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s placed on her forehead。
The crowd thickened and the street was busy。 Sirens； she heard sirens as she came around。 There was a knot on the back of her head； and a coldness on her face。 Her mouth was dry。 〃Thomas。 Thomas；〃 she repeated。
〃It's okay； it's okay；〃 said a black face just above her。 He was carefully holding her head and patting her arm。 Other faces stared downward。 They all nodded in agreement。 〃It's okay。〃
The sirens were screaming now。 She gently removed the cloth； and her eyes focused。 There were red and blue lights flashing from the street。 The sirens were deafening。 She sat up。 They leaned her against the building beneath the neon beer signs。 They eased away； watching her carefully。
〃You all right； miss？〃 asked the black man。
She couldn't answer。 Didn't try to。 Her head was broken。 〃Where is Thomas？〃 she asked； looking at the crack in the sidewalk。
They looked at each other。 The first fire truck screamed to a halt twenty feet away； and the crowd parted。 Firemen jumped and scrambled in all directions。
〃Where is Thomas？〃 she repeated。
〃Miss； who is Thomas？〃 asked the black man。
〃Thomas Callahan；〃 she said softly； as if everyone knew him。
〃Was he in that car？〃
She nodded； then closed her eyes。 The sirens wailed and died； and in between she heard the shouts of anxious men； and the popping of the fire。 She could smell the burning。
The second and third fire trucks came blaring in from different directions。 A cop shoved his way through the crowd。 〃Police。 Outta the way。 Police。〃 He pushed and shoved until he found her。 He fell to his knees and waved a badge under her nose。 〃Ma'am； Sergeant Rupert； NOPD。〃
Darby heard this but thought nothing of it。 He was in her face； this Rupert with bushy hair； a baseball cap； black and gold Saints jacket。 She stared blankly at him。
〃Is that your car； ma'am？ Someone said it was your car。〃
She shook her head。 No。
Rupert was grabbing her elbows and pulling up。 He was talking to her； asking if she was all right； and at the same time pulling her up and it hurt like hell。 The head was fractured； split； busted； and she was in shock but what did this moron care。 She was on her feet。 The knees wouldn't lock； and she was limp。 He kept asking if she was all right。 The black man looked at Rupert as if he was crazy。
There； the legs worked now； and she and Rupert were walking through the crowd； behind a fire truck； around another one to an unmarked cop car。 She lowered her head and refused to look at the parking lot。 Rupert chatted incessantly。 Something about an ambulance。 He opened the front door and gingerly placed her in the passenger's seat。
Another cop squatted in the door and started asking questions。 He wore jeans and cowboy boots with pointed toes。 Darby leaned forward and placed her head in her hands。I think I need help；〃 she said。
〃Sure； lady。 Help's on the way。 Just a coupla questions。 What's your name？〃
〃Darby Shaw。 I think I'm in shock。 I'm very dizzy； and I think I need to throw up。〃
〃The ambulance is on the way。 Is that your car over there？〃
〃No。〃
Another cop car； one with decals and words and lights； squealed to a stop in front of Rupert's。 Rupert disappeared for a moment。 The cowboy cop suddenly closed her door； and she was all alone in the car。 She leaned forward and vomited between her legs。 She started crying。 She was cold。 She slowly laid her head on the driver's seat； and curled into a knot。 Silence。 Then darkness。
* * *
SOMEONE WAS KNOCKING on the window above her。 She opened her eyes； and the man wore a uniform and a hat with a badge on it。 The door was locked。
〃Open the door； lady！〃 he yelled。
She sat up and opened the door。 〃Are you drunk； lady？〃
The head was pounding。 〃No；〃 she said desperately。
He opened the door wider。 〃Is this your car？〃
She rubbed her eyes。 She had to think。
〃Lady； is this your car？〃
〃No！〃 She glared at him。 〃No。 It's Rupert's。〃
〃Okay。 Who the hell is Rupert？〃
There was one fire truck left and most of the crowd was gone。 This man in the door was obviously a cop。 〃Sergeant Rupert。 One of you guys；〃 she said。
This made him mad。 〃Get outta the car； lady。〃
Gladly。 Darby crawled out on the passenger's side； and stood on the sidewalk。 In the distance； a solitary fireman hosed down the burnt frame of the Porsche。
Another cop in a uniform joined him and they met her on the sidewalk。
The first cop asked； 〃What's your name？〃
〃Darby Shaw。〃
〃Why were you passed out in the car？〃
She looked at the car。 〃I don't know。 I got hurt and Rupert put me in the car。 Where's Rupert？〃
The cops looked at each other。 〃Who the hell's Rupert？〃 the first cop asked。
This made her mad and the anger cleared away the cobwebs。
〃Rupert said he was a cop。〃
The second cop asked； 〃How'd you get hurt？〃
Darby glared at him。 She pointed to the parking lot across the street。 〃I was supposed to be in that car over there。 But I wasn't； so I'm here； listening to your stupid questions。 Where's Rupert？〃
They looked blankly at each other。 The first cop said； 〃Stay here；〃 and he walked across the street to another cop car where a man in a suit was talking to a small group。 They whispered； then the first cop and the man in the suit walked back to the sidewalk where Darby waited。 The man in the suit said； 〃I'm Lieutenant Olson； New Orleans PD。 Did you know the man in the car？〃 He pointed to the parking lot。
The knees went weak； and she bit her lip。 She nodded。
〃What's his name？〃
〃Thomas Callahan。〃
Olson looked at the first cop。 〃That's what the puter said。 Now； who's this Rupert？〃
Darby screamed； 〃He said he was a cop！〃
Olson looked sympathetic。 〃I'm sorry。 There's no cop named Rupert。〃
She was sobbing loudly。 Olson helped her to the hood of Rupert's car； and held her shoulders while the crying subsided and she fought to regain control。
〃Check the plates；〃 Olson told the second cop； who quickly scribbled down the tag number from Rupert's car and called it in。
Olson gently held both her shoulders with his hands and looked at her eyes。 〃Were you with Callahan？〃
She nodded； still crying but much quieter。 Olson glanced at the first cop。
〃How did you get in this car？〃 Olson asked slowly and softly。
She wiped her eyes with her finger and stared at Olson。 〃This guy Rupert； who said he was a cop； came and got me from over there； and brought me over here。 He put me in the car； and this other cop with cowboy boots starting asking questions。 Another cop car pulled up； and they left。 Then I guess I passed out。 I don't know。 I would like to see a doctor。〃
〃Get my car；〃 Olson said to the first cop。
〃The second cop was ba