think youre doing parked in front of my center?
Celia!
Images of the riots on TV flashed in my mind. All of SFPD would be downtown. Was there anyone available to respond to a 9-1-1 call?
Celias knee crashed into my face and she seemed to be pushing me back or was I retreating?
Lauries face filled my mind and I swung the diaper bag as hard as I could into Celias side. She blocked my blow, grabbing the bag out of my hands and pushing me into the birthing center. I landed on the cool marble floor, out of breath and in pain. She threw the bag at me.
Kenny!
Kenny was on his way!
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Celias leg move back, gaining momentum for another kick. I rolled out of the way. Her miss only served to infuriate her further; she came at me and drew her leg back for another swipe. This time I was ready. As her leg swung forward, I grabbed it and pulled her off balance.
She struck the floor hard and I scrambled to my feet.
Could I make it out the door and back to the van?
Celia screamed and pushed herself up as I sprinted toward the door. She hurled herself at me, yelling obscenities.
When would Kenny be here?
Fifteen minutes at least. My cell phone was on the street. I had no backup. No weapon, no nothing.
Celia was punching at me and I was scrambling as best as I could to get out of her way.
The cops are on their way, I bluffed.
Liar! she screamed, knocking into me and throwing me off balance. Youre going to ruin everything!
I fell to the floor. This time she came with me, landing on top of me hard and knocking the wind out of me.
She put her knee between my shoulder blades and pinned my arms behind my hand. You should have stayed out of it, she said.
Adrenaline shot through me and suddenly I was so furious that I wrung my arms out of her grip and launched myself to my feet. She fell back, momentarily stunned.
Fury boiled up inside me and I flung myself down on herwrestler stylescreaming, You killed that woman in Miami and took her baby. You sold her baby! You killed her and sold her baby!
Celia pushed at me repeatedly. Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!
Thats how you got the money for this remodel!
She shoved me into the reception console. A packet that had been on top of the counter went flying. My eyes followed it as it landed on the floor. Patches. It was a bunch of medicine patches.
Her face contorted. And Im going to kill you! she spat. Just like I killed her! She dove for the package.
The patches.
The drug had been on the nicotine patches. It had never been in a drink. Celia hadnt needed to be present in order to poison Helene!
Animal instinct overtook me. I pressed against the counter and propelled myself forward through the air, landing on top of her. I pounded my fist into her face. Blood poured from her nose.
You broke my nose! she screamed.
My face was wet and I realized I was crying. You were following me the other day! Your yellow VW bug. You almost crashed into me!
My hand stung and my body ached, but I wasnt weeping from the physical pain. I was weeping for fear of my life and grief for the lives lost at the hands of this woman.
Celia twisted to the side and knocked me off her. She scrambled to reach the patches.
I reached the packet before her. You killed Helene with the patches and you tried to pin it on Bruce by poisoning yourself!
She slammed her elbow into my side. The packet flew out of my hands as I tried to defend myself against another onslaught.
Celia punched at my face screaming, Youre damn right I killed her. She was backing out. First she wanted Evelyns baby then she didnt.
Evelyn!
She punched at me again, this time landing a blow to the side of my head.
My vision blurred.
After all I went through to get things arranged for her, Celia spat. Then she falls in love with that stupid foot docwants his kids instead. And what? Im supposed to be left high and dry? No. Plenty of buyers for that baby. And like Im going to let her turn me in?
She pushed at me. I blocked her.
I heard a voice coming from the birth room.
I had to get to Evelyn. The woman in