29. Ledger
Ledger
Leaving Shiloh to sleep, I get ready for work.
She's usually rushing around in the morning, and I leave before she does.
Her curly blonde hair is all over the pillow and her lips parted slightly.
What I wouldn’t give to see that every morning.
I took Dozer out again, gave him a little something to eat, since he has to eat small portions right now. And put him back in his kennel.
Hopefully he doesn’t start whining again when I leave.
Running out, I stop at the grocery store and grab a bouquet of flowers. I smile at the label. Mae worked out a deal with them to supply their flowers. So they’re from her.
Heading back to the house, I hope she’s not awake yet. Quietly opening the door, I grit my teeth, hoping Dozer doesn’t bark, and luckily, he doesn’t. We’ll work on guard dog skills later.
I grab a vase and put the flowers in water, write Shiloh a note and head out for the day.
While I lay there last night with her curled up next to me.
I made a plan to give her more reassurance.
Based on what she told me about her past, that’s not something Grey did.
In fact, it seems like he took advantage of her more than anything.
I won’t be that man, that kind of husband.
I will show her that she’s safe with me, and she doesn’t have to worry about repercussions.
But my gut tells me there’s more to the story.
We’ve talked, but not enough. There’s a reason for all of this, and I’m going to get to the bottom of it.
After my workout, I walk into the station and find Luke sitting at his desk, half-asleep, with his head in his hands.
I kick his chair, and he startles awake, blinking a couple of times.
“My office,” I tell him.
He nods and grabs his cup of coffee, downing it.
Luke drops into a chair and sighs.
“Any word from Will?” I ask him.
He puffs out his cheeks and sighs. “No, and I’m not sure what to do with it.”
“Have you seen him in town? Check on him at home? I’d do it myself, but if someone is watching or with him, I’m afraid they’ll call our bluff,” I say.
Luke rubs his face. “I saw him briefly, but wasn’t able to talk to him.”
“Do you think he’ll drop in at Perry’s or something?”
“He might. I’ll check it out tonight.”
“I’ll do the Wooden Cowboy. Where are we at with everything else?”
Luke sighs. “Surveillance is still challenging. Sam has been trying to get pictures, really anything, but they’re hardly leaving the ranch.”
“We got the warrant for the wiretap, but there’s no one to monitor the phone taps. We’re stretched thin as it is. Grey is nowhere to be found, which is a problem. I will try to keep up, but it will be recordings, and we’ll have to backtrack.”
Luke nods.
“How are you holding up?” I ask him.
He nods and rubs his chin. “I’m ready for it to be over.”
“I think we all are,” I mumble.
“Yeah, so I’ll see if I can talk to Will. See if there’s a drop off day or something we can plan for.”
“Call me as soon as you do, then I can get my contacts moving.”
Luke leans back in his chair, kicking his feet out, crossing them at the ankles, as a knowing grin builds on his face. “So, boss, are you going to bring your wife to the Wooden Cowboy?” he asks sing-song.
I shoot him a glare and he wiggles his eyebrows.
“Get out before I put you on night shift patrol for a month, then suspend you,” I say, pointing at him.
Luke grins and shakes his shoulders. “Boss you know, you have seemed a little… happier lately. I wonder if it’s —”
I stand and start to round my desk. “Finish that sentence, I dare you.”
Luke’s eyes widen but his mischievous grin is still firmly in place. “Oh wow, she must be really —”
I throw my pencil cup at him and he runs out the door laughing, before it can hit him.
Daisy pops her head around the corner. “Uh, Ledger, I think there’s a problem.”
“What’s up?” I ask her stooping down to pick up my pens and pencils.
“We got a call. A man is at TJ’s and Buck thinks he’s high, and uh, he has a gun,” she whispers.
“Why didn’t you start with that?” I force myself not to yell at Daisy grab my side arm, and call for Luke.
I speed down the street to TJ’s Grocery and pull up behind Buck’s cruiser.
I radio in the situation and call for back up, and don’t wait for a response.
Luke and I hop out using the doors as a shield to see what we’re working with.
“Buck talk to me!” I yell.
He glances behind him and faces forward again. There’s a man swinging his arms wildly in the grocery store.
“Suspect is in the front there, he’s waving a gun. I didn’t have back up to enter,” he yells.
“Do we know who he is?” I holler back.
“No sir! I don’t think he’s from around here,” Buck says.
There is no SWAT in Paxton. We are the SWAT and we’re too deep into the situation to call from another larger county to respond with an actual team. We have to go at this on our own.
“Keep on him Buck!” I yell.
“Luke, grab a vest. We’re going to approach from either side.”
We both sneak around the back of my cruiser and grab the bulletproof vests.
I take off my hat and pull the vest over my chest, tightening it on the sides. Dropping my hat back on my head I look up at Luke. “Ready?”
Luke dips his chin and unholsters his gun. “Let’s do this.”
“Coming around Buck!” I yell.
“Yup!” he calls.
There are two entrances on either side of the store, one for in and one for out. I hustle to the left side for out and Luke approaches the opposite.
“Approaching suspect from the West,” I radio in.
“Approaching from the East,” Luke says over the radio.
“Suspect pacing back and forth in front of the windows. Appears to have Lacey cornered in one of the checkout booths,” Buck says over the radio.
“Entering the building,” I mutter over radio.
I open the door and slide through, when the suspects back is to me. Slipping behind a display I see Nicole and her son, Ethan hiding behind a display. “Get down one of the aisles, go,” I tell them.
Nicole nods with tears in her eyes and hurries across the aisle, while I keep my eye on the man with the gun.
Moving up I slip up behind a checkout line. “In position,” I mutter.
“Copy, in position,” Luke says.
“Sheriff’s Department, put the gun down and your hands up!” I yell.
The man spins around in my direction with wild eyes. He mumbles something and I can’t make out what he said.
“Put the gun down!” I yell again.
“Never!” he yells.
I repeat myself and he starts pacing again.
“Sir, put the gun down, no one has to get hurt!” I yell.
Then he starts shooting. Bullets ricochet off of the ceiling, shattering the fluorescent lights and a couple windows. I grit my teeth and aim, shooting the man in the leg. He falls down and Luke stands up approaching the man from his side while I do on the other.
Luke kicks away the gun and radios for the ambulance, while I flip the man around and handcuff him.
I read his Miranda Rights, but I’m not entirely sure he understands a word.
His pupils are blown, and he doesn’t even seem to feel the pain.
After he’s cuffed, Buck runs in with our quick bag and we get pressure on the leg wound.
“Ambulance is ten out,” Luke says.
“Buck make sure everyone is okay, if they are then take some statements.”
“Copy,” Buck says.
I check the man’s pockets as best I can, but don’t find anything but a little plastic packet with a white dust in it, a couple crumpled up bills, and a half-eaten what looks like peanut butter sandwich in a bag.
“Sir, what’s your name?” I ask him.
He mumbles about sugar, and I sigh, realizing we’re not going to get anything out of him until he sobers up.
“Where is that ambulance?” I ask.
“They should be close,” Luke says.
I nod and keep checking to make sure he’s awake.
Buck and Luke evacuate people from the store, and a few minutes later the ambulance arrives.
Once the paramedics get the man with no name. We start the breakdown of the scene.
It’s going to be a long day.
It’s after eight at night by the time I get home. After fielding calls from all of my family, writing reports, and handling the PR, even if it’s small, I’m wiped out. A few texts from Shiloh popped in, and gave her a thumbs up so she knew I read it.
I put my hat on the hook, boots on the tray, and trudge into the kitchen. I think there are leftovers somewhere.
Then out of nowhere, Shiloh leaps into my arms. I grunt in surprise, immediately feeling better with her in my arms.
“Thank God you’re okay,” she says digging her nose in my neck and hugging me tightly.
“Yeah, I’m alright,” I tell her.
Then she pulls back with fury all over her face. “A thumbs-up Ledger? Seriously?” she yells.