Chapter 195

As the air bags deflated the light returned. The Suburban had air bags everywhere, in the doors, dash, and the overhead. My feet were higher on the floor than normal. I looked down to realize that the engine and transmission had been shoved back into the passenger compartment and buckled the floor back and up. Even though the engine was no longer running, I turned the key off.

I tried to move but found it impossible. The seatbelts had ratcheted so tight that I was having difficulty breathing. I struggled to get it unlatched and it finally gave way.

A voice asked, "Are you ok? The ambulance is on the way." I turned to the voice and was looking at a State Police officer.

"Help me get the door open; I want to get out of this thing," I said. We tried everything to get the door open but it would not budge. Finally I took a glove and brushed the remaining glass from the window channel. I worked my way around until my upper body was outside and sitting on the window opening of the door. The trooper put his arm around me and the other under my butt and together we slid my legs out.

He held onto me as I checked out my legs to make sure I could stand. I could hear the sirens coming. I check myself out to make sure everything worked.

I looked at the Suburban; it was obviously totaled. The front axle had been ripped completely out and was back against the rear one - that one was turned sideways. The roof was twisted and buckled as was the body.

The Tundra was impaled on the abutment all the way back to the firewall. The cab looked like it was mashed from every direction.

The trooper was still holding onto me, "I was several cars back. I did not see it all but it looked like he was trying to run you off the road. Do you know him?"

"I have never seen him or the truck before," I replied. "I need to call my family and tell them I am OK and have them come get me."

By some miracle my cell phone was still in the holder. I called Jenny first, "I have been in a bad accident. I think I was targeted. I need a car; bring me one of the un-marked ones. You will see the accident between Q-town and C-ville. Be careful."

The EMT wanted to check me out. Before I went with him I said to the trooper, "There is a shotgun in the back of the Suburban - I need to maintain custody of it." My pistol and other gear were still on my belt.

After the EMT was finished he said, "I can not give you anything for pain so you may end up at your doctor's office for pain meds. You are going to be one sore puppy for a few days."

There were a lot of police at the scene now - both state and the sheriff's office. The discussions had taken a new tone and were intense. One of the deputies and the trooper came to me.

"Are you sure you do not know the other driver?" the deputy asked.

"No, I have never seen him or the truck before. Why? Who is he?" I replied.

"Jeff Justice. He is the county commissioner's son. He is on his way here. It may be best if you go sit in the trooper's car until your people get here. This is going to be tough enough as it is after the last few days."

I did as he asked until Jenny arrived. Not only did Jenny arrive, but there was Marcy, Vicky, Ching Lee, Lorrie and Jason in tow. After tearful hugs and expressions of love we began the task of cleaning out my personal things and putting them in the unmarked car.