Tracing a Killer, page 15
Captain rested on the floor with his head up looking around. He thumped his tail when he saw Hannah. She bent down to pet him and ran her fingers through his thick fur.
A distant pop caused Hannah to fall to the floor. “That was a gunshot. Get down.”
Isla had already dropped to the floor.
After commanding Captain to follow, Hannah crab-crawled to the front door and burst outside. She pressed close to the building and peered out, not seeing Rocco anywhere.
Trevor appeared in the doorway and then moved against the wall close to Captain.
“You need to stay inside,” he said.
“So do you. I can’t leave my colleague out there alone.” She pressed the talk button on her radio. “Rocco, come in. Where are you?”
No response.
She dared not try a second time. The sound of the radio might give Rocco away if he was still in the shooter’s crosshairs. He and Cocoa could just be laying low and trying to be quiet to avoid being shot at again. Or, he might already be shot and bleeding out.
The notion paralyzed her for a moment. What should she do?
She rationalized that if he had been shot, it seemed as though his K-9 would have raised the alarm with barking. Rocco must be okay but unable to respond.
“I have to go out there,” said Hannah. “I can’t leave him stranded. He might be pinned down.”
“Then I’m going with you,” said Trevor.
Isla peeked around the doorway while she used the wall to block most of her body. “Which direction do you think the shot came from?”
Hannah shook her head. “I’m guessing this side of the house and more toward the trees.” That’s where the potential hiding places were, anyway.
“I’ll stay close to the main radio,” said Isla.
With Trevor following her, Hannah and Captain hurried in the general direction she thought the shot had come from.
Rocco’s voice came across the line in a low whisper. “I think I lost him.”
Hannah scanned the trees, catching a flash of movement. “I think I see him. I’m on it.”
“Which way?”
“Not sure. He disappeared.” Hannah gasped for breath as she ran and tried to talk at the same time.
She hurried toward the trees, where she’d seen a flash of neon yellow that contrasted with the gold-, red-and rust-colored leaves that hung on the trees.
Wind made the dry leaves rattle as she and Trevor entered the trees.
“Over there.” Trevor sprinted ahead of her.
She moved to catch up.
They came to a yellow mountain bike propped against a tree. Both of them slowed their pace, then stopped abruptly. Captain was on full alert.
The first gunshot came so close to Hannah’s head that her ears rang from the intensity of it.
They both fell to the ground as the second shot zinged over them. Hannah pulled her gun, took aim and fired a shot.
Rocco’s voice came across the radio. “I heard that. On my way.”
Hannah wasn’t sure which way Rocco would be coming from. “Approach with caution.”
More shots were fired. They were driven deeper into the trees. They no longer had a clear view of the bicycle.
With her gun lifted, she watched the foliage. She heard the breaking of branches off to the side but could not risk hitting Rocco. Her heart pounded as she watched and waited to see some sign of who was coming toward them.
Rocco and Cocoa emerged through the thick underbrush.
Hannah pointed. “He’s over that way.”
The three of them rushed in the direction they had just retreated from. When they arrived in the open area where the bike had been, she saw that it was gone.
“He’s must be headed toward that dirt road,” said Trevor.
“I’m going back to get my vehicle to see if I can head him off via the road.” Rocco turned back around.
“Great, we’ll pursue on foot,” said Hannah.
With Captain by her side, she and Trevor moved toward where the trees opened up to a flat grassy area. Beyond that was the dirt road. There was no sign of David Weller or his bike. With her gun still drawn, she ran toward some brush that provided a degree of cover.
In one direction, the curved road was partially concealed by a rock formation. In the other direction, the road was straight. She could see the outskirts of the ranch in the distance.
When no shots were fired in their vicinity, she stepped out and moved toward the road. Mountain-bike tracks had left an impression in the road where it was soft, but they soon faded on the harder packed dirt.
Trevor pointed toward where the road curved. “He must have gone that way.”
Rocco’s car came into view on the part of the road that was straight. He slowed his vehicle as he approached. Then stopped with the engine still running while he rolled down the window and leaned out. “Any sign of him?”
“We think he went that way.” She pointed.
“I should be able to catch him.” He closed the window as the SUV rolled forward and sped away.
Rocco had rounded the curve by the rocks before Hannah could suggest he needed backup. The three of them and two K-9s would have been cramped in the car, anyway. The kennel took up most of the back seat. For sure, she could not leave Trevor unguarded.
“I guess we head back.” They trudged up the road, toward the ranch.
After nearly five minutes, Rocco’s voice came across the radio. “He’s not here. I should have caught up with him if he stayed on this road.”
“Where could he have gone?”
“I passed a sign for a trailhead a ways back.”
Hannah looked off in the distance, where a trail led up a rocky hill. She could just make out a bicycle as the sun glinted off the metal. The neon yellow of the rider’s clothes was also evident. The rider remained still at the peak looking in their direction, then disappeared over the other side. How menacing.
Hannah still had her hand on the radio. “I think we lost him.”
Disappointment permeated Rocco’s voice as it came through the radio. “I’ll get turned around and come so you guys can use my patrol vehicle. Neither you nor Trevor should be out in the open for too long, but we can’t all fit in the vehicle.”
Hannah let go of the radio. They were standing out in the open, easy targets for a man with a gun, if he was close. They still didn’t know where the RMK was.
* * *
Trevor reached for her hand and squeezed it. “He can’t get far on just a bicycle.”
The muscles around her mouth tightened. “Yeah, but he knows this island and all the possible hiding places. He’s managed to evade us so far.”
“He can’t hide forever,” said Trevor.
Clearly shaken, she pressed her face into her palm. “We’re so close to catching him.”
His heart squeezed tight over how distressed she was. “We’ll get him. You have a great team of officers backing you up.”
She lifted her head, revealing the tears forming in her eyes. “Sometimes it feels like this will never end.”
He wrapped his arms around her and drew her close. “We’ll do this together.”
She turned her face up to look into his eyes. He longed to comfort her and ease the pain he saw on her face.
“I know I have to keep believing that and not lose hope.” Green eyes stared at him, searching. Her gaze held a magnetic pull he could not resist.
He bent his head and kissed her. She seemed to melt against him as her hand rested on his chest.
His heart pounded as he breathed in the floral scent of perfume.
The sound of an approaching car cut the kiss short. They both stepped away from each other at the same time.
Heat rose up his neck. He looked toward where Rocco’s patrol car had come into view. He stopped the car, got out and deployed Cocoa.
“We’ll walk back,” he said, handing Hannah the keys.
Once they were settled in the patrol car, an awkward silence surrounded them. What had that kiss even been about? Had he just caught her at a vulnerable moment or was she opening her heart to him?
He wasn’t even sure of his own feelings. He had so wanted to comfort her.
He cleared his throat.
She started talking before he could say anything. Her words had a nervous rapid-fire quality to them. “I just hope Chase understands why I left the community room. I don’t know why those guys are taking so long in getting back, anyway...” She glanced in his direction and then continued to talk about the case.
Okay, so the kiss had made her nervous or confused her.
Hannah drove on the dirt road and turned into the ranch. In order to get back to the bunkhouse, they had to go past the busier parts of the ranch. Trevor found himself scanning the crowds and clusters of people, looking for a blond man in sunglasses and a hat. He doubted Cowgirl would be with the RMK if he was getting ready to make a move.
When they arrived at the community room, there were two other patrol vehicles parked in the dirt lot. Chase and the others were back.
Inside, Chase and Ian were sitting at the table sipping coffee.
Chase looked up as they entered and addressed his comments to Hannah. “Isla filled me in on the excitement. I’ve sent Selena to watch David Weller’s vehicle. It was ill-advised for you to leave the protection of the community room, but I understand why you did it.”
“I couldn’t leave Rocco stranded out there while he was being shot at.”
“I get that. Where is he, anyway?”
“He’s walking.” Trevor felt the need to defend Hannah. “We both needed the protection of a vehicle.”
“I am trying to make smart choices.” Hannah pulled a strand of red hair behind her ear. “But I feel an obligation to help out as much as I possibly can.”
“I know that.” Chase put his coffee mug down. “All the same, as much as possible stay close to the community room and to Trevor. He’s in just as much danger as you are.”
Ian rose to his feet and picked up his cup. “I’m going to get some sleep.”
Chase said, “We have the RMK’s scent on the blankets from the puppies. Grace, Meadow’s dog, is trained to track. If the RMK is at the ranch, maybe she can find him.”
Trevor tugged on Hannah’s sleeve. “We were in the process of trying to get that roast in the oven when we were interrupted.”
Maybe if they were alone and working on something together, they both would relax, and they could talk about the kiss.
Hannah followed him into the kitchen. She searched the cupboards until she found a large roasting pan. “How about I cut potatoes while you brown the meat?”
“Sounds good.” He moved toward the refrigerator and took out the roast.
They both worked in their respective areas. Trevor found a frying pan and oil. He removed the meat from the packaging, enjoying the sizzle when he placed it in the hot oil.
Hannah cut potatoes with an intense energy.
Trevor placed the browned meat in the roasting pan. “Now what?”
She turned back toward the counter, grabbing a cutting board. “I think I saw an onion in the produce bin.”
He took the cutting board, retrieved the onion and a knife, then stood beside her at the counter while she continued to work on the potatoes.
Her shoulder brushed against his sending an electric charge through him. “Listen, about that kiss. I didn’t mean to be forward. I don’t know where I stand with you.”
She sliced through the potatoes, making rapid pounding noises on the cutting board. She turned toward him. “It’s all right. Maybe we both just got caught up in the moment.”
It felt like a rock had dropped in his stomach as he tried to sort through his confused feelings. “Sure. That must have been it.”
She turned back toward her task. She’d made it clear she didn’t want him reading anything into the kiss.
They finished putting the roast together without any further conversation other than exchanges about the logistics of the cooking.
The day wore on. Trevor spent his time trying to focus on the work he could do on his laptop or phone. When Ian woke up, Chase sent him out to continue to search the ranch. Selena radioed that there still was no sign of David Weller returning to his car.
While the room filled with the aroma of the roast cooking, Hannah retrieved a book from her patrol car and sat down on the opposite end of the couch from Trevor to read.
She offered him a quick nervous smile before turning her attention to her book. Even that brought back the memory of how right it had felt to hold her and kiss her.
The team regrouped with all but Rocco who took over the stakeout on the car, so Selena could have a break. Ian as well was still searching the ranch. They ate dinner together after Chase said grace.
“I’ll stand guard outside the bunkhouse. Meadow and Selena, I’d like you two to continue to search the grounds at night. Your K-9s have the best training for finding the RMK. Take a power nap if you need one. If David Weller doesn’t show up for his car under the cover of darkness, he’s probably not going to come back to it. We won’t continue the stakeout on the car. I can’t waste precious personnel if it’s proving to be a dead end.”
“There must be something I can do?” said Hannah.
Chase pushed his chair back from the table. “I can’t risk your safety, Hannah. If David Weller only has a bike for transportation, he’s not going to go far from the ranch.”
“I understand,” she said.
Hannah’s disappointment was palpable to Trevor. “Hannah thought David might have access to a boat. He was in one the first time he came after her. He could be getting around that way.”
“Could be. That limits him, too.”
Isla piped up. “Hannah, I’ll pull up some pictures of boats and you can tell me which one best matches the one you saw.”
“The marina’s not in use,” said Chase. “Where would he dock it?”
“It was a small craft. There are hundreds of little inlets around the lake where he could pull it up on shore. I know most of them from having come here as a kid,” said Hannah.
“Would you be able to point them out on a map?”
Hannah shook her head. “I’d have to show them to you in person.”
“Maybe Hannah and I and another officer could check the sights out in daylight,” suggested Trevor.
“Maybe. We’ll see what tonight yields.” Chase rose holding his plate. “I’ll be patrolling outside with Dash. Hannah, you stay here with Trevor.”
Trevor spent the rest of the night finishing the work on his laptop.
After about an hour, Hannah put down the book she’d been reading and rose from the sofa. “I finished this. I’m going to grab my Bible from my bag.” I’ll just be a minute.”
Isla rose from the sofa, where she’d been watching something on her phone with headphones. “I think I’m going out for a walk to get some air. Lock the door behind me.”
“Can do,” said Trevor.
After Isla left, Trevor tapped the keys on his laptop as he assessed the profit margins on a cattle ranch that was considering expanding into other livestock and updating some equipment.
Trevor massaged his temples. His eyes hurt from staring at a computer screen. Hannah should have been back by now.
The radio on Isla’s desk fizzled with static and then a voice came through the line. “Isla, Chase...are you there?” The voice was Selena’s.
Why wasn’t Chase picking up?
Trevor walked over to Isla’s workstation. He pushed the talk button. “Selena, it’s Trevor. Isla just stepped out. Not sure what is up with Chase.”
“We spotted a guy slinking around the grounds. Tall, like the RMK, but we couldn’t get a good look at him. He could be headed your way.”
“Thanks. I’ll go let Chase know.”
Trevor hurried into the kitchen. Before opening the back door, he peered out the window that provided a partial view of the bunkhouse.
Chase was lying on the ground outside the bunkhouse. The door that led to the men’s sleeping area had been flung wide open. Dash was nowhere in sight.
Heart pounding against his rib cage, Trevor’s first thought was concern for Hannah’s safety.
He ran toward the back door when the knob shook. Isla or Hannah would have spoken up and Isla probably would have come to the front door.
Someone was trying to breach the locked door. He froze, watching the shaking doorknob.
He pulled himself from his paralysis. He needed to get his phone in the other room.
Just as he turned to go, a gunshot exploded outside. The intruder was trying to shoot the door open.
SIXTEEN
The blast of a gunshot caused Hannah to jump. She’d taken way too much time looking for her Bible when she should have stayed with Trevor. She grabbed her firearm from the side table. Captain barked when they stepped outside.
She took in the scene. Chase was lying on the ground. Where was Dash? She checked for a pulse. Alive but unconscious. No sign of a gunshot wound.
Inside her room, she could hear her phone ringing. No time to go back to get it. She’d left her utility belt behind, as well.
It sounded like the shot had come from outside the community room. She ran around the corner. A man stood by the back door, covered in shadows.
“Police—put your hands up.”
The man turned around, fired a shot in her direction and took off running. The shot had gone wild. Her feet pounded the hard earth as she followed the man into the darkness.
