Just Before Dawn Chapter 9. (standard:mystery, 6054 words)
Author: Sarah Spenser	Added: May 11 2005	Views/Reads: 3456/2271	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
This chapter takes place after Connor sees the photo of the mystery man.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

that you think that Frank Roads, Ben Sams and Jack Shure are the same 
person? You interrupted my conference for this?” “But, Chief ...” 
“Listen to me, Cassidy! You're going to bring me something more than 
hunches and worries about your love sick girlfriend!” with that, 
Charlie slammed the door to his office. Connor was headed to his office 
to look up information on Roads when his cell rang. “Connor Cassidy.” 
“Hi, Connor, it's Grace. Listen I can't do this anymore. I've decided 
to come clean. Meet me in half an hour my place.” With that she was 
gone. He knew that Grace was sitting on a time bomb, and it was about 
ready to blow up. 

Mark stepped in to the cabin careful not to agitate Blake or Rocco. But
there she was, Allison unharmed kneeling down by Rocco nursing his 
wound. Mark's heart almost stopped when he saw her, but he put the 
thought aside as he came closer. He could smell the scent of her 
vanilla perfume, and in spite of himself thought she smelled heavenly. 
“Allison, come with me.” “Why so you can kill me? What is this kill 
Allison day?” Mark smiled at her. “No, I don't want to kill you, I want 
to get you away from ...” just then the door opened and a man entered. 
Mark had his back turned and couldn't see the man. “Come on, Allison 
we'll get away we'll go ...” “Freeze!” the man said coldly pointing a 
gun at Mark. “Dad! Oh, Dad you're all right! Come on let's go! I was so 
worried about you!” Allison threw herself into Jack's arms in spite of 
the gun and began to sob. “We're not going anywhere, sweetheart.” Jack 
said sitting on the couch. His hip was killing him and he knew he had 
to rest. “Okay, Dad so we'll take Rocco to the hospital and we'll turn 
Blake in and we'll ...” “Stop talking! You don't understand!” “No I 
don't. I went to bring you food this morning and you weren't there, 
then these two men grabbed me and knocked me out. Dad I was so scared! 
Did they have you? Were you captured? Are you hurt?” “Allison, stop 
talking!” “What's gotten into you? I know that we've had our 
differences but waving that gun at me isn't going to help. Is this some 
sort of joke? Did you have me kidnapped to teach me some sort of 
lesson? What is going on?” “I'm going to teach you a lesson all right, 
one you'll never forget.” “Dad why are you doing this?” Mark stepped 
between Allison and the gun. At least he could die a hero, he thought 
as he shielded Allison from both the gun and Jack's wrath. “Step away, 
Mark. You can't save her!” “Come on, Jack come clean with her!. Tell 
her!” “Tell me what?” Allison asked weakly. “Tell her the truth! Let's 
all go home and talk this out, Jack. No one has to get hurt!” “Mark, 
you go home or you're going to die!” “Tell her, come on! You've kept it 
to yourself for nearly two decades! She doesn't need to die! Just don't 
hurt Allison okay? Tell her, Jack.” “Dad, what is it? Tell me what?” 
Jack responded by pointing the gun at Blake who stood frozen. Mark sat 
between Allison and Jack and waited for him to speak. 

Half an hour later Connor was at Grace's house. His heart was beating so
loudly, he thought that Grace could hear it. He knew that she had 
information that would unlock the mystery of where Allison was. Grace 
sat pensively across from him sipping a wine cooler. She swirled the 
ice in her glass and began to speak softly. “Connor, he said he would 
kill me if I told. But I can't let another human being die because I'm 
afraid. Many years ago, I had an affair with Jack. That was the picture 
that Allison found. It was during his marriage to Marie, but I don't 
think she ever knew about it. Then he  began disappearing, I never knew 
when he would be back or how he would react when I asked him where he'd 
been. But one day, I was ruffling through the dresser looking for my 
earrings and I found a photo album. It said number 1 and it was a 
picture ...” Grace began to sob and Connor almost felt sorry for her. 
“A picture of what, Grace?” “A picture of Martha Bernard.” “So what's 
so odd about that?” “She was dead, Connor!. All the women in the 
pictures were dead, they were taken just after they had died. When I 
discovered it I asked him what he was doing with those pictures. He 
made up some story about how he was hired to kill those women by a 
friend, but I never bought it. When I threatened to go to the police, 
he threatened to kill me. I knew about it for a long time, but it 
wasn't until recently that he started to ask me for favors.” “Favors? 
What kinds of favors?” “Well, since I knew his secret, he would confide 
in me about you and Allison and stuff like that ...” “You mean you two 
were still talking?” “Yes.” Grace said sullenly now ashamed that she 
had kept Jack's secret. “Anyway, he called me one night and asked me to 
head over to the hospital. I told him that I had no reason to go there. 
He said if I didn't do what he wanted, he would kill me and everyone I 
loved, Connor!. When he was in for his hip surgery, I got an order from 
one of his men to drug Allison!. I'm the one who put the chloral 
Hydrate in her coffee.” “You what!?” “I snuck in while she was asleep 
and dropped it in, when she woke up and took a sip, it was all over. I 
wandered the halls in a nurse's uniform for a while.” “What else do you 
know, Grace? Come on the time is now! We have to find Allison!. Where 
did he take her?” “I don't know!” “Come on! You know everything else!” 
“I swear, Connor I don't know. That's all I know. I also know Jack's 
real identity.” “What do you mean Jack's real identity?” “His real name 
is Ben Sams AKA Frank Roads.” Waves of fear coursed through Connor's 
body, they were intense and sent a jolt right through him. “Oh my God! 
Oh damn it we have to find Allison!” just then Connor's cell rang. 
“Hello?” “Connor, it's Lynn, I just got your message.” “Lynn, meet me 
at Jack's in ten minutes. Do you have a key?” “Yes.” “Meet me there 
hurry!” “I'm coming too!” Grace said springing up from her chair. “No 
you're not! You've caused enough heartache to last a lifetime. Besides 
your pregnant.” “Oh no I'm not!” she said with an evil laugh. “You're 
not?” “No it was a scheme to win you back!” Connor turned on his heel 
and stormed out. 

Ten minutes later, Connor arrived at Jack's. He paced nervously outside
the house as he waited for Lynn to arrive. She pulled up seconds later. 
Connor quickly explained the story to a stunned Lynn who handed over 
her key. “Explain this to me again. None of this makes any sense!” “It  
doesn't make sense to me either, Lynn. But we're going to find Allie! 
We have to. Why didn't I think of this sooner? Why? I've been trying to 
get a hold of her all day and I didn't realize that something was 
wrong!. Oh damn!” Connor swore as he tore open closets and drawers, 
looking for anything on where he could've taken Allison. “Lynn, where 
does Jack keep all his personal papers?” “I think upstairs in the 
bottom drawer of the dresser to the left of the closet. There are two.” 
Connor raced up the stairs with Lynn in hot pursuit. She couldn't 
believe any of this was happening, but now it was all starting to make 
sense. The erratic behavior, the way Jack had been quarreling with 
Allison, it all started to add up. Connor exclaimed as the bottom 
drawer came crashing down on his foot. “Are you okay?” Lynn asked 
sitting beside him to flip through the contents. “Fine. Look at this!” 
Connor flipped open a photo album, in it were pictures of Martha 
Bernard, Marlena Swenson and Lila Sacs. Just as Grace had described. 
“Ooh! Aren't those women dead?” Lynn stammered. “Yes unfortunately.” 
“What's this?” Lynn asked picking up a book that had fallen out of the 
drawer. “Read it.” Connor demanded. “Oh my God!” “What is it, Lynn?” 
“Listen to this: my first victim lived in the rich section. She was the 
daughter of my former business partner Albert Bernard. I killed her out 
of ...” “Does it have anything dated today?” “Let's see.” As Lynn 
flipped through the book, pages fell onto the floor. She picked up the 
first page that fell and read it aloud. “Things are getting bad at 
home. Allison will not give up finding out who Martha's killer is. 
Little does she know it's me. I have to stop her, and the only way to 
do that is to silence her permanently.” Lynn was unable to continue she 
was wracked by sobs. Connor took the paper from her and with trembling 
hands and a shaky voice read the rest of the page. “I contacted my 
buddy Blake Palmer he used to be my cell mate when I served time in 
Fallwood Prison. He said he was bringing along a current cell mate of 
his Rocco Smithers. I have the deed planned for this morning, when 
Allison comes by to give me food, Blake and Rocco will show up to grab 
her and then my job will be done.” Connor wracked his brain for where 
he had heard of Blake Palmer. He worked for Mac's Shack. Connor bolted 
up and ran for the phone. He dialed Mac's number and spoke quickly. 
“Mac, Connor Cassidy here. I need to know if you know where Blake was 
headed to.” “The Palmer guy?” “Yes, it's an emergency!” “Let me see. 
I'm usually pretty good about keeping track when one of my men takes a 
vacation. I have to prison policy, you know.” Connor held on a moment 
while Mac looked up the info. “Here it is Rustic Cabins number 754.” 
“Where's that located?” “How should I know?” “Thanks, Mac.” Connor 
slammed down the receiver and called information to obtain directions. 

Allison waited for her father to speak but he didn't. He couldn't bring
himself to tell his little girl what he had done. He had done so many 
things wrong, even killed Greg Brindle and used Mark as a scapegoat. 
Allison stared at Jack with those beautiful blue eyes. “Dad? Can you 
tell me what's going on?” “Oh, Allison, once I tell you I'll have to do 
away with you. But I'll tell you if you really want to know.” She 
nodded and he proceeded to explain his story. “I'm a flawed man, 
sweetheart. Many years ago, I was a partner in the Bernard, Parks and 
Sams law firm. Back in 1965 I was Ben Sams. A well-respected business 
man, I decided to steal a little cash from Al and Alan to hold me over 
for a few days. I promised myself I'd put it back. But I got greedy, 
and Al and Alan found out about it. I got ousted from the firm. Then I 
was sent to prison for the murder of Alan's girlfriend Lila Sacs. Lila 
was a knock out, long legs that went on forever, gorgeous smile, 
vivacious. The list goes on, well that was to get back at Alan. But I 
served time for that crime. Well I was supposed to until I broke out. I 
loosened an air vent and crawled out of prison. I killed Martha she was 
my next victim. I did that to get back at Al. Even though Martha was 
24, and it was several years ago, I still held a grudge. Oh yes, how 
can we forget Marlena Swenson.” Allison gasped stunned by what she was 
hearing. “Marlena was my girlfriend while I was married to your mother. 
But she found out about my little killing spree, my assumed names. I 
not only had my real name as Ben Sams, which I couldn't use for obvious 
reasons, but I also had several aliases. Frank Roads and the one you 
know me as Jack Shure. Well, Marlena had an attack of morals and 
threatened to go to the police. So I killed her. Then there was your 
mother.” Allison gasped again not able to comprehend what she was 
hearing. “No! no! you didn't!” Allison was bordering on hysteria and 
Mark wanted desperately to hold her and make everything all right 
again. But he had convinced Jack to tell her the truth. “I'm sorry, 
honey I did. She found out about my little escapades and my affair with 
Grace Munson. You were right about that picture of Grace and me. We had 
an affair, and Grace was with me when I first started my little spree 
and after. She found the pictures and my little journal detailing each 
killing. She threatened to go to the police, but I blackmailed her into 
staying around. I told her I would kill her if she did. When your 
mother found out, I had no choice, she said no matter what I said I 
wasn't going to stop her from going to the cops. So I  contracted Mark 
to kill her. I certainly couldn't, I loved Marie too much for that.” 
Allison was sobbing uncontrollably as Rocco and Blake looked on in 
disbelief. Blake tended to Rocco's wound while Allison rocked back and 
forth and sobbed. “I loved your mother too much to kill her, but Grace 
knew about Marie's death. I blackmailed her into keeping that a secret 
and then had her drug you in the hospital.” “With the chloral Hydrate? 
She drugged me with the chloral Hydrate? How? I don't understand you 
were in the hospital having hip surgery!” “I didn't get attacked like I 
told you. I had Mark come over and rough me up and it got a little out 
of hand. He told me to be honest with you. I had to lead you to believe 
that it was Mark so I ordered him to have Grace drug you.” “I can't 
believe this! I ... you killed Mom! How could you! How ...” the shock 
was too much, the person she had trusted more than anyone had betrayed 
her. She rose unsteadily and fainted. “Allison? Are you all right?” 
Mark rushed to her side, she was face down on the wood floor. He gently 
turned her over and looked accusingly at Jack. “You idiot! You did 
this!” “You were the one who told me to tell her the truth!” 

“I know, but you could've left out the part about killing Aunt Marie!”
“Mark! you told me to tell her the truth and that's what I did. No 
wonder why Renee kept you away from the rest of the family! You're an 
idiot!” “I was the son no one wanted!. That's why at 16 I  was sent to 
reform school! And then you used me in your sick twisted games!” “There 
was a reason that Allison didn't know you were related to her!” “Yeah, 
so I wouldn't tell her what a slime bag her father is!” “Yeah that to. 
But when I changed your name it was sort of like an extra insurance 
policy for me. Besides, I know you're in love with her!” “I'm not!” 
“Don't try to deny it! That's sick! And incest!” “Oh shut up! You're in 
no position to judge.” Allison opened her eyes amidst the confusion. 
While Mark and Jack were fighting, she seized her opportunity. 

She ran like hell out of the cabin and through the woods. Jack and 
Blake were in hot pursuit. She quickly took her cell out of her pocket 
and dialed. 

Connor was driving to the cabin at break neck speed. A squad of police
including a hostage negotiator were following him. Lynn's job was to 
man the phone in case Allison called. Just then the phone rang. Connor 
pulled to the side of the road and answered quickly. “Cassidy.” 
“Connor, it's Allie!” her signal was breaking up and he could barely 
hear her. “Allie! Are you all right? Where are you?” “I'm fine at cabin 
754 by the ...” Jack snatched the phone from her hand and before 
turning it off fired a single bullet. “Allie? Allie?” Connor shook as 
the gun shot echoed in his ear. 

Allison ran as far as she could from her father. Mark was right behind
her trying to shield her from his firing. Blake was gaining on her, 
Allison ducked behind some overgrown shrubs and hoped that would keep 
them busy for a while. She crouched down low hoping that no one would 
find her. “Where'd she go?” Blake demanded scouring the surrounding 
areas for her. “Beats me.” Mark said praying that she could make a 
clean break. “You're going to find her! Get on it! Or I'll kill you 
both.” “You need to get Rocco to a hospital!” Blake interjected. “Who 
shot him?” “Well, Boss ... it was an accident! The gun went off when he 
and Allison were struggling for it.” “Come on when you find her bring 
her back to me. I'll be at the cabin.” Blake and Mark scoured the 
surrounding areas. A branch broke above Allison sending an entire limb 
careening towards the ground. She ducked to avoid it, but it was too 
late. Her hiding place had been discovered. Blake was on her in a split 
second, tightening rope around her wrists and ankles. Mark watched much 
to his dismay. “The only thing you didn't do was gag her!” Mark said 
sarcastically. “Wait till we get back to the cabin!” Blake said evilly. 
Allison was now a prisoner, Blake carried her roughly over the terrain. 
“Help! Help! Someone help!” “Allison, shut up! Or I'll choke you 
unconscious!” “You try, Blake and you'll be unconscious before you can 
lay a hand on me!” Blake raised his fist but Mark punched him. He 
almost tumbled backwards with Allison but Mark steadied him so he 
wouldn't drop her. “You lay one hand on her you son of ...” “Temper, 
Mark!. Remember?” “You lay one hand on her and I'll kill you!” “Oh, I 
love those empty threats.” Finally, they reached the cabin, Allison was 
set on the couch and gagged. “Good she'll shut up!” Blake said. Once 
they were assembled inside, Jack reached for his car keys. “Mark, take 
Rocco to the hospital.” “But ...” “Take him to the hospital before he 
dies here!” Mark picked up Rocco and some towels and headed out the 
door. “Blake, stand guard at the door. My daughter and I are going to 
have a nice little chat!. Oh that's right you can't talk can you?” Jack 
laughed evilly. “I'll have a talk with you, Allison. It'll be nice you 
can't answer me back, or protest.” “You know, sweetheart, I didn't want 
to do this. I told you to stay out of the Renson case, and I told you 
to stay out of the Bernard case, but did you listen? No why would I 
expect you to listen!. You never did, you're just as stubborn as your 
mother was. I wouldn't have had to do this if you had just stayed out 
of my business. Then when you found the picture of Grace and me 
together. Well, that was the last straw. I told you to stop meddling 
but you wouldn't listen to me. You wanted to be the concerned daughter, 
the caring sweet person that you are, and look where it got you. I 
don't want to kill you, I love you. But now you know my secret, so I 
have to.” Allison tried to undo the ropes that were wound tight around 
her wrists, but she couldn't. If only she could get her left wrist out, 
she could undo the other hand. She pondered how to get the ropes off 
while Jack spoke and prayed that Connor would arrive soon. 

Mark piloted the car on to the highway. Rocco was semiconscious in the
front seat. Mark looked over at him, and hoped he would make it to the 
hospital. But first he was informing the police of their location. He 
dialed information and asked to be connected to the Fallwood Police 
Department. It seemed like an eternity before someone finally picked 
up, Mark knew that with every second that went by, Allison was in 
danger. “Fallwood Precinct Detective Rutledge.” “Detective Rutledge, 
this is Mark Renson. I have some information on where Jack Shure is 
holding Allison hostage!” “Where, sir?” “754 it's a cabin in the woods 
by an oak tree and it has a little babbling brook behind it. Can you 
alert the hospital? I'm bringing in a man that's been shot.” “Sure 
thing, sir thank you.” Rutledge hung up and dialed Connor. 

All he could do was think of that gun shot. Was Allie hurt? Did she need
medical assistance? Millions of thoughts raced through his mind as he 
raced to the cabin. When Rutledge had told him that Mark Renson was the 
one that provided Allison's location, he thought he hadn't heard right. 
But when he repeated it, Connor was sure it had to be Mark. When they 
arrived at the cabin, the sniper, hostage negotiator and search dogs 
congregated in the background. Connor and a few officers occupied the 
foreground. Connor peered into one of the windows and saw Allison 
sitting on the couch. He tried to make eye contact with her, but she 
was focused on Jack. A moment later, Roger Rolling the head of the 
negotiation team spoke over a loud speaker. “Mr. Sams, I hear you want 
something from us. What can we give you? Why don't you just surrender 
Allison Shure to us and we'll talk.” “I'm not talking to you! I want 
Allison dead! Unless you can do that for me, I'm not coming out!” “Mr. 
Sams, isn't there anything else you want more than that?” “Like what, 
Flatfoot?” “Like money, maybe enough to get out of the country?” there 
was a long pause and then Jack said: “I've been thinking about that, 
maybe go to Mexico somewhere.” “Well we can give you that, Mr. Shure. 
Why don't you come out now?” “Because  it was all a ploy! Do you people 
actually think I'm stupid? I wouldn't fall for any of your tricks!. I'm 
killing Allison Shure and that's all there is to it!” “Can we speak to 
her?” “She's not able to talk at the moment. May I take a message.” 
Connor snatched the microphone out of Roger's hand. “Did you hurt her? 
Because if you did ...” “Oh, Connor you're not helping are you? 
Threatening me isn't going to help!. Just remember I hold Allison's 
future in my hands.” “Let me talk to her!. Put her on the phone and 
we'll call you!” “You're in no position to make demands!” Roger 
snatched the microphone while Charlie called Connor over to the side of 
the cabin. “Connor, you're not helping!. You shouldn't even be here. 
This case is a conflict of interest for you!” “What am I supposed to do 
just close my eyes and pretend this didn't happen? Allison's the love 
of my life and I'd die before I'd let anything happen to her!.” “I 
understand that, Connor but you're only going to make things worse.” 
Roger was signaling them, quickly Connor dashed over to him. “Okay, 
he's going to have her answer the phone he just took the gag off.” 
Connor's heart leapt with anticipation as he heard the phone ring 
inside the cabin. “Hello?” “Allie! Are you all right?” “I'm fine, 
Connor. I think you're beginning to wear him down!” she whispered 
softly. “Ms. Shure, this is Roger the negotiator. He didn't hurt you 
did he?” “No, I'm fine, still tied up around my ankles but I'm fine. At 
least he untied my hands.” “Do you want this to end amicably, Mr. 
Shure?” Jack took the phone from Allison. “Of course I do! She'll be 
dead and everyone will be happy!” Connor saw Jack get up from the 
couch. 

He began to pace around the room with the gun. Allison was frozen unable
to move her ankles were still bound and she tried to fall off the couch 
so she could crawl but it was no use. She was going to watch Jack kill 
her. Jack continued to taunt her as he waved the gun in her direction. 
“Where's your hero now? Where's Mark to come and save you?” “Stop! I 
don't know you anymore, Dad. I trusted you and you betrayed me!. What's 
the point of this?” “The point is that you weren't supposed to find out 
any of this!. If you had just done what I told you, Allison I wouldn't 
have to kill you!” “But why kill me? You can plea bargain and get a 
lighter sentence.” Although she knew this wasn't true, she thought it 
might placate him till she could escape. Jack laughed evilly. “With all 
of the crimes I've committed I'm not getting a reduced sentence any 
time soon.” He pointed the gun at her, Allison felt the cold metal 
barrel press into her skull. 

She froze, she wanted to rip his hands away, but she couldn't move.
Meanwhile, Connor against Charlie's warning peered in the window. He 
positioned himself so he could gain a vantage point to see the exact 
moment when Jack turned. Then he could shoot the gun out of his hand.  
Jack turned. When Jack turned his attention toward the window, Connor 
fired one shot. 

The bullet echoed throughout the woods and walls of the cabin. Glass
shattered, Jack ducked to avoid the bullet and Allison screamed. Then 
it was deadly silent. Roger tried to contact Jack over the loud speaker 
and by phone but there was no answer. Connor peered in the now 
shattered window to see if he could get a glimpse of Allison. “He could 
be armed, let's wait one more minute.” Roger said. “Allison could be 
hurt!” “Take it easy, Connor she'll be fine.” They ordered Jack to come 
out with his hands up, but he didn't respond. They waited another 
minute more, and then stormed in. 

A squad of police officers stormed the cabin, subduing Jack who was
defiantly lying on the floor. But Allison was a different story. 
Charlie spotted her first and gasped. The bullet meant to knock Jack's 
gun from his hand had shot Allison in the chest. Charlie got towels and 
gauze to stop the bleeding. He wasn't sure if she was dead or alive as 
he knelt over her. But at his gentle touch, she opened her eyes and 
looked at him helplessly. “Charlie?” Allison asked weakly looking up at 
him. “It's me, Allison you're going to be fine.” He untied the ropes 
from her ankles. Connor's fellow officers were trying to keep him away 
from seeing Allison. The scene was grizzly, and seeing it brought tears 
to some of the veteran officers' eyes. “Allie? Are you all right? Where 
is she?” “Connor, stay here, it's a war zone in there. You don't want 
to see that.” Charlie said soothingly. “I have to see my Allie! I have 
to, Chief!. Is she dead?” “No, but it's pretty bad, Connor.” “Let me 
in, damn it! I have to get to her!” inside, Allison was lying on the 
floor barely clinging to consciousness. Everything seemed surreal and 
far away. Paramedics raced in to assess her condition. Connor stood in 
the doorway trying to get passed the officers that were now escorting 
Jack from the premises. “I need to see her!” Connor said frantically 
rushing over to where Allison was lying in a pool of blood. “Allie, I 
love you, sweetheart.” He planted a gentle kiss on her cheek. She 
opened her eyes and smiled at him. “I love you too, Connor. Tell Lynn I 
love her and Scarlet.” “We're just about to load her up on the 
backboard.” One of the medics stated. “Call the hospital tell them we 
have a GSW to the chest coming in. Get some type O blood ready. She's 
going to need a transfusion.” “What about our ETA?” the driver asked. 
“Tell them ten minutes at the most.” The medic said as he lifted 
Allison on to the backboard. Connor caught a glimpse of her and  almost 
started to sob. She was swathed in bandages and he could tell she had 
lost a considerable amount of blood. “Can I ride with you?” the driver 
nodded and Connor climbed in beside Allison. “Just don't get in our 
way.” The lady technician said. Connor promised he wouldn't as he took 
Allison‘s hand. She opened her eyes when she felt his touch. “Connor, I 
love you. I love you so much!” she said between gasps. “Don't try to 
talk, Allie, you're going to be just fine. I love you too.” “Connor?” 
“What is it, sweetheart?” “Don't let go of my hand! Promise me ...” she 
was beginning to slip into unconsciousness. “Allie? Stay with me, 
sweetness. I promise you I won't let go of your hand. I love you, 
sweetheart. You are so brave to face Jack and those men the way you 
did.” “Dad he killed Mom.” “I know, we'll talk later. Just save your 
strength.” She was silent for a moment,  then she said: “Do me a favor, 
call Lynn. Tell her I love her.” “I will, sweetness.” Connor fought to 
hold back the tears that threatened to cascade down his cheeks. He 
gripped Allison's hand tighter as the ambulance sped along. She gasped 
for air, but knew she had to tell him how she felt about him. No matter 
how difficult it was to get the words out. Her whole chest ached, and 
she felt like it was being squeezed every time she breathed. “Connor, I 
want you to know how much you mean to me, I love you. You're every 
breath I take, the light of my life, the sun in my sky. I love you more 
than life itself ...” with the last word she slipped into 
unconsciousness. “Allie? Allie? Stay with me, sweetness!” Connor looked 
helplessly to the paramedics who were hooking all sorts of tubes up to 
Allison. “She's in V-tach! I'm not feeling a pulse!” Connor's heart 
sank as he heard those horrific words. He gritted his teeth and began 
to sob as they tried desperately to save Allison's life. “Is she still 
in V-tach?” the lady technician asked. “Yes, let's shock her with the 
defibrillator!” Connor whispered words of love and encouragement to her 
as Allison's life hung in the balance. 


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