She hadn't even reached the door when she heard the shot. And then those other Jacob's voice distorted with pain; his heavy, bumping, tumbling descent; the front door opening and slamming. Somehow the sound she didn't hear was her own screaming, but she knew, later, from the condition of her throat how much of herself had gone into that.One thirty-six. Jacob crumpled at the bottom of the steps in a frightening, ragdoll way. He was conscious - barely. He spoke. She could tell he wanted to he reassuring, but the words merged at once into a groan.
