Chapter 227 Car Accident
Elizabeth handed the keys to Louis with a sigh of relief. She was wiped out and didn't want to push herself any further.
Pearl and Nolan were strapped into their car seats in the back, looking just as tired as she felt after a long day of play.
Elizabeth turned to them and said, "You two should take a nap. We'll be home by the time you wake up."
Louis glanced over at her. "Elizabeth, you should get some rest too."
Meanwhile, after paying her respects to her mom, Nancy left the cemetery and hailed a cab to head back.
The cab was winding its way down a mountain road when suddenly, a huge truck came barreling towards them.
The road was narrow, and the taxi had no choice but to pull over to the side. But the truck didn't slow down; it seemed to speed up, heading straight for them.
Back in the Range Rover, Elizabeth was scrolling through her contacts on her phone.
"I'll call your grandma to see if she's home yet. Maybe we need to pick her up," she said.
Pearl piped up, "Mom, call her quick! I haven't seen Grandma all day. I miss her so much. I want to hear her voice!"
Elizabeth smiled and said, "Okay." She dialed the number, and when the call connected, she asked, "Mom, where are you? Are you home yet? We're on our way. Do you need us to pick you up?"
A strange male voice answered, "Hello, Miss. This is Austin Roberts, Captain of the Evergreen City Traffic Police Second Unit. The person you are calling has been in a serious car accident. If you are a family member, please come to the middle section of Vast Mountain winding road as soon as possible."
Elizabeth froze, unable to speak.
Louis noticed her sudden change in demeanor and quickly pulled over, taking the phone from her.
The call was still ongoing, and Austin was asking, "Miss, are you there?"
Louis calmly responded, "Hello. Can you tell me what happened?"
Austin explained, "There was a serious car accident in the middle section of the Vast Mountain winding road. A large truck collided with a taxi, causing severe injuries to the driver and passenger in the taxi. Their vital signs are weak. We are trying to verify the identities of the injured and contact their families. If you can, please come as soon as possible."
Louis put down the phone and immediately started the car again.
He drove while calmly instructing Elizabeth, "Elizabeth, call Dean right away. If he hasn't been drinking, have him drive out. We'll meet him at the highway entrance. Tell him to drive safely."
With trembling hands, Elizabeth called Dean.
When the call connected, Dean's relaxed voice came through, "Hey, Elizabeth, how was your day? Are you coming back soon? Nancy hasn't come home yet either."
Elizabeth said, "Dean, if you haven't been drinking, drive out right now. We'll meet at the highway entrance. Drive carefully."
Louis continued, "Elizabeth, tell Dean that after we meet, he should take your car and drive the kids back to Whispering Pines Estates. Your car has child safety seats, and I doubt his does. Then we'll take his car to the scene to see Mrs. Jones."
Elizabeth nodded mechanically and repeated, "Dean, after we meet, take my car and drive Pearl and Nolan home. I'll take your car. Your car doesn't have child safety seats."
Dean's tone shifted, sensing something was wrong. He stood up from the couch, frowning. "Elizabeth, did something happen? Are you crying?"
Elizabeth was on the verge of breaking down. "Dean, listen, if you haven't been drinking, drive out right now..."
She lowered her head, choking up, unable to continue.
Dean's voice was urgent. "Okay! Elizabeth! Don't worry! I haven't been drinking. I'm heading out right now. Turn on your phone's location. I'm on my way."
He quickly put on his shoes, grabbed his keys, and headed out.
Daniel called out to him, "Dean! What's going on? Do you need me to come with you?"
Dean thought for a second and said, "Alright. Let's go together. It's good to have someone with me."
He quickly got in the car, started it, and tossed his phone to Daniel. "Help me turn on the navigation and follow Elizabeth's location."
The yellow Porsche sped down the road like a cheetah.
In the Range Rover, Louis spoke in a calm and steady tone, "Elizabeth, take a sip of water. Don't get too anxious. Let's first see how Mrs. Jones is doing."
Pearl asked worriedly from the back seat, "Mom, did something happen to Grandma?"
Nolan held her hand tightly.
Elizabeth wiped her tears and turned around. "Dean will come to pick you up soon. You two go home with him. Louis and I will go see your grandma."
Pearl started crying. "I miss Grandma! I want to see Grandma!"
Elizabeth leaned her head against the seat back, tears streaming down her face.
She blamed herself for not accompanying Nancy to go back to her hometown.
If Nancy hadn't taken that taxi, this wouldn't have happened!
Nolan held Pearl's hand. "Pearl, don't cry. Don't make things harder for Mom. We'll go home first. Mom will bring Grandma back. We just need to wait at home."
Pearl stopped crying and sniffled. "Really?"
Nolan had already heard Elizabeth's phone call.
He held back his grief and worry, comforting Pearl. "Of course. Kids should do what kids are supposed to do. We'll just go home with Dean and wait for Mom and Grandma."
Elizabeth looked at the road ahead through her tear-filled eyes.
She thought, 'Why is this road so long? Why does it seem endless? Why did I come to such a distant amusement park? Why didn't I call Mom earlier to pick her up?'
After a while, they arrived at the meeting point.
Elizabeth told the kids, "Go home with Dean. Eat well and sleep well."
Nolan and Pearl looked at her with concern.
Louis helped Elizabeth into Dean's Porsche.
She suddenly stuck her head out and shouted to Dean, "Dean! Drive slowly! Be careful!"
Dean nodded to her. He and Daniel drove off in the Range Rover.
Louis drove, speeding towards the accident site with Elizabeth.
By the time they arrived at the accident scene, it was completely dark.
Elizabeth stumbled out of the car and rushed into the police cordon like a madwoman.
Under the streetlights, Nancy lay quietly on a stretcher, covered in blood.
A police officer stood beside her and said to Elizabeth in a solemn voice, "Miss, please accept our condolences. The injured has no vital signs."
Elizabeth fell to her knees beside Nancy.
Her hands trembled as she wanted to touch Nancy's face.
Nancy, who usually loved cleanliness, now had a dirty face.
But Elizabeth didn't dare to touch her.
Nancy's face and body were covered in wounds and blood, making Elizabeth afraid of hurting her.
She held her hands out, not knowing where to place them.
Elizabeth's tears fell in large drops.
She gently called out to Nancy's body, "Mom, wake up. Mom, it's cold outside. You can't sleep here. Mom, get up and come home with me."
Nancy didn't move.
Elizabeth leaned close to her ear, "Mom, I'm hungry. It's so dark. I haven't eaten yet. I'm Elizabeth. Mom, don't you care about me?"
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