Mary screamed, anguished. She ran to the pier, tears streaming down her face. She reached the spot where Judy had gone over the side and almost fell in looking for her in the gloom. Grady caught her from behind and stopped her.
“Stay back!” he shouted, but Mary was hysterical.
“She got shot! Alice shot her!”
“I know, calm down. Bennie’s down there! Stay here! I’ll go!”
“Grady, help!” Bennie called from the depths, her frantic cry drowned by the rain.
Grady dove into the blackness beside the ship, disappearing.
Mary heard a splash. She kept watching. She could make out three heads below in black water.
“Maria, Maria!” her mother cried, hurrying up from behind her, and Mary held her close, heaving a great sob.
“Oh, Ma. It’s Judy. Judy, Ma.”
“Oh, no, Deo, Maria.” Her mother hugged her, and Mary tried to shield her from the rain, cradling her tight.
Fiorella stood behind them, soaked. “Your father ran to the restaurant to call 911.”
“Thank God.” Mary tried to control herself, hanging on to her mother like a little girl, not sure who was comforting whom. She looked down, watching the heads in the water, scared to death.
Then she heard her mother praying and joined her.
Until the sirens came.