Chapter 4
A police officer got out of the car and walked over. “I’m Officer Jennings. Are you the ones who called in the shooting?”
Meri saw the officer was a young man, perhaps no older than she was. His blonde hair was short and partly hidden by his hat.
“Yes, sir.” Chase held out his right hand. “Chase Harper and this is Meridith Anderson.”
The man shook Chase’s hand. “Where did the shots come from?”
“It came from behind us.” He pointed over his shoulder. “And the man who shot at us came from between those two cars.” He pointed at a blue Chevy Impala and red BMW. “We were on our way to see if anyone needed help when you arrived.”
The officer walked in the direction Chase pointed.
Chase and Meri followed, but not too close.
“Stay back.” The officer held up his left arm, hand bent, palm facing them.
When the police officer stopped, he squatted and pressed his fingers to a man’s throat. Then he reached up to his shoulder and spoke into the radio there. “This is Officer Jennings. Send an ambulance to my location…stat.” He stayed, took off the man’s jacket and pressed it against the chest wound.
The officer looked over his shoulder toward Chase and Meri. “Did either of you know the victim?”
Chase wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “We haven’t seen him. We were on our way here when you came up, but we hadn’t reached here. So we haven’t seen him. “
“Will you both look at him, please?”
They walked to the man on the ground. He’d been shot in the chest, but Meri saw his chest was rising and falling. Thank God he’s not dead.
She took Chase’s hand and squeezed it.
He squeezed hers back.
Taking another look at the man, Meri gasped. “I have seen him. He was in the restaurant. He left just before we did.”
Officer Jennings continued to press on the wound. “Anyone with him?”
She shook her head. “Not when he left. I didn’t see him eat, so someone could have been with him and waited outside.”
The officer nodded. “Could have. I’ll have someone check out the restaurant. You said he left just before you?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have any idea where he might have been sitting?”
“Not really. I saw him approach the door from the opposite side of the restaurant, but that’s also where the bathrooms are located.”
“Okay. If you’ll give me your contact information, Miss Anderson, I’m sure the detective assigned to the case will want to talk to you.” He turned toward Chase. “Mr. Harper, I assume we can contact you at your office?”
“Yes, of course. Whatever you need.” Chase extended his right hand.
Officer Jennings shook it, while keeping his left hand on the victim’s chest. “We’ll be in touch.” He pressed an index finger to the radio on his shoulder. “Officer Jennings here. Where is that ambulance?”
The sounds of sirens approached.
Soon two EMTs were there caring for the wounded man.
Officer Jenning’s approached them. He had a small notebook in his hand. “Ms. Anderson, if you could give me your contact information again, I’d appreciate it.”
Meri nodded. “Certainly.” She rattled off her address and phone number.”
“Thank you. You’re both free to go now.” He turned and walked to his patrol car.
Chase wrapped an arm around Meri’s shoulders. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Yes. Please.” She realized she was shaking. The sight of blood had never bothered her, but she’d never seen that much before. Not from a human being.
They walked to her loft.
She took out her keys. Her hand was shaking so much, she couldn’t get it into the lock.
Chase took her key and opened the door.
“I’m a little shook up. Would you like something to drink?” She tossed her clutch onto the table by the door and dropped her keys into the bowl there.
“I’d love a drink.”
She turned toward him. “Thank you. I don’t really want to be alone right now.”
He captured her hands and put them around his waist, then wrapped his arms around her. “I’ll stay as long as you like.”
Meri rested her head on his chest. It was rock hard and fit right against her cheek. And he was warm. His warmth was just what she needed, as she felt chilled to the bone.
She didn’t know how long they stayed that way. The way she was feeling right now, forever, wouldn’t have been long enough.
Eventually, she pulled back. “Thank you. Now, why don’t you have a seat and I’ll see what I have to drink. I know I have beer and wine, but I don’t know what I have in the way of liquor.”
From the foyer, she turned right and walked to the kitchen.
Chase followed her.
“Beer is fine.”
“Do you want a glass?”
“No, thanks.”
She opened the refrigerator, pulled out a beer, popped the top off the bottle, and handed it to him. Then she poured herself a large glass of wine. Since her glasses were big, she ended up pouring the last half of the bottle into the glass.
“Let’s sit.” She walked out to the living area and over to the sofa.
It wasn’t large, barely bigger than a loveseat, but she’d loved the teal-blue color and had used that as the centerpiece for the open area.
She sat on one end and curled her legs under her as she leaned back against the armrest, facing Chase.
Meri noticed her hand shook as she brought the glass to her lips.
Not wanting Chase to see how upset she still was, she held the glass by the stem as it sat safely on her thigh.
Chase reached over and placed a hand on her leg. “How are you?”
Meri decided to be honest with him. After all, she wasn’t Wonder Woman. She didn’t have people shooting at her all the time…or ever until tonight. “I have to admit, I’m a little shaky. I can’t believe we saw the shooter.”
“What I can’t believe is that he didn’t shoot us, too.
” He grabbed a coaster from the holder and set his beer on top of it on the glass topped coffee table.
“Hopefully, the man will make it and be able to tell the police who his assailant was. But if it was just a random mugging gone bad, they might never catch the man.”
“And if it wasn’t? What if that man tries again? Or what if he decides to eliminate us?” Acid churned in her stomach at the thought. She’d never felt unsafe in the city…until now.
Chase smiled. “Have you been watching too many detective shows on TV? He doesn’t know who we are. He won’t be coming after us.”
She cocked her head and stared, wondering if he was kidding or not.
Regardless, she wanted to believe he was right.
“Chase, you’re a well-known man. You saw the cop.
He didn’t even take down your contact information.
All he needed was your name, if that. He probably recognized you immediately.
” The tears she was trying so hard to hold back began to fall, one after the other, forming rivers down her cheeks.
“Come here.” He waited for her to straighten her legs and then pulled her next to him and placed her glass on the table.
Then he settled her against his side with his arms around her.
“No one is coming after us. That man is long gone. I gave a detailed description to the police and I’ll send it out to all my people. We’ll be fine.”
“You’ll be fine. What if he comes after me?
When I’m here by myself? I don’t want to carry a gun, even though I have a concealed carry permit.
” She wiped at her eyes. “I just got it to appease my dad.” It feels so good to have Chase’s arms around me.
I admit I could get used to it, but that’s the path to heartache.
I will not fall for my handsome, and oh so hot, employer.
That he’s nice and treats me with respect doesn’t matter.
That no man has treated me that way for a long time doesn’t matter.
I thought Jared was the man for me, but he didn’t want me, just Angela.
I will never let anyone take advantage of me again. I want to mean the world to someone.
“You’re not famous, and there is absolutely no reason the shooter would come after you.” He raised his hand when she started to interrupt. “But to be on the safe side, I’ll assign two of my employees to guard you when I can’t.”
She leaned away. “I can’t let you do that. I have no way to pay for something like that.”
“Did I ask you to pay? Did I even ask if you approved? No, I didn’t, because this is something I’m doing for my peace of mind. If it makes you feel safer, that’s a plus.”
She couldn’t believe he said that with a straight face, but the longer she looked at him, the more determined he seemed to be.
He stared, one dark eyebrow lifted.
She could tell he was biting the inside of his cheek. She’d better agree before he bit his cheek too hard and started to bleed. Finally, she nodded. “All right. When I’m not working on the mural, I would appreciate the surveillance…for a while. Not indefinitely.”
“And when you’re with me, you won’t need other security.
I’ll get someone over here now.” He took out his phone, punched in a number.
“Yeah, it’s Chase. I want you and Avery to this address now.
” He gave the address. “You’re providing security.
No one in or out except the owner.” He listened for a moment.
“Yeah, I’ll introduce you when you get here.
How soon can you make it?” He listened again.
“Okay, see you in twenty.” He pressed stop and put the phone back in his pocket.
“They’ll be here in twenty minutes. His name is Eric Bader, she’s Avery Kitashima.
They are two of my best and are used to working together. You’ll be safe.”
“Thank you. I’m hoping their service will be totally unnecessary.”
“It’s not unnecessary if it gives you peace of mind. I want them with you most of the time. When you buy paint or groceries or whatever you do, they will be with you, unless you’re with me.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean when I’m with you?”
“Exactly what I said. I intend to spend a great deal more time with you, Meri. A lot more time.” He winked.