Chapter 25
25
A man’s voice shouted at the same time a gunshot rang out from the bedroom.
Cody cleared the hallway in two giant steps. He hadn’t wanted to barge in without seeing what was going on or if Gary was still above the door, but he wasn’t waiting any longer.
He swung open the door to see the man from the parking lot cradling one arm against his body. Geena stood over him, holding what looked like a birdcage perch menacingly in front of her, daring the man to move.
The gun was on the floor, a few feet from both of them, so Cody rushed in and grabbed it. He then aimed it at Geena and Gary’s captor, before turning his head to Geena. “You okay?”
She nodded, still holding the perch with both hands.
“And Gary?”
“Rat bastard!”
Gary bobbed his head up and down from his position on top of the small cage.
“That’s right,” Geena told him.
“The gunshot?”
Geena aimed the perch like a pointer behind him, and Cody spared a glance to see a bullet-sized hole in the wall.
His shoulders lowered in relief, but he quickly returned his full attention to the man in front of them. It was definitely the guy who had dropped off Gary at the zoo. He looked simultaneously pained and panicked as he held his arm—the one Geena must have hit with that perch—against his body.
“Nice move,” Cody said to her.
“Thanks.” She glared at the man. “I wasn’t about to let him hurt Gary.”
Cody aimed the gun at the man’s feet. He didn’t want him to have any leverage to lunge at either of them.
“Down,” he said. “On your knees.”
The man did as ordered, still groaning in pain and holding the wrist Geena must have whacked. Cody hoped she broke it. It was the least this man deserved.
Geena relaxed a little and asked, “How did you know we were here?”
“I went to meet you for lunch,” Cody said. “I saw you walking out with him, and something seemed off.”
A small smile appeared on Geena’s face amidst the terror and chaos she’d just experienced. He didn’t want credit for showing up late after she’d done a great job of protecting herself, but he was happy that she was at least glad to see him. That she was grateful he’d come to help.
There wasn’t anywhere else he would be.
Sirens rang out from a distance, then silenced as the sound transformed into tires crunching up the driveway.
“You called the police?”
“I texted Lauren,” he said. “I didn’t want this guy to hear me making a call outside.”
“That was smart.”
Cody nodded at her weapon. “You can relax now. I’ve got my eye on him, and the cops will be inside in a second.”
She looked at the perch, seeming to have forgotten she was even holding it. Geena then lowered her arms and turned to face Gary.
“You okay, buddy?”
Gary made a few clucks and chirps, then took several tentative steps toward her.
Keeping one eye on the man on the floor, Cody watched Geena assess Gary to make sure he was in good health and hadn’t been wounded during the scuffle or before she’d arrived.
“I would have split some of the money with you,” the man said between pained moans.
“I don’t care about the money,” Geena spat at him. “I thought we were friends.”
“We were.” All of the venom had left James, and he sounded almost remorseful. “Until you figured everything out.”
Geena narrowed her eyes at the man, and Cody felt a rush of protective energy for her. She was clearly emotionally wounded by the turn of events, and he wanted nothing more than to wrap her in a safe embrace.
Her face was red with anger now. “That’s. Not. Friendship.”
Before the man could reply, the police announced themselves, then Cody heard them burst through the front door. Their footsteps scattered as they spread out to check the various rooms. One cop then announced himself again as he entered the bedroom they were in. The cop aimed his gun at Cody, since he was the only one with a weapon. Cody put his hands in the air with the gun dangling from his finger.
“This is the man who kidnapped me,” Geena said, pointing at the other guy. “He stole this parrot and kidnapped me from work to help me get information from it.”
The cop looked confused by that, but he seemed to believe her.
He nodded at Cody. “Put it on the ground. Slowly.” Once Cody did as ordered, the cop turned his attention to the man on his knees. “Hands behind your back.”
The man put his hands in the air, grimacing as he did so. “I think she broke my hand.”
“Behind your back,” the cop repeated.
The man grimaced more, but did as commanded.
The cop handcuffed him and helped him to his feet. “We’ve got medics on the way. You can complain to them.” Then, to Cody and Geena, he said, “Someone will be in to take your statements. Don’t leave this room.”
As soon as he exited with the man who’d caused everything, Cody rushed to Geena and wrapped her in his arms. “I’m so glad you’re safe.”
“Thank you for calling the police. And for finding us.”
He could feel her shuddering as the adrenaline left her system. He put a hand behind her head while she cried against his shoulder.
“You’re safe now, Geena. I’m here. You’re safe.”