I placed a greasy hand on the receiver and said, "Hello?" The high-pitched screaming from the other end almost burst my eardrum. "Aaaaaahhhh! Oh-Ohmy ... Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh!" I knew two things: it was Cindy, and she was out of control. "Cindy?" "Aaaaaaaaaaahhhh! " "Cindy!" I heard the phone drop, but the screaming continued. "Is it Annie?" No response. I heard things crashing and breaking in the background. I didn't wait for the answer. I jumped off the boat and hit the dock running. "Charlie! Put her in the water!" Driving in a car would take me fifteen, maybe even twenty minutes because I'd have to circle the lake. Podnah could get me there in five if I pushed her. I bounded into my office, grabbed the backpack stuffed into the top of the closet, and shoved the cell phone in my pocket on the way back out the door. When I reached the dock, Charlie had her in the water, engine running.
