QUOTE : Suddenly, there was a noise from the front door. Dr. Dave turned away, toward the sound. And all hell broke loose. Chapter Forty-seven “NO!” Ryan bellowed, barreling into the kitchen with Pam at his heels. “No” was all Jake could whisper, horrified they were in harm’s way. Ryan took a flying leap at Dave and tackled him heavily to the ground. They both yelled and grunted, struggling for the gun. Suddenly a shot fired. Pam screamed. Tears of fright sprang to Jake’s eyes. He didn’t know whether Ryan or Dave had been shot. He prayed to God for Ryan’s life. Pam burst into tears, covering her head with her hands. Suddenly Ryan staggered to his feet, supporting himself on the kitchen island. Pam ran to his side, crying with relief. Dr. Dave remained on the floor, moaning and holding his shoulder. Jake thanked God. He could’ve died a happy man at that moment, but Ryan and Pam rushed together at him. “Jake, Jake!” Pam sobbed, throwing herself to the floor beside him. “Honey, the police will be here! I worried you got in a fight, when you didn’t answer! An ambulance is on the way! They should be here any minute!” “Dad, don’t die, please don’t die!” Ryan bent over him, distraught. “I love you, Dad! I love you!” Jake looked up at them, feeling weaker by the second. He wanted to tell them he loved them. He wanted to tell them to be happy without him, that nothing else mattered to him as much, on the face of the earth. “Pam,” he tried to say, but it came out fainter than a whisper. “Honey, stay with us!” Pam embraced him, beginning to sob. “The ambulance will be here any minute!” “Dad, don’t die, please, please!” Jake could barely hear them. He felt himself slipping away. He flashed on the bag that Dr. Dave had put in the trunk of his car, with Voloshin’s laptop and phone. It contained the only evidence that connected Ryan to the hit-and-run. If Ryan and Pam disposed of it, nobody would ever know what had happened. If they gave it to the police, they would go to jail. He tried to say, “Ryan … trunk…” “What, Dad?” Ryan bent over him, crying. “The trunk? Of the car?” Jake managed a smile, closing his eyes. They would figure it out when they opened the trunk. They would decide what to do. Jake knew what he would do, if he had a second chance. But he couldn’t say, and he’d have to leave the decision to them. Because he was gone.