Cursed Fate

Captain Rowe walked me out of the police station. ‘Don’t worry, the law’s on your side.’ He shook my hand. ‘Thank you.’ I was about to get into the waiting police car when I saw a familiar ambulance pull up. The door at the back opened. Four nurses clad in white uniforms carried out a stretcher covered by a white sheet. I swayed on my feet. I couldn’t help but stare at the stretcher. I knew who was lying on it. I overheard two officers talking earlier. Claire was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body was being transferred to the city morgue, where a medical examiner was waiting to conduct an autopsy. I started chasing after the stretcher. ‘Let’s go.’ A policewoman grabbed my arm. Gently but firmly, she guided me into the back of the police car. During the ride, she kept her eyes on the front and pretended not to notice I was weeping silently. Kieran was in the emergency room, getting treated for the multiple injuries he sustained. The doctor had put him on an IV drip and given him sed