Chapter 10
The odd pizza delivery yesterday and Jennie’s anxiety last night had him mulling over reasons for both. As hard as he tried, nothing seemed to take hold as an answer. A slap on the back from his partner shifted David’s thoughts to the task at hand—serving a warrant to the creep who targeted Zoey.
He focused on the sidewalk edging the street. A couple ambled toward them laughing as their dog pranced around, getting tangled in its leash.
He clicked the mic on his shoulder. “Hanes. Take care of our visitors down the street.”
“Ten-four, detective.”
The search warrant came last night, and he and Brandon spent the morning strategizing and bringing the team up to date on the latest intel. With everyone in place, the last thing they needed was unwanted civilians in danger.
The weight of his Kevlar vest trapped the heat of the hot July sun. Sweat trickled down his back and dotted his forehead. He patted his tactical pants confirming his extra clip was in place.
He nudged his partner. “Ready?”
Brandon scanned the area and turned to face him. A look of boredom crossed his partner’s face. “Yup. Let’s go get the bad guy.”
David pursed his lips to hide a smile. Leave it to Brandon to be relaxed about walking into a dangerous situation. He wished he had the same ability to compartmentalize, but past experience had taken that away.
Taking a deep breath, he released it through parted lips. His heartrate lowered. His hands grew steady. He was ready to take down the guy who’d brought fear into Zoey’s life.
He engaged his mic. “Okay, boys and girls, stay alert.” He nodded to the man with the battering ram to take his place at the bottom of the porch steps.
He and Brandon slipped in position on either side of the front door. He rolled his neck then pounded on the wooden frame. “Police! Search warrant! Open up!”
Silence met his command. No scuffling. Nothing. He narrowed a questioning gaze at Brandon.
His partner shrugged.
“Eddie Winters! Open up!”
Still nothing.
“All right, take it down.”
Five seconds later, the door hung at an awkward angle and his team swarmed inside. Shouts of “Search warrant” echoed throughout the house.
“Whitman! I got a body.”
The light smell of decomp met his nose. He wound his way to the back of the house and stepped into the kitchen.
Officer Carlson crouched just beyond the pool of blood under the lifeless form of Eddie Winters.
“Not how I wanted this to go down,” he muttered.
Carlson raised an eyebrow. “Well, he made someone mad, and it wasn’t us.” The man pointed to Winters’s face and torso. “Appears someone hated him. Looks as though whoever it was took their time beating him to a pulp before putting a bullet in his chest.”
David rubbed the back of this neck. “Get the crime scene team here and figure out who did this.” He spun and headed to find his partner.
“Here.” Brandon handed him a stack of photos.
Blue gloves on, he accepted the offering and flipped through them. His stomach churned. “Winters was a class A…” No, he’d made a vow to clean up his language. But right now, he wished he hadn’t. He exhaled. “This dude was sick.”
He shoved the offending pics back at Brandon. “Take ‘em. I’d rather not see those again. I need some air.” He snapped the plastic gloves from his hands and stomped out the front door.
Arms folded across his chest, David leaned against his department vehicle.
He watched as his team wrapped up their duties in silence and the M.E.
shoved the gurney in the back of the van.
He’d say “what a waste” but was it really?
He closed his eyes. What kind of man thought that about another human?
Every life had potential, but at the moment, he couldn’t find it in Eddie’s.
The guy took the word disgusting to a whole new level.
For now, David would be satisfied that another pedophile was off the streets for good. Later, once the bile in the back of his throat subsided, he’d reconsider—maybe.
Brandon appeared seemingly from nowhere. A crease marred the man’s forehead. “Let’s go get the paperwork done.”
He nodded and circled the car.
The events of the day had taken their toll on the team. The evidence found in the house had several officers including himself exiting the building for a bit of fresh air before returning to their duties.
Instead of forming a case against Eddie, he and Brandon now searched for the person who murdered their suspect.
Back at the station, David paced the bullpen.
Brandon pushed out a chair with his foot. “Sit. You’re making me edgy.”
He sat, then stood. “Sorry. I need to get out of here for a few minutes.”
“Whitman.”
He pivoted and caught his partner’s questioning gaze.
“What’s going on?” Brandon asked.
“Something’s not sitting right, and I can’t put my finger on it.”
“I’m listening.” Brandon leaned back in his office chair and clasped his fingers behind his head.
David ran a hand over his hair. “I don’t know. That’s what’s driving me nuts.” He stared at the wall behind his partner. “Look, I’m outta here for a few.”
He all but ran from the station. Flipping open the Velcro pocket in his pantleg, he grabbed his truck keys. He slowed and lifted his face to the sun. What was wrong with him? He’d never left his partner hanging before.
The heat penetrated his tactical pants and department polo shirt and warmed his cheeks.
He glanced at his truck. The thing would be baking from sitting there all day. He might as well cool it down before he got in and burned his hands on the steering wheel.
Pushing the remote starter, the engine revved and the world exploded.
Oxygen rushed from his lungs. His body flew through the air and blistering heat followed.
The world turned dark gray, and silence descended.
“David.”
A voice spoke from a deep tunnel.
“Come on partner, talk to me.”
His eyes fluttered open and he came eye to eye with Brandon.
“Can you hear me?”
“Kinda. Speak up.” David lifted his hand and brought it to his forehead.
“I’m practically yelling.”
“Oh.” Well, that wasn’t good. He wanted to close his eyes and go to sleep, but his partner wouldn’t stop yammering.
“Lie still. Your body took abuse from that explosion. Paramedics will be here soon.”
“Explosion?”
Brandon glared at him. “Are you serious? Or are you being Mr. Funny Man?”
“What exploded?”
“Your truck, dude.”
A groan rumbled from his chest. He’d just made the last payment.
Good thing for insurance. But would it cover an explosion?
A sudden spark of memory hit him. He’d used the remote starter an instant before he’d found himself flat on his back.
He blinked. Why on Earth was he concerned with insurance when someone had tried to kill him?
“Brandon?”
“We’re on it. You just take it easy. I want my partner back in working order and soon.”
David’s stomach twisted. Who wanted him dead?
***
The Emergency Department had finally emptied after a busy morning.
The fact no one sat in the waiting room was a miracle.
Jennie leaned her shoulder against the wall and closed her eyes.
Except for the short time she’d chatted with David, she hadn’t relaxed last night.
The eerie sensation had never left, and she hadn’t slept much, if at all.
“You don’t look so good.”
Jennie glanced over to discover Tammy’s concerned gaze.
“Long night?” Her friend waggled her eyebrows.
“Not a chance.” She didn’t date, and Tammy knew it. Her coworker had never asked, but Jennie had a feeling the woman had the basic idea why. “I couldn’t sleep.”
“I’d imagine you haven’t had a good night’s rest since this thing with Zoey started.”
No, she hadn’t. But that wasn’t the reason she’d watched the clock change every hour last night. She shivered.
“Since it’s eased up, why don’t we hit the report room and take a break.”
Jennie plodded behind Tammy to the other side of the main desk and into the small area they used for shift reports and a makeshift breakroom.
Due to the crazy schedule of the Emergency Department, the hospital administrator had splurged for a single cup coffee maker, a microwave, and a small refrigerator.
“Sit. I’ll get you a cup of coffee. You look like you need it.” Tammy shooed her toward a chair.
Jennie plopped onto the hard plastic seat. She rested her head on the wall behind her and closed her eyes. “Thanks. The stress is catching up with me.”
A hand gripped her shoulder.
“Jennie?”
Her shoulder shook.
“Jennie?”
She pried her eyes open and blinked. “Tammy?”
“Yeah, it’s me. You fell asleep the second you stopped talking.” Tammy placed a warm mug in her hand.
She inhaled the bold aroma. “How long?”
“I let you rest for ten minutes, then decided I’d better wake you up in case we get swamped by patients.” Tammy took the seat next to her.
Jennie took a sip, then massaged the kink out of her neck. “I guess I needed it.”
“I’d say. Want to tell me what’s really going on?”
The ward clerk poked her head into the room. “We have an ambulance coming in from the police station. Something about an explosion.”
“Who?” she demanded, but the petite woman had hurried off. Jennie’s heart thundered against her breastbone. “It can’t be him. It just can’t be.” She jumped from her seat and rushed to the emergency entrance.
Tammy stood next to her and rubbed circles on her back. “Want me to call for backup and you sit this one out?”
She shook her head. “No matter who it is, I have a job to do, and I’m going to do it.” Inhaling, she planted herself at the door, looped her stethoscope around her neck, and gripped the ends.
Please don’t let it be David.
The sliding doors whooshed open, and the hot July air slapped her in the face.
Mitch hurried next to the gurney, pushing it into the building. “Where do you want him, Jennie?”
Jennie focused on the older paramedic, afraid to find out the identity of his patient. “Bay one. We’re clear right now. Vitals?”
Mitch rattled off the man’s vitals, and she breathed a sigh of relief.