Kaitlynn and her two children

The night air hit Kaitlynn's face like a splash of cold water, clearing the last of the cobwebs from her mind. She dragged Dwayne's unconscious body down the rotting porch steps, his boots leaving furrows in the dirt. Dawn stood on the porch, hugging herself, shivering in the cool night air. "Kaitlynn, please. You can't just-I'm family. I'm your sister-in-law." Kaitlynn dropped Dwayne's leg next to the rusted Ford pickup parked in the yard. "Help me get him in the back." "Wh-what?" "You heard me." Kaitlynn didn't look at her. "Lift his shoulders." Dawn hesitated, but the look in Kaitlynn's eyes sent a fresh wave of terror through her. She scurried down the steps, grabbing Dwayne under the arms. Together, they heaved the heavy man into the truck bed. He landed with a dull thud. Kaitlynn climbed up on the tire, reaching into Dwayne's pockets. She found the keys. Then, her fingers brushed against something small and plastic in his shirt pocket. She pulled it out. A small baggie filled with white powder. She recognized it instantly-cheaply manufactured methamphetamine. She pocketed the keys, then shoved the baggie back into Dwayne's shirt pocket, making sure it was visible. "Get in," Kaitlynn ordered, pointing to the truck bed. Dawn's eyes widened. "No! Kaitlynn, you can't leave me out here with him!" "You didn't seem to mind being his partner a few minutes ago." Kaitlynn stepped closer, her voice dropping. "Get in, or I'll put you in the ground right next to him." Dawn scrambled over the side of the truck, crying softly. Kaitlynn slammed the tailgate shut, latching it securely. The lock was rusty, but it held. She walked back into the house. Cason was still unconscious on the floor, his breathing steady. Paige hadn't moved from her spot by the closet. Kaitlynn gathered Cason into her arms. He was lighter than he should be, his bones prominent under his skin. She held him close, feeling the faint beat of his heart against her chest. "Come on, Paige," she said softly. "Hold my hand." Paige slipped her tiny hand into Kaitlynn's. Her grip was tight, desperate. Kaitlynn carried Cason out the back door, avoiding the front yard where the truck sat. She walked toward the edge of the property, where the old oak tree marked the boundary with the Henderson farm. It was the highest point on the property-the only place with a cell signal. She set Cason down gently on the grass, keeping Paige close. She pulled Dwayne's phone from her pocket. It was a cheap burner, untraceable. She dialed 911. "Nine-one-one, what's your emergency?" Kaitlynn pitched her voice lower, adding a slight tremor, mimicking the accent she'd heard Dawn use. "H-hello? Yeah, I need to report somethin'. I was drivin' past the Richmond farm on Route 9, and I saw that Dwayne Sutkowski's truck parked out front. He looked like he was tryin' to break in... and I think there was a woman with him. I think they're tryin' to hurt the widow." "Ma'am, can you identify yourself?" Kaitlynn hung up. She popped the back off the phone, removed the battery and the SIM card, and tossed the pieces into the drainage ditch beside the road. She picked Cason up again, taking Paige's hand. "We have to walk, baby. Can you be brave for me?" Paige nodded, wiping her nose on her sleeve. They took the narrow footpath that wound through the woods, away from the main road. It was slower, harder walking in the dark, but it kept them hidden. About twenty minutes later, the distant wail of sirens pierced the night. Red and blue lights flashed through the trees, heading in the direction of the farmhouse. The police were faster than she'd expected. Kaitlynn stepped out onto the main road, just as a sheriff's cruiser flew past. She waited until it was out of sight, then adjusted Cason in her arms. She took a deep breath, centering herself. She let her shoulders slump. She let her face crumple. She forced her breathing to become shallow and ragged, mimicking panic. She walked toward the town square, where the clinic was located. A few early risers were already out, heading to the diner or the feed store. They stopped and stared at the sight of the battered widow carrying her bleeding son. "Oh my lord, Kaitlynn!" Martha, the postmistress, rushed over. "What happened?" Kaitlynn looked at her with wide, tear-filled eyes. "He hurt my baby," she whispered, her voice cracking. "He hurt my boy." She didn't stop to answer any more questions. She walked past the staring faces, feeding their gossip, cementing her role as the victim. By the time the sun came up, the whole town would know that Dwayne Sutkowski had attacked the Richmond widow. She reached the clinic. The door was locked, the lights off. Dr. Brennan lived in the apartment above. Kaitlynn shifted Cason's weight to one hip. She drew back her foot and kicked the door with all her strength. The lock rattled, the glass pane shaking in its frame. "Doctor!" she screamed, her voice raw with feigned terror. "Help me! Please, help my son!"