Just before I got out of sight, there was an explosion and a ball of fire shot into the sky. So, the fire must have reached the gas tank of the car. As soon as I hit the main highway, I sped up without passing a soul for 10 mi. An hour and a half later, I pulled into the little mom-and-pop motel I was staying at and went into my room. Then the shakes hit, as well as the regrets.
I'd killed three people and was responsible for the death of my wife. I didn't sleep the rest of the night, but when dawn broke, I showered, walked to the diner next door, and managed a small breakfast. The farmer was surprised to find me in the field so early, and I told him I discovered I already had the part in the truck. 2 Hours later, it was up and running, and I watched for half an hour to see if it was going to hold up. I knew it would be bad, but it was still a shock.
All that was left of my home were two chimneys and a third of my back porch wall. The cops, the coroner, and people who showed no uniform, but had cop written all over them, watched me pull up. One deputy walked up slowly. I'd gone to school with Hal. We'd got drunk together for the first time when we were 16, double-dated, and I was even an usher at his wedding.
"What the hell happened?" "I'm sorry, dude. It was almost gone when we got here, and there was nothing the fire department could do." he replied. "Where's Angie?" I asked. He put his hand on my shoulder. "She was inside.
We're waiting for the hot spots to go away, so we can recover the bodies." "Bodies?" I asked shockingly. "Yeah, she wasn't alone. At least three more. And before you ask, we have no idea what's going on, he replied. I looked past him, noticing the two burned-out husks in the front and two more behind in what was the living room.
It all caught up with me. The deaths, the betrayal, being awake for 40 hours straight, and I passed out. I came to on a gurney with an IV in my arm. The EMTs were also friends. It was hard not to know everyone in a small community, and Sherry put her hand on my chest.
Lay still, honey. You went into shock, so we're taking you to the hospital for observation, and they'll probably keep you overnight. What happened? I asked. Sherry grimaced.
I don't know. We've never worked a scene like this, and I hope I never do again. The only reason we were here to start with was to haul the bodies to the morgue. She realized what she had said and put her hand to her mouth. I'm so sorry, Johnny.