned out to be exactly what I needed. Zoe took me for a walk when we were done, and I told her the horrible thing that had happened. She listened and then stopped.
“Let’s pray about it,” she suggested.
I bowed my head and prayed for the girl’s soul and her family and friends, then asked for forgiveness for whatever my role was in her losing her life. I felt better after the work, talking to Zoe, and praying. Somehow, she always made me feel better, more grounded after we did this. Sometimes you needed to get back to basics, talk to a friend, and put it in God’s hands.
◊◊◊ Monday February 22
Tracy, Pam, and Halle were waiting for me when I got to school.
“Are you all right?” Tracy asked.
I assumed she was talking about the alert Fritz had sent out.
“Yeah, I just wanted to make sure you were all okay. I guess, if nothing else, it was good that we tested it.”
“Did you know the girl?” Halle asked.
“No, not really. I met her for just a few minutes. She seemed nice. It was terrible, what happened,” I said.
Pam wrapped me in a hug and whispered in my ear.
“Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Yes. Like I said, I was more worried about you when the police weren’t sure if the brother and father might come after me, or people I knew.”
“It freaked me out when it went off,” Tracy admitted. “It was sort of like when you get those AMBER Alerts, but this time it was for someone I actually knew.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you,” I apologized.
“No, no, I’d rather be safe than sorry. I might have to get more pepper spray,” she said with a wink.
“You could get a Taser, like Pam has,” I offered.
“No, I like that I don’t have to get close to do damage. If Pam had my spray, she could’ve nailed Yuri several times. That boy’s fast.”
I had to laugh because Tracy had sent me a video of Pam chasing Yuri down the hall with her Taser.
“Did you practice your lines?” Halle asked, changing the subject to the school play.
I gave her a disgusted look.
“Did you even see how many lines you have?” she asked.
“How bad could it be?” I shot back.
“You’d better not make me look bad. We’re supposed to know what we’re doing,” Halle said as she put her hand on her hip.
I surrendered.
“Hey, can you take Bandit this weekend? I have to fly out to LA to do some voice-overs. He doesn’t like flying,” she said.
“Sure. Just explain to him that he can’t be a big baby.”
“If you paid him more attention, he’d be just fine.”
“Okay. I’ll make sure I take care of him.”
