Anguished, I watched her drop.
Sheriff Lawson saw Ivy hit, and fired several times at me. The deputies shot at me.
I was struck in the right thigh by the first bullet, inches from my groin, then had my right eye socket pierced by the second shoot. The third and fourth shots struck my chest and my left thigh. I fell--
Sheriff Lawson was already racing to Ivy's side. She was in terrible pain, weeping and wailing, and he cradled her.
Later the sheriff watched the county ambulance that carried his niece from the Collins' processing plant. Already there were many other deputies present, as well as police support teams. Special night lights were being erected, and traffic was slowing from all the gawkers.
A deputy approached with a handcuffed Flea. "He wants to turn state's evidence," the deputy said.
Flea was dejected.
Sheriff Lawson and the deputy walked through the plant and approached Corky Collins. The man sat on the ground two feet from his wife's outstretched arm and stared blankly at them.
"Corky Collins? You're under arrest for murder."
The sheriff snapped handcuffs on Corky Collins.
"My life is ruined," Corky said.
The next morning Sheriff Lawson visited his bandaged niece at Maui General Hospital. Ivy was propped up in a bed. She looked drained and puffy, as if crying, though she was not crying now. Her arm was in a sling.
The sheriff was apologetic and soft-spoken. "He's dead, Ivy."
"Uncle Walter--"
"He killed Saundra Collins."
Ivy was horrified. "Oh God no!"
"Corky and Debra paid him to kill her. Afterwards they were going to run off together ... He killed Debra, too." He added wryly, "The killers had a falling-out."
Ivy was heart-broken. "He tried to kill me, too. You saved my life."
The sheriff found the truth difficult to say. "Honey, he was a professional. His kind don't miss. He gave you your life. He must've loved you very much."
Ivy wailed her sorrow. Uncle Walter took her in his arms and tried to comfort her. She wept.