I am done being your trophy wife Francesca. Im in love with someone else. Really in love! I dont think you have any idea what that word means. With those words, Marina turned and left the house as fast as she could. Once outside, she ran to her car while digging the keys from her purse. She fumbled with the lock for a moment, but finally got the door open and the keys in the ignition. As she looked towards the house, she saw Francesca running out to catch her with something shiny in her hand. Marina quickly put the car in gear and pushed the gas peddle to the floor. The last thing she heard was gunshots coming from behind her.

********

Bette and Tina both jumped as they heard a loud noise outside. They rushed to the front door and ran out onto the porch when they saw Marinas car in their yard. The noise had come from the car colliding with the decorative iron fence that had once stood across the front of their yard. They could see Marinas slumped form in the front seat.

Call and ambulance! Bette yelled at Tina as she ran to the car. The blonde was quick to return to the house and do as she was told. When Bette reached the car, she could see the blood all over Marinas face and head. Marina was slowly moving to open the door. Dont move! Just lay back. Bette opened the door and caught her friend before she fell out. What happened? she asked as she looked at the blood all over the inside of the car and the shattered glass from the window. The airbag hadnt deployed, so Bette knew that the glass wasnt from the collision with the fence.

She didnt take it too well, was Marinas soft reply. Her eyes closed and she lost consciousness as Bette leaned her back into the seat and felt for a pulse. She reached in and put the car in park and shut off the engine. Tina came running out with the phone as Bette knelt beside the car holding onto Marinas hand.

Oh my god! Tina exclaimed, her hand covering her mouth. What happened?

Francesca Francesca happened, Bette replied with tears in her eyes as she gritted her teeth in anger.

Is she?

No she passed out. How fast will that ambulance be here? Bette asked before she heard the sirens in the distance. When the paramedics arrived, Bette and Tina both watched and answered questions as the two uniformed people stabilized Marina and then put her on a stretcher.

Will either of you be coming with her? the woman asked.

Yes well follow in our car. I need to get something first, Bette said to Tina as she turned and went to retrieve the purse she had seen in Marinas car. While she was pulling the purse from the wrecked automobile, a picture fell out of it and landed on the ground. Bette reached down to pick it up. Cecilia we have to reach her and tell her what happened, Bette thought as she put the picture back in the purse and joined Tina in their car. We need to start making some phone calls. We have to find out how to reach CiCi, Bette said as she backed out of the driveway and pulled away following the ambulance. Tina picked up her cell phone and started dialing numbers, the sirens of the ambulance a steady noise in the background as she spoke to several people in search of the one person that Marina needed right now.

Please let us reach her, Tina thought as she called information and requested yet another number.