Hunter's POV

Thanksgiving Day

Turning over in my sleep, I look at the clock on the nightstand, which reads 5am. I climb out of bed and quickly change into a pair of shorts. I wear Nike sneakers and grab my phone with the wireless earphones.

As I step out of my room, it's pitch black, and my sister is still in bed. I quietly walk down the hall and out the front door.

When I'm on the street, I look to the left and then to the right to decide which way to take for my morning run. I accepted the right and ran past some trees.

A few people are out walking their dogs while the sun is rising in the distance. I nod at them as I pass them and continue running until I reach the park.

At the park, I do some stretches against a park bench before I start running back to the condo. Before I crossed the road, a speeding car ran the stop sign and crashed into a vehicle at the intersection.

Something doesn't seem right with the way this accident happened.

Grabbing my phone, I call 911. It rings for a second before someone picks up.

Operator: 911, what's your emergency?

Me: I just saw a car run a stop sign, and they crashed into a vehicle at the intersection.

Operator: What's the name of the street?

Me: It's the corner of Rexford and Sunset, Beverly Hills.

Operator: Do you know how everyone is?

Me: No, I'm heading in that direction now. A few people are rendering assistance to them.

Operator: We're sending a couple of ambulances to your location.

As I get closer to the scene, I see a girl getting out of the car with a gush to her head. Her face is pale. A guy is performing CPR on her.

Me: There's a pale girl around 6 with a gush on her head. Someone is performing CPR on her. A woman of the age of thirty is on the side of the road, holding her arm, and a male is trapped in the car.

I step toward the car and check his pulse, but I don't feel anything. The impact hit his side of the vehicle.

Me: I have a male with no pulse.

I perform CPR on him until the ambulances arrive and they take over for me. They take the injured to the ambulance.

The guy who caused this carnage is sitting on the side of the road with his head in his arms. Rocking himself backwards and forwards, he repeats. "What have I done? What have I done?"

Kneeling next to the guy, I ask. "Are you injured?"

Lifting his head, I see that it's a teenager. He's around 17 years old with brown hair and brown eyes. "I'm okay," I look at the cars. "Mom is going to kill me. I totalled her car, and I'm not supposed to be driving today."

A phone rings inside the car, and I watch as his face pales. "That would be Mom. She calls when I'm out of the house." It stops ringing. Then it starts up again. She won't stop until I answer. I can't talk to my mother.

"I'll talk to her. Where can I find the phone?"

"It's where the cup holders are."

"Okay," I say, standing up. I move over to the car, reach in, grab the ringing phone and hit the answer button.

Me: Hello, who's this?

Teen's Mom: I'm Toby's Mom. You have his phone. Is my son safe?

Me: My name is Hunter Westbrook. Toby was involved in a car accident.

Toby's Mom: Is he okay?

Me: Physically, he is okay. He's going to need you.

An officer pulls the car to the side of the road. The male climbs out of the car and reads the kid his Miranda rights.

Me: Toby's being arrested for the accident. Give me a moment, and I'll find out which station they are taking him to.

Toby's Mom: Okay, when you finish talking to the officer, I want to know everything that happened.

Me: I can do that.

I walk over to the officer.  "Which police station are you taking him to? I'm on the phone to his mother right now."

"I'll talk to her." The officer takes my phone and gives me the details of everything that happened, including which station they are going to.

Another officer is talking to the witnesses. Getting their statements and contact details, so they can contact them if they have

Toby looks at me. "I'm scared."

Looking him in the eyes, I said, "Don't say anything to the cops. I will send my lawyer to take on your case. Once you talk to him, you will know how to answer the questions they ask about the accident."

Toby is led to the car and put inside. Tears are falling as the car moves away from the scene.

Pulling my phone out of my pouch, I look for my Lawyer's number. After a couple of rings, he answers.

Tomas: Hunter, it's a holiday. Can't you leave me in peace for one day?

Me: No, I need your help.

Tomas: What happened?

Me: I saw a seventeen-year-old run a stop sign and crash into another car. This is his first time getting in trouble.

Tomas: Which station is he at? I can't let that kid be in there for long.

I give him the address.

Tomas: Thank you. Is there anything you want to tell me?

Me: Can you get your mechanic to check over the car? I have a feeling there's more to what happened today.

Tomas: My guy will pick up the car right now. Just give me the address, and we will take care of it.

Me: Will this mechanic be discreet? There are a few dirty officers on the force.

Tomas: Lance won't say anything. The law bends where he is concerned. If you have to go to the station to give a statement, I want to be there.

Me: I gave it to them. There are a few things that I left out. I want to talk to a friend about this specific case. This friend is with the FBI.

Tomas: Why amn't I surprised that you know someone that high up?

Me: I keep my cards to my chest. If you see a woman wearing a tag that reads 'Maia Stone', she's the one you can talk to. Everyone else, I wouldn't give them a chance.

Tomas: Okay,

Me: Can you tell me how the case goes?

Tomas: I'll keep you informed.

Me: Okay, thanks.

With that, we end the call.

Before I leave the scene, I give my statement to the officer before heading home.

At 6:30 a.m., I enter the condo and see a light on in the kitchen. Walking down the hall, I enter the kitchen and see Suri standing over a turkey. She has earphones and is listening to one of her favourite artists. She sings along to the song.

I'm closing the door on our love,
And opening it for another,
Who's going to show me?
What it's like to be loved.

I love that song.

The kitchen has a long island bench that forms into a horseshoe. A long oven sits on a shelf formed in the island bench, the fridge is on the side of the stove, and the microwave is on the side of the refrigerator.

Opening the fridge, I grab a bottle of water and drink. I close the door and move to the stools opposite the island bench. I'm going to remain quiet and wait for Suri to notice me.

Growing up, this was what I did, and it scared Suri with how good I got at sneaking up on her, but that's because she usually is so into whatever the project was at that time.

"Agh," Suri screams. Before I can do anything, she throws a garlic clove at my head, hitting me between my eyes. "Asshole," taking the earphones out of her ears. "How long have you been sitting there?"

"Long enough to see you put the seasoning on the Turkey. Why are you making this at mine and not at our parents?"

"I don't want to cook at their. It's too big a house to have a family meal. Here is a better option with the family members who are invited."

Crossing my arms, I glare at my sister. "Who did you invite to my place?"

"I invited our family. I've bought our Grandparents' Christmas present with them today so I can give it to them early since we won't see them. They won't be travelling to the French Alps to see us."

"I forgot to get them something. I've been busy closing this project."

Suri places her hand on my arm. "I've got you covered. You choose what you want them, and then you can give me the money."

"Thanks, sis." Standing, I move to her side and hug her.

She pushes me away. "You stink and you're sweaty. Have a shower and then come back. I'll have breakfast waiting for you.

"Okay," I step away from her and walk through the hallway until I reach my bedroom. Opening the door, I enter my room and head to the ensuite.