Kahle held the new baby in his arms. He wasn't sure what to do next. He couldn't chase a killer with a child in tow. Backup hadn't arrived from any of the local counties or the FBI. Gunshots continued to echo through the woods at sporadic intervals, not all were fired from a shotgun. Someone else was shooting, shooting back. He knew there were dead bodies scattered around the outside of the house. The four FBI agents had been methodically hunted by the shooter. Each of them taken out. He left Rebekah's side and began the walk back to his car. He moved slowly. He crossed the dirt lane, passing Rebekah's car and the slumped body of the final FBI agent to be shot. The dirt surrounding him was a muddy red. It looked like clay. Kahle continued his walk. He felt relief as he finally heard the distant cry of sirens racing towards him. He saw his car, parked behind the pines, fifteen yards in the distance.
"Goddammit! It's over. It's over!"
He heard the voice call out from somewhere in the woods. He turned on his heels and set out towards the house. He moved at a quicker pace now. He stepped down the lane. He passed another body of an FBI agent. He had fallen face down in the dirt. Shot from behind. Never saw it coming. His eyes shifted from the body to the house. His gaze was fixed on the front door which hung ajar. He crossed in front of the surveillance vehicle parked at the end of the front walk and proceeded toward the door.
/ / /
I stared at the lifeless form of my brother's killer for a few moments. She was likely my sister's killer as well. Justice had been served. I got my answers. I hit my target. Now that the story had ended, the pain returned to my wrist. It was slowly creeping up my arm. I lifted my head and looked back at the house. I turned one hundred eighty degrees and set off into the woods. Janie was out there. Hopefully alive. Probably dead. I knew that. I walked over fallen branches and the early shoots of spring. The ground beneath my feet was soft. The sounds of spring returned. Birds sang in the distance. Branches swayed as the wind whistled over the trees. The sun shone bright.
I had gone thirty or forty yards when I saw her. She lie face down in the leaves. Her right arm was fully outstretched. Her left was bent back and rested on the small of her back. Her right leg was also stiff and straight. The left bent slightly at the knee. I stopped a few paces before reaching her body. She was the final piece of my family. I felt the emotion catch up with my body. My arms trembled. Tears overcame me. I stepped closer to her, each step more tentative than the last. Finally, I found myself at her side. Blink. I dropped to my knees. I couldn't attempt to hold back the emotion. I leaned forward and draped my body across hers. It was like September all over again. My grief turned to happiness. Memories floated into my mind. Those feathers found a resting place. It was still and quiet. A smile broke the pane of my face. I remembered the smiles. The snowball fights. The fort among the trees. The canoe. The hunting trips with Dad. The pies Mom had backed. The trip to Jamaica. Memories flooded my mind. Memories I hadn't recalled for years. I clung to each one before it slipped away and another took its place.
I returned to my knees next to Janie's body. Blood now stained my shirt. I stared at her. A few paltry words exited my mouth.
"Rest in peace, sis. You're stronger, braver, than I."
It was only a whisper. I cleared my throat.
"Say hi to Mom and Dad for me. Tell them I'm sorry. Tell them I love them."
I rose to my feet.
"It's just me in this life. I'll see you soon, someday."
"Jake?"
He spoke from behind me. I turned slowly to face the familiar voice.
"You're not alone in this world."
The sirens were near. They would be here soon. My emotions see-sawed as I was struck with the first image of my child.
"You have your son. You have him to live for."
Kahle held him tightly in his arms. I set the gun down in leaves and he passed my son to me. I hugged him. I kissed his head. Reality jarred me. I shot a glance to Kahle.
"Rebekah?"
He reached out his hand and placed it on my shoulder.
"She stayed with me just long enough to make it through the delivery. I'm sorry Jake."
I fell to my knees again. I was torn between grief and joy. This should have been the proudest moment in my life. It was marred with tragedy and loss instead.
"I know you're overwhelmed right now Jake. But we gotta get out to the road. This little guy is gonna need a doctor. We gotta get him on an ambulance."
"Jason--"
"What about him?"
"No. Jason. His name is Jason. Jason Lyle Samuels."
Kahle paused for a moment and I could tell he was swallowing back his emotion.
"I think that's the perfect name for him."
The three of us faced the road and began the walk between the trees.
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