When Tomorrow Ends by Cyndi Raye Page A

They heard a whistle and began to walk towards the docks where they heard some noise a few minutes before. “Be careful Jake,” Maggie pleased. It was so dark they couldn’t see much since it was so overcast. Even the moon’s rays hid behind the clouds.
     
    “Maggie, please. Go upstairs and get away from here. I don’t want you hurt!”
     
    “I can’t leave you down here alone.”
     
    Jake gave her a gentle push. “Please baby, I’ll feel better if you get out of the line of fire. I don’t know if they have a gun. Deputy, can you take her up?” The other officer, who had walked with Jake, nodded and began to steer Maggie through the yard.
     
    “I’m sorry, yes. You’re right. I need to go upstairs for your gun. This is crazy, we’re running around out here unprotected. It’s in the closet, right?” She walked towards the steps as one of the officers followed, her nerves rattled. Maggie knew her own body and the tremors she felt rise up and down her skin had her gasping in deep breaths.
     
    “I’ll go with you Ma’am,” he told her. “I’ll have to see the package he dropped off and make sure the kid isn’t lying.” The other officer, who secured the teenager in the back of the cruiser, hustled down to Jake, where the other boat bobbed in the water alongside of Jake’s.
     
    He was so close to the boat when it’s engine started up and the occupants revved the motor as it began to tread water. “Hey! Stop!” She heard Jake roar out loud.
     
    Someone laughed. A sinister, hateful laugh that made Maggie’s skin crawl. She turned around and ran back down the steps to warn Jake. She recognized the laugh and shouted. “Oh no, Jake! It’s Jerry! I know that voice anywhere!”
     
    “Yeah, it’s Jerry. How about a present for sending me to jail!”
     
    Maggie reached Jake and he pulled her in to his arms. “Maggie, I told you to stay back,” he groaned then his eyes widened. “Get down Maggie! Right! Now!”
     
    He slid down beside her and covered her with his own body. Two officers also ducked down when they realized what Jerry had in his hand. The four of them lay face down on their bellies on the dock when an explosion went off in Jake’s house. All of a sudden the upstairs kitchen burst in to a ball of orange and blue flames that took out the whole side of the house.
     
    Maggie curled underneath Jake, who tried to protect her with his own body. She felt the tremor of the earth as the explosion rumbled through the air and could smell the smoke. Her head shot up as she watched the flames destroy their home.
     
    “Sonofabitch!” Jake’s heart raced against her back, Maggie could feel it. He stood up and held out his hand to pull her from the ground. “Are you okay?” he asked, his gentle voice now rough with anger.
     
    She shook her head and fell back in his arms. “Oh Jake, it’s all gone. Our home is destroyed!” When she lifted her head, her eyes took in the flames as they flickered and roared to life, over the roof of the house. “My computer, my work.”
     
    Jake set her aside and told the officer to keep her back. He ran towards the bungalow, his steps stretching across the sand and grass. She watched in horror as he went through the door. Smoke began to seep out from her office. She tried to go after him but the officer took her arm and held on to her.
     
    “No Ma’am, he isn’t in danger yet. Give him a minute.”
     
    Maggie shook her head back and forth. “No, there’s too much smoke. Jake!” she called out and then relief flooded through her from the top of her head to the tips of her toes when he came through the smoke filled doorway. She closed her eyes in relief. When she opened them, Jake stood in front of her. “Please don’t ever do that again.”
     
    When she looked at his outstretched hands, he handed her laptop to her. “I couldn’t let those bastards destroy what you began to create. Everything else can be replaced. Thank God Jax is at Abby’s