Over the Sirens

OVER THE SIRENS Zelda Reese TWO YEARS AGO This just in from the sheriff’s department: "In a shocking turn of events, violence rocked a quiet suburban neighborhood today. It all began with an alarming call for an injured 68-year-old female with a gunshot wound to the chest. The caller claimed to be the victim's husband and stated that he had tried to save his wife but could not. The dispatcher could hear a woman in the background and immediately sent both ambulances and police to the scene. When the SWAT team arrived, they were met with a tense situation. The suspect had taken a paramedic as a shield, making it impossible for officers to get a clear shot. The standoff lasted for 20 agonizing minutes, with the suspect refusing to let anyone leave the home until he could drive away with his wife. Body camera footage shows that the suspect informed officers that there were two victims inside in need of medical attention. After a back-and-forth with a hostage negotiator, the suspect agreed to allow the paramedic from the first truck on the scene to be taken out. However, the situation quickly escalated when an accidental firearm discharge by an anxious rookie spooked the suspect. All eyes were on the suspect, who had his finger on the trigger and was pacing back and forth. The situation seemed to near a resolution when the order was given and shots were fired. The window exploded as the incapacitated subject fell out of view. Multiple shots were fired, striking the suspect. Tragically, all three subjects were taken to the trauma hospital where the husband and wife were pronounced dead upon arrival. The entire neighborhood is in shock as they try to come to terms with the violence in their normally peaceful community. Stories about the seemingly happy couple have surfaced, leaving many to question why the husband would take such a drastic action." The department will continue investigating the incident but he states that the case is effectively closed. They have not responded for further comment. CHAPTER 1 SCARLETT "Are you willing to provide a comment?" I shouldn't have answered the phone, but I always do. "You're going to write this anyway, right? Whether or not I say anything." The person paused, which was all the answer that she needed. "There's a lot of unanswered questions, ma’am. If you could just--" "Just what? Just what, asshole? Do you want me to spill my whole life story to you? Is that what you want?" "Just verify if your father--" "Never call this number again. Got it?" "Ma’am..." I don't remember hanging up, but I'm sure that I did. The phone flew from across the bed and onto the ground. The calls from reporters and armchair detectives had escalated since the latest viral video went through the facts of the case. Everyone thought they knew what happened or that, with one more piece of information they would crack the case. There was no case to crack. My parents are dead. It didn’t matter if my father started it - that much I knew. I carried them around my neck like an albatross that I was charged with. It was those minutes of uncertainty that haunted me. Living with Molly was like a vacation from reality. To be around someone who consistently thought of no one but herself was a relief. All she wanted was to get drunk and get laid. On days like today, that’s all I could ask for. I had tried on everything in the closet but nothing fit right anymore. Each dress was from a different lifetime ago and they sagged and drooped in all the wrong places. Could I have gone shopping and gotten more? Of course. I had pushed clothes shopping to the bottom of the list of things to care about. The best I could do was the green silk mini which had been a gift from an excruciating commercial shoot. Handing over a cheap dress was the least they could do after wasting two days of my life for a product that immediately got recalled. "What're you wearing?" Molly had a voice that was always a bit too loud. In high school, it was funny but now the blaring horn of her questions gave me a headache. "All I have is the green one." "The one from those weird directors? You wore that already." "That's all I have," I said as I removed my comfortable clothing and stood before the mirror, staring at my thin frame. Before, I remembered catching glimpses of myself in store windows and feeling proud of the person I had become through determination and perseverance. Now, I don't even bother to look at my reflection because that person no longer exists. All that remains is an empty shell. Agonizing for thirty minutes in order to pick out an outfit had become the norm. Nothing ever seemed to fit me anymore. Everywhere that I went, I felt out of place. “Are you ready yet?” Molly walked straight into her room without a knock or notice. As if I was completely naked, I covered myself and positioned my body in front of the line of dresses. Molly craned her neck to see what was being hidden from her view. “Don’t wear the green one. I’m wearing green.” The contrast between the two of us was striking. Despite wearing the same clothes, she always attracted more attention. Her schedule was jam-packed with photoshoots and gym sessions with her personal trainer, whom I suspected she was also sleeping with. She perfectly styled her hair and had a body that could rival a goddess. However, her personality often left much to be desired, often coming across as irritable and rude. “Yeah, I can see that. This is the only thing that fits.” “Too bad,” Molly said. “Figure something out or I’m leaving without you.” Having known her as long as I have, I knew she wasn’t bluffing. It was