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taking the kids considering he was the
one who stole them in the first place. What grounds do they have?”
    “I think the words you’re looking for is obstruction of
justice . If it comes right down to it, they could prosecute me for
interfering with their investigation.”
    “Are you serious? They can’t do that!”
    “They most certainly can.”
    “But you did their job for them.”
    “Sheriff Hudson might not see it that way. Up until now he’s
never had a reason to arrest me, but this is a different story. This could be
his chance to throw me in jail and make it stick, if he wants to. I’m a private
investigator; I know all about the law. I know the difference between right and
wrong. But I also know that they don’t usually prosecute on those grounds
unless you…”
    “Unless what?”
    “…cause harm or death by your actions.”
    “Please don’t tell me that,” I said. “I think I’m going to be
sick. This whole situation just keeps getting worse.”
    Billy could see that I was getting upset. He reached over and
placed his hand on mine. “I’m getting ahead of myself. I’m starting to act just
like you. I’m letting my imagination run wild. The sheriff doesn’t even know I
was involved, but when he finds out, I’m sure he’ll thank me.”
    “That was a good one!” I replied. “Billy, you’re such a bad
liar. I thought it was second nature for private eyes to lie.”
    “We do our best.”
    After that statement, Billy and I rode in silence until we
reached the Ruckersville intersection. The light turned red as we approached.
    “The silence is killing me,” I said. “What is it that you’re
not telling me? I know you’re keeping something from me, Billy. You have that
weird look on your face... the kind you get when you don’t want to tell me
something because you don’t think I can handle it. But I can handle anything
you throw my way. Tell me before I go crazy.”
    “As I said, my imagination was beginning to get the best of
me. I know how things can seem so simple and then turn into a major disaster.
I’m a little concerned about that phone call from the sheriff’s department.”
    “See, I knew I should’ve answered the phone!” I hissed. I
looked over at Billy and saw his eyebrow go up… a sure sign that something was
bothering him. “Should we stop at the sheriff’s office first?”
    “And invite trouble? I don’t think so! No, we’ll go to your
mom’s house as planned. If there’s anything terribly wrong, we’ll find out
then. At least it’ll give us a head’s up if there’s a problem. I’m sure it’s
nothing.”
    “It better be nothing! My baby’s father is not going to jail!
Be honest with me, Billy. Do you think anything will come of this? You did the
right thing, but will Sheriff Hudson see it that way?”
    The light turned green before Billy had a chance to answer.
As he drove through the intersection, the last thing I remember seeing was a
big yellow dump truck heading straight for us. The rest was a blur.

Chapter 4
    The crash pounded in my ears at first, and then I could
barely hear anything at all. I kept fading in and out as the rescue workers
placed me in the ambulance. Billy was by my side, holding my hand and telling
me over and over that everything was okay as he held a blood-soaked rag against
his head. Finally, overwhelmed by the pain, I closed my eyes and succumbed to
the darkness.
    “I’m sorry, Mrs. Watson,” I heard a familiar voice say.
“We’ll just have to wait and see.”
    “Wait and see about what?” I mumbled as I tried to open my
eyes. The soft light over the hospital bed cast shadows on the wall of an
otherwise dark room. “Where am I?”
    I was having a difficult time remembering all the details,
but I knew one thing for sure—Billy and I had been in an automobile accident. I
didn’t know how bad the accident had been, but it must have been serious,
because I hurt all over. My arm felt restricted as I tried to move. I