Survive The Fall | Book 4 | Total Collapse

doing that might make it worse,” Russell replied, studying her face.
The woman’s lids twitched. Her face scrunched in pain. She cracked open her eyes and brought her hand to the side of her head.
“Are you all right?” Russell touched her elbow.
The woman flinched, gasped, then pulled away from his hand.
Russell stepped away, and put his hands up in front of him. “It’s okay. We’re not going to hurt you.”
A naked fear lurked within her weary eyes. She glanced about the car, then out through the busted windshield in a confused and disoriented state.
“What… happened?” she asked, palming the side of her head.
“You crashed through the front of an office building in your car,” Clyde answered.
She leaned forward. The seat belt pressed against her body, restricting her movements. Her hand rubbed the back of her neck as she moved her legs. She grimaced in pain, gritted her teeth, then reached for her right knee.
“Ah, my knee,” she groaned, holding her kneecap and leaning back against the seat. “My neck hurts bad as well.”
“You may have gotten whiplash,” Russell replied, looking her over.
“Can you undo the seat belt?” Clyde asked, pointing at her hip.
“I think… so.” She kept the back of her head pressed against the headrest and reached for the buckle wedged between her and the center console. She thumbed the red button on top, but the buckle refused to give. “It’s not coming… loose.”
Smoke sifted into the car from the vents and from the opened door. The woman coughed, then placed her forearm against her mouth.
“Do you mind if I try?” Clyde asked, leaning against the roof of the vehicle.
The woman shook her head and coughed some more.
Clyde ducked, leaned inside, and reached over her waist.
Russell peered over the roof of the wreckage, watching the streets for any trouble lurking close by. He stepped away from the car and looked around the corner of the busted brick wall. “You doing okay?”
Max stood on all fours, facing the road in front of Cathy. He scanned the buildings across the street and the people who rushed down the sidewalk.
Cathy palmed her leg, then nodded. “Yeah. How is she?”
“Awake, but the seat belt is jammed,” Russell answered, pointing at the car. “We’re trying to unbuckle it. She might have whiplash and her knee is messed up.”
“Damn it,” Clyde said in a hoarse grumble. “I can’t get it loose either. It won’t budge.”
Sirens sounded and closed in fast.
Russell craned his neck and searched the stretch of road for the siren’s location.
Cathy pushed off the wall and limped toward the curb. “We need to go before the authorities show up. They’ll see my bloody jeans and want to ask questions. I don’t have time for that.”
“Hey,” Russell said, backing through the opening and turning toward the drivers’ side of the car. “We need to go, now. We’ve got sirens inbound.”
Clyde sighed, then stood from the inside of the car. “Yeah. I heard it. Thought I had the buckle undone, but it wouldn’t come out the rest of the way. Not sure what’s wrong with it.”
Russell checked on the woman. “Ma’am, the authorities are on their way and should be here any moment. We can’t get the seat belt undone.”
Her eyes closed, then cracked open. She palmed the back of her neck, but didn’t respond.
“Cage, come on,” Cathy said in a raised voice. “I see another cruiser down the street heading this way. They can handle it.”
Russell hesitated a moment longer, then backed away from the vehicle. He rushed out of the building toward Cathy and Clyde.
The flashing lights of the prowler drew closer. The vehicle was a block or two away.
Cathy turned and limped down the sidewalk with Max at her side.
Clyde walked next to the curb, watching the street and checking behind him. He offered Cathy his shoulder. She draped her arm across his neck and continued walking.
Russell rushed down the sidewalk, closing in on the others. He peered over his shoulder at the back half of the vehicle, then faced forward.
They rounded the corner of the building, moving as fast as Cathy would go. She had no desire to mess with the authorities–not until she had her daughter and knew she was safe.
The cruiser blew through the intersection at full speed and vanished beyond the blind corner of the building. Tires squealed and the blaring siren ceased.
Russell felt a bit more at ease leaving the woman with the police close at hand. They’d be able to get her out of the wreckage.
Clyde assisted Cathy down the sidewalk, helping her along the best he could.
Max walked ahead of them, sniffing the pavement and studying any odd noises that teased his ears. He’d stop, pause, and look around before continuing on.
Russell ran up alongside Cathy, glanced down at her bloody jeans, then up to her haggard face. “How much farther do we have to go?”
Cathy pursed her lips and grunted through each step she took. She leaned on Clyde the more they walked, letting him carry the brunt of her weight. “Far enough with me moving so damn slow.”
“Is anyone following us?” Clyde asked, keeping his pace matched with hers.
Russell looked over his shoulder, skimming the sidewalk and streets for any curious stares from the few people within the area. “Looks like we’re in the clear, for now.”

CHAPTER NINE
 
 
SARAH
The intruder who’d invaded her parents’ home was gone, but not forgotten.
The shards of busted glass from the French doors crunched under Sarah’s boots. The sound rattled her nerves within the dull silence. She glanced over her shoulder at the low light in the living room, searching for any movement, but spotted no figures lurking about in the shadows.
A small plank of wood leaned