Rod Billingham wasn’t standing in front of him anymore and Ernie was confused. He wasn’t sure where the other man had gone. All he could hear was ...is wife screaming and the clicking of his empty gun. Finally, with his hands trembling, the sergeant reached for the radio microphone attached to his shoulder and pressed the button on it. ‘James…Jamestown from…from 305,’ Ernie croaked. ‘Off…officer needs help…shots fired…off…officer down, armed…armed suspect. Need…need an…an ambulance. Been…been. And even if I were, I do not know that I would. Itwould not help you to know. It would not change anything for you." But I would know why. Why all this!" David's gesture included hiswhole feminine body. "And what end would that serve? It would not change anything."She seemed to relent. "Look, if it helps, the end is a laudableone. Very much so. You are unfortunate in that you are currently onthe losing end of the age old philosophical question as to whetherthe ends justify the means. You have. Chelsea had moved away from the star-struck kid I’d perceived her to be. She was still excited to be a part of the event but she no longer hung on everybody’s words like they were the last Gospel.“Chelsea was on Brandon’s TV show, ” Liz told me. “That’s where she got her start and … there were rumors.”“Rumors?” I asked.“That she and Brandon had … a one-night fling, ” Liz said softly.“Oh, shit, ” I said. “I didn’t read about that. I mean, I did the research on all of them when you told me who. We didn't want beer only hard liquor. I could tell Diane was drunk when she started talking about her frustration with my uncle being so busy and couldn't give her time. Jake didn't want to hear it and went up to the bow to sleep.I continued listening to Diane's talking. Then we talked about the incident earlier and I said how lucky those guys to have touched her. I said that now uncle Calvin isn't the only one who touched her. I was stunned when she responded that actually there was someone.