Chapter 42
Iangled around, moving out of the line of fire.
Jack flicked a quarter through the crack. It bounced off the floor and rolled, drawing Earl’s attention. He twisted from Teagan, pulling the pistol away from her head involuntarily. It gave Jack a momentary window.
BANG!
Jack took the shot.
Muzzle flash flickered.
The bullet rocketed across the shack and drilled into the back of Earl's shoulder, painting the front wall with crimson.
Teagan spun away at just the right moment.
Earl’s hand went limp, and the pistol fell to the floor, clattering away.
I kicked the door open and stormed inside, my rifle aimed at the dirtbag. “On the ground, now!”
Earl clutched at his shoulder, his face twisted with pain. Blood oozed through his fingers. “You fucking shot me, man!”
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
“Get down! Now!”
Earl sobbed and complied, his right arm limp. The brachial plexus had been shredded. If he ever regained the use of his arm again, he’d be lucky.
I kicked his pistol to the far corner, then pounced on the scumbag. I slapped the cuffs around his wrists and wasn’t too gentle about it. Earl groaned in pain.
JD joined me in the shack.
With the perp secure, I put pressure on his wounds, trying to stem the tide of crimson. I wanted this guy alive so the families of the missing girls could get closure. Who knew if he would talk. I read him his rights.
Jack checked on Teagan. "Are you okay?”
Frazzled, she nodded.
Sweat and tears had streaked her mascara, and her disheveled hair made her look feral.
He released her handcuffs and pulled the gag from her mouth. She gave him a tight hug. "Thank God you found me.”
"Good thing you had your earbuds with you.”
Jack stepped outside and signaled to Tango One. The helicopter touched down in the meadow a few moments later.
EMTs and paramedics arrived soon thereafter and took over with Earl.
I stepped to Teagan, and she flung her arms around me and held tight.
“You sure you’re okay?”
“I’ll be fine. I don’t know what I’d do without you two.”
The rotors swirled, bending the high grass as I escorted Teagan out of the shack and across the meadow to the bird. I helped her aboard, and a deputy gave her a bottle of water.
The sheriff arrived shortly after, and we caught him up to speed.
With a medevac inbound, I flew back to the station with Teagan in Tango One.
JD stayed behind to wrap up and pilot the Raptor home.
EMTs and paramedics waited on the tarmac at the station to triage Teagan for any injuries. They checked her out when we landed and asked if she wanted to go to the ER.
She declined.
I filled out a report and surrendered my duty weapon. I knew the sheriff would put me and JD on leave when he returned. It was standard protocol after an officer-involved shooting.
When all the paperwork was done, I collected Teagan and called for a rideshare.
“How are you holding up?”
She nodded. “I’m good.”
She’d been through the wringer. In a meek voice, she said, "I don't want to go back to my apartment. I don't feel safe there right now."
I nodded. "You can stay in the loft above Diver Down."
She looked up at me with those adorable eyes, "I'd rather stay with you."
Her voice was soft and smooth and irresistible.
"I have a houseguest at the moment. But you can stay in one of the below-deck staterooms.”
She frowned. "Oh, that's right. I almost forgot about her.” She sighed. "I guess I'll have to settle for the loft. I don’t want to impose.”
“Not an imposition. Hell, the night’s already over.”
“The loft is fine.”
"I don't think anybody else is going to come after you tonight. But I’ll give you a gun just in case."
"I had a bad feeling the minute I stepped off the elevator at my apartment. I got to my unit, and the door was unlocked. I always lock the deadbolt when I leave. Earl must have picked the lock. I was so focused on the door. He came out of the stairwell and tased me. That sucked.”
"I bet.” I paused. "I'm glad you're okay.”
"Thanks to you.”
"Maybe you should start listening to that voice in your head. You know, the one you don't want to listen to.”
She frowned and took a deep breath. "Maybe you're right.”
The sun crested the horizon as I stepped outside with Teagan. Hordes of media rushed in. Cameras flashed, and microphones hovered overhead.
Paris shouted, “Were you kidnapped by the Bay Strangler?”
“I don’t know who I was kidnapped by, and I don’t care. He’s locked up now.”
I declined to comment and escorted her to a rideshare as it pulled into the lot. We slipped inside the white sedan, and the media swarmed. They couldn’t get enough.
The driver navigated through the crowd and took us to Diver Down. He dropped us off at the entrance.
We hopped out, and I unlocked the door to the restaurant and escorted Teagan to the loft above. “Make yourself at home. Feel free to stay here as long as you’d like.“
“Thanks,” she said. “I’m so wound up, I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep.”
“Alejandro is opening today. I’ll find somebody to cover your shift. Take the day off. Hell, take the week off.”
"How about a month?”
“If that's what you need."
"I'm fine. I don't need a month. But I’ll tell you what I do need. A vacation!”
"Where do you want to go?”
Teagan shrugged. "I don’t know. I need to think about that."
"Well, it's my treat whenever you make a decision."
She smiled. "You're the best."
"I know.”
She gave me another hug and squeezed tight, then gave me a kiss on the cheek. Teagan gripped my hand as we parted, and I told her to call me if she needed anything.
I left the loft and plunged down the steps, then locked the main door after I stepped outside.
Amber rays of sun cascaded across the marina as I jogged back to the Avventura. I crossed the passerelle and slipped into the salon. Buddy perked up from his slumber on the couch. He jumped down and trotted to me. I knelt down and petted him, then hustled up to my stateroom.
Madelyn stirred as I stepped inside.
I peeled out of my clothes and slipped into bed, hoping to get a little sleep.
"Is everything okay?" she asked in a sleepy yawn.
"It is now.”
"Have you been out all night?”
"Go back to sleep. I'll tell you when you wake up."
"Well, I'm up now.”
Madelyn gasped when I told her the story. "Oh my God, I hope she's okay.”
"Me too. That kind of thing can mess with somebody's head.”
Madelyn curled up beside me, and I managed to get a few hours of sleep.
I woke to an empty bed and the smell of fresh coffee. I crawled from the covers, slipped on some clothes, and stumbled down to the galley.
Madelyn had grilled up quite the spread—bacon, eggs, hash browns, French toast, the works. We dished up plates and chowed down at the breakfast nook. We crunched on bacon and sipped coffee, and I gave her more details about last night’s adventure.
Isabella called about midway through the meal. “Hey, I’ve got some information you might find interesting.”