Chapter 90 Confronted with the Truth
“You’re just saying that!” Josh yelled. “You’re trying to make me jealous.”
“No, I’m not,” Emily said, trying to project a calmness in her voice that she didn’t truly feel.
There was no one around. Emily had hoped at least the presence of a bystander might make Josh lower his gun for fear of attracting attention, but no people came.
She reached for her phone, this time more decisively.
“Don’t do it!” Josh warned.
She pulled the phone out of her handbag. “I don’t believe you’ll shoot me,” she said with more confidence than she felt. But she was tired of being the victim. This had to end now. “I’m calling the police.”
“No!”
Emily half expected him to shoot her, but instead Josh pointed the gun at his own temple.
She was about to dial the number, but she paused, not wanting to set him off.
“Josh, don’t do that,” she said, “You’re freaking me out.”
“What do you care if I live or die?” he shouted.
Finally a couple of people showed up in a distant row of the parkade. Emily hoped they had heard the commotion and were going to call the police.
“I told you, I care,” she said. “I know what it’s like to feel lonely, to feel like no one will ever love you. I’ve felt that way before. But I’m in a loving relationship now. And if it can happen for me, it can happen for you too. So don’t do anything foolish like ending your life before it’s over.”
“What am I supposed to do now?” he asked. His breathing came in shallow, rapid puffs.
“Put down the gun, and I’ll put down my phone. I won’t call the police. Let’s just talk. I think if you got some professional help, you’ll be able to get over me and get on with your life.”
“Talk with a shrink? Yeah right, I’m not crazy.”
“I’m not saying you are crazy,” Emily replied, “We all need to talk to someone once in a while. Please.”
“I guess shooting myself would be pretty crazy,” Josh said with a nervous laugh. He didn’t put the gun away, but he lowered his arm, the gun pointing at the ground.
Suddenly, Fred came sailing through the air from behind one of the parked cars and tackled Josh with impressive force. They both fell to the ground, and Josh dropped the gun.
Emily grabbed for the weapon while the two men rolled around fighting. She put it down as soon as she saw a police car roll up to the scene, sirens blaring. She didn’t want to be thought of as the perpetrator.
The police officers seemed to know what was happening, and they went straight for Josh, breaking up the fight. In a matter of seconds, Josh was handcuffed and led away with a resigned look on his face.
Emily went over to Fred, who was helped up by a police officer.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“I’m fine,” Fred panted, though his face was covered in bruises and abrasions. “I got a few good hits in there.”
“You came to my rescue,” Emily said. She felt guilty now for doubting Fred.
“Sorry it took so long. I didn’t want to risk him firing a shot at you. I called the police as soon as I spotted him.”
“That explains how they arrived so quickly. Thank you, Fred. You were amazing!”
Fred looked extremely happy, despite his beat up appearance. “They should put him away for a long while this time,” he said, “Assault with a deadly weapon is a serious charge that usually involves a prison sentence of several years.”
Emily hadn’t even thought that far ahead yet, feeling too shaken but relieved to be alive.
The police officers wrapped her and Fred in blankets to counteract the shock of the experience. They each made a statement describing what happened, and soon they were able to go home.
Fred accompanied her back to the house, and they waited for Byron to got home so Fred could give him the full report.
Feeling completely exhausted, Emily went to the bedroom and fell into a deep doze. She was woken up by the sound of voices. It sounded like Byron was yelling at someone in the other room, and the dogs were barking.
She quickly remembered everything that happened and tottered into the living room, feeling a bit lightheaded from her nap.
"Please don't be angry with Fred," she said, when she saw Byron standing in the living room arguing with his security man. "He did exactly the right thing."
Byron enveloped her in a tight hug as soon as he saw her. "I'm not angry with Fred," he said, "I'm angry with that psycho stalker."
"I've been trying to talk him out of confronting Josh," Fred said.
"I need to give him a talking to," Byron said, clenching his fist, "I'll go to the police station and bribe every cop if I have to until they let me see him."
"Can you tell him that would be insane?" Fred pleaded.
"Yes, yes it would," Emily said. "Look, it's over. I know you wish you could have been there to help me, but it all ended up okay."
"This is not okay," Byron exclaimed, "What makes him think he can pull a gun on you?"
"The justice system will take care of it," Emily said, "And you'll do more harm than good by threatening Josh."
Her words seemed to have persuaded him, but Byron seemed to be barely holding on to his temper, judging by his clenched jaw. "I was going to do a lot more than threaten him," he admitted. "But maybe you're right."
It took a bit longer for Byron to cool down, and only then Fred felt it was okay for him to go home.
"Thanks again for saving me," Emily said with an amiable smile even though she still felt shaken.
"Thank you for being there, Fred." Byron shook his hand. "I always knew I could count on you."
"It's all part of my job," Fred replied, but he swallowed hard as if trying to keep his emotions in check.
