Chapter 98
Chapter 98
A crisp voice rang out across the precinct lobby. Jessica looked up to see one of the new recruits who'd joined alongside her—Scarlett Lewis.
With her hair pulled back in a sharp ponytail, Scarlett radiated energy and confidence.
Jessica noticed she was heading toward the exit. "You're... going somewhere?"
Scarlett's eyes crinkled with a warm smile. "Jessica, I'm heading out on a call."
Jessica nodded. "Be careful out there."
"I'll treat you to dinner when I get back," Scarlett promised cheerfully.
Jessica couldn't help but smile. "Deal. But I need to get going myself, I'm heading to Main Street. There's some big event today, and patrol's been pulled in to help traffic control."
"Then you'd better hurry! Stay safe!"
Jessica nodded and turned toward the equipment room. Her mind was still fixed on transferring the money to Michael after her shift. With the money in hand, she felt lighter on her feet, her steps almost buoyant.
Main Street was Autumnleaf District's busiest commercial strip. Today, one of the shopping centers was celebrating its anniversary, and the crowds had swelled to capacity.
Jessica stood at the intersection in her reflective vest, assisting traffic officers with the crush of vehicles and pedestrians.
The early winter wind, laced with exhaust fumes, left her cheeks dry and stinging.
As noon approached, traffic hit its peak. The light turned green, and pedestrians hurried across the crosswalk in waves.
Jessica stood by the median, her gaze sharp and vigilant as she scanned the scene.
That's when she spotted her—an elderly woman with silver hair, leaning heavily on a cane as she shuffled onto the crosswalk.
The woman wore a deep crimson suit beneath an impeccably tailored cashmere coat. A diamond bracelet glittered on her wrist, the kind that screamed wealth and privilege.
But she moved painfully slowly, her steps unsteady. The green light was down to its last few seconds, and she'd barely made it to the center of the road.
A black SUV making a right turn found its path blocked. The driver, clearly irritated, laid on the horn. The blaring sound cut through the street noise like a knife.
Hannah had already been struggling to stay upright. The sudden blast startled her badly. Her foot twisted beneath her.
With a cry, Hannah's ankle gave out completely. She collapsed onto the crosswalk, her cane clattering away across the pavement.
The light turned red.
Traffic from both directions surged forward like stampeding horses. The lead vehicles hadn't noticed the elderly woman sitting directly in their blind spot.
"Watch out!"
Jessica's pupils dilated. Her heart leapt into her throat. Without a moment's hesitation, she bolted forward like an arrow released from a bow.
"Stop! Everyone stop!"
She screamed at the top of her lungs while throwing her arms wide, using her own body as a shield in front of Hannah.
The screech of brakes tore through the intersection. Tires left scorched black streaks across the asphalt.
The lead SUV skidded to a halt less than two feet from Jessica. The driver, drenched in cold sweat, leaned out his window ready to unleash a tirade—until he met Jessica's ice-cold stare and registered her crisp police uniform. He swallowed his curses whole.
The traffic officer rushed over, quickly halting the flow of cars behind them.
Jessica exhaled shakily, her back soaked through with cold sweat. She crouched down immediately, steadying Hannah's shoulders with gentle hands.
"Ma'am, are you alright? Are you hurt?"
Hannah was still trembling, her face drained of color. She gripped Jessica's arm tightly, taking several long moments to catch her breath.
"Oh dear, my foot... my ankle hurts terribly." Hannah sucked in sharp breaths through clenched teeth, pointing at her right ankle, which was already swelling visibly.
Jessica glanced down. Hannah's ankle had ballooned to nearly twice its normal size.
From the look of it, this wasn't just a simple sprain. There could be bone damage.
"Don't move. I'm taking you to the hospital." Jessica made the call instantly.
She briefed her fellow officer quickly, then flagged down a taxi and carefully helped Hannah into the back seat, heading straight for the nearest district hospital.
In the emergency room, the doctor performed a thorough examination and diagnosed a hairline fracture in Hannah's ankle. She'd need a cast.
Hannah sat in a wheelchair, watching Jessica dart back and forth—registering her, handling payment, picking up prescriptions. Her eyes filled with gratitude and warmth.
"Officer, I can't thank you enough. If you hadn't been there, I could have been seriously hurt." Hannah clasped Jessica's hand, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
"Please, it was my duty." Jessica smiled gently, tucking the medication into a bag. "Ma'am, it's not safe for you to be out alone like this. Where's your family? Let me call them to come pick you up."
At the mention of family, a flicker of confusion crossed Hannah's face. She furrowed her brow, thinking hard, muttering under her breath. "Family... my grandson's busy, my son's busy too... I snuck out to buy maple pecan scones..."
Jessica's instincts prickled.
Hannah's clothing and manner of speech suggested someone of considerable means, but her train of thought seemed scattered, almost disjointed.
Combined with her reckless crossing of the street, Jessica suspected the woman might be suffering from early-stage Alzheimer's.
"What's your name, dear?" Hannah suddenly leaned in closer, her cloudy eyes studying Jessica's face intently. The more she looked, the more familiar the young woman seemed. "You know, you look so much like... like the granddaughter of an old friend of mine."
"I'm Jessica Brooks."
"Jessica..." Hannah repeated the name slowly, then her eyes suddenly lit up. She slapped her thigh. "I knew it! I knew you looked familiar! I knew your grandparents—we used to be neighbors!"
Jessica froze.