Chapter 28–Wednesday, 10:32AM

Herb was just passing the “Welcome to Garden City” sign when he noticed sunlight. The clouds that had shrouded the sky for days were disappearing. Normally, the warmth of the sun on his ribs would’ve pleased him. Today it reminded Herb that a clear, moonlit night was only hours away.

Herb suddenly remembered his cell phone. He’d been lost in thought on the way back from the Bean home and forgotten it. He reached down to pick it up as he pulled up to the stop light at 9th and Santa Fe. No baby carrots today, he mused, opening the phone. He’d missed three calls. Truman had called not two minutes after he’d stepped through Mrs. Bean’s door. He’d called again ten minutes later. The third call was from the station’s main phone bank. Linda, he assumed.

The light turned green. Herb dropped the phone into his lap and eased into the intersection. No need to call back now. He’d be at the station in...

Herb saw the truck just before it hit him. He tried accelerating, but it was too late. The impact spun the chief’s car around. The momentum threw the vehicle into the curb and it went airborne, rolling over and over. Glass and debris flew everywhere. Herb caught a glimpse of his phone flying out the window. He needed that phone. The calls he’d just put off seemed suddenly more urgent. Urgent or not, they would not be made. Herb’s world faded to black.