Chapter Ten #2
With that mental reminder, Ethan got moving again. With Livvy right behind him, they went back into the corridor and saw the three other rooms here. Unlike the first two, the doors were shut. And he debated just waiting for backup.
“Someone could be bleeding out,” Livvy reminded him.
Her voice was barely audible. Still, he heard her loud and clear and she was right, so they continued to move.
When they reached the first door, they moved to each side of it, and Ethan reached over with his left hand to throw it open. It was a supply room, with everything neatly arranged on shelves. Plenty of stuff, but no one was inside.
They moved to the next room. According to the nameplate attached to the wall, it was Chloe’s office. As they’d done with the supply room, Livvy and he moved to the sides of the door, and he was the one to open it.
Hell.
There was nothing neatly organized in here. Folders were scattered over the desk and floor. A chair was lying on its side. And there was a spilled and broken cup of what appeared to be coffee by the window.
What the heck had happened here?
Maybe some kind of attempted robbery? But if so, where was Chloe?
Bathroom, Livvy mouthed, tipping her head to the slightly ajar door behind the desk.
They made their way there, and Ethan checked for the scent of a recently fired gun. Nothing. No blood either. That was a good sign. But what wasn’t good was the bathroom was empty. No Chloe. Definitely no gunman.
Maybe someone had taken her?
And he thought of Anthony, of the rage the man felt for Chloe. He blamed Livvy and her for his mother’s death. So, maybe Anthony had come here to find proof of Chloe’s guilt and then things had gone to hell in a handbasket.
His phone vibrated with a text. “From Rory,” he told Livvy. “He and Bennie are in the house. They’re checking on the women and will start a room-to-room search.”
That search would need to include all three floors since it was possible the shooter had slipped up the stairs. Of course, he or she could also be long gone by now. That last shot had been fired well over five minutes ago. Plenty of time to climb out a window and just run.
They moved to the final room, but as they approached, Ethan saw the stairs that were tucked away across from it. The steps led to the second floor, but no one was on them. However, he could hear…something. Maybe someone muttering.
He moved closer, staying in front of Livvy but well aware that might not be the safest thing. In fact, nothing qualified as safe right now. They could be attacked from behind or from whoever was making that sound. Because he was certain now that it was someone mumbling.
Ethan went up two steps, and he caught movement farther up the stairs. Readying his gun, he pivoted, taking aim. And he saw a woman he recognized from her picture.
Sienna Carrington.
She was cowering behind the banister, crying. She also wasn’t alone. Ethan kept his gun aimed when he saw Franklin squatting behind her.
At first, he couldn’t tell if Franklin was using Sienna as a human shield or if he was holding her at gunpoint. “Show your hands,” Ethan ordered.
They did. Both Franklin and Sienna were trembling, but they lifted their hands into the air. Both sets were empty. But that didn’t mean there wasn’t a gun nearby.
“Who’s shooting?” Sienna asked, her voice shaking as much as the rest of her.
Ethan didn’t answer. He just continued to keep an eye on Franklin because he didn’t trust the man one bit.
“Where’s Chloe?” Ethan demanded since other than the shooter, she was the only one not accounted for. Of course, she might’ve been the shooter.
Franklin shook his head. “Last I saw her, she was meeting with someone. A woman with salt-and-pepper hair.”
Vernice, no doubt.
“Where were they?” Ethan pressed.
“Chloe’s office,” Franklin said without hesitation.
But Ethan noticed the man was a whole lot steadier than Sienna.
In fact, he suddenly looked remarkably calm.
“Chloe and I were supposed to have a video appointment with a client in my office at nine thirty. I was headed there when the shooting started.”
Ethan wanted to ask if Sienna and he had been together, but that could wait for the interview. He’d need to know Franklin’s and Sienna’s exact locations when this ordeal had started.
“It’s me,” someone called out. Rory. “I’m coming your way.”
“Here,” Ethan replied to let the deputy know their location. “We have Dr. Franklin Voss and a client, Sienna Carrington, on the stairs. Livvy and I have checked all but one room—the doctor’s office.”
Since the gunshots had come from this side of the house, it was possible the shooter was still inside. And that was why Ethan waited until Rory had joined them before he went to the door.
Livvy moved, too, quickly taking up position on the other side with Rory, and Ethan leaned over and tested the knob. Like the other rooms, it was unlocked. He threw open the door, automatically moving into a shooting stance. Moving in beside him, Rory and Livvy did the same.
Ethan made a sweeping glance around. And he cursed.
There were no scattered files or toppled furniture in here. But there was blood. Lots of it. And it was pooled around the woman lying on the floor.
Damn it.
She was dead. Ethan was sure of that. The gunshot wound to the head had seen to that.
Chloe’s now lifeless eyes stared up at him.