by Dale Mayer
Maybe, came back the reply. Stay inside. McAfee’s here.
Her heart froze at that. What had been a possibility was now an actual fact. And that was the last thing she wanted. She raced back to sit down between the two dogs. She looked over at Chico. “We should’ve sent you home last night, shouldn’t we have?”
He whined.
She reached several fingers through the cage and gently stroked his head. She didn’t want to bring him out because of the tubes. Nor did she want that asshole coming in here and trying to shoot more than just one dog. Neither of these animals deserved to be shot. But somebody was hell-bent on taking out Katch for sure.
Just then she heard a vehicle start up and pull away. She laid her head back and groaned. “If that’s the cop leaving, you can bet we’re about to see some action,” she muttered. She pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapped her arms around them tight and dropped her head on them.
In the darkness she sat, waiting.
The cop had texted Zane several times, saying he couldn’t see anyone. Zane had replied, He’s here. The shadow just moved around back.
I’m not going after him without backup, the cop texted. I’ll pull the vehicle around to the back of the next block and walk over.
And with that, Zane moved around into a better position to see where the shadow was. As the cop took off, it was like the shadow froze, then crept a little closer to the clinic. But unfortunately the cop made it obvious by going around one corner and then another corner and parking. Zane just stared in shock. “Like that’ll do anything,” he muttered silently.
And, of course, the intruder would know that too. Which was the worst thing that could happen.
Just then the shadow melted back again into the distance. Zane took several more steps in that direction. He really needed McAfee to do something, so Zane could take him down, take him out. Because skulking around on the property would only get McAfee a trespassing charge. And maybe a court order to stay away. But that was all. And both were worthless as far as protecting Katch from McAfee.
As the cop walked back around, he whistled. Zane realized the cop really didn’t think anything was wrong. But then again, it was just a dog. Who gave a shit, right? As the cop came around, he suddenly stopped, pivoted and called out, “Hey, who’s there?”
And then McAfee did something Zane had never expected but changed the game entirely.
McAfee pulled the trigger.
The cop went down with a roar, crying out as he hit the sidewalk hard. And then the shadow blended into the darkness.
Zane was torn. He wanted to go after that asshole, but he didn’t dare leave the cop to bleed out on the sidewalk. It might already be too late to save the policeman, but, as a tactic, it was a hell of a nice move. It was intended to flush Zane out of the shadows, and it would do that. But he couldn’t afford to take a bullet himself.
He texted Holly to call 9-1-1, that a cop was down. And reminded her to stay inside. He didn’t get a response back, so he hoped to hell she’d done it.
His phone buzzed a minute later with Done. She followed up with Can you help him?
Intruder is still here, he typed. The second bullet’s got my name on it.
Stay there, stay there, her text came back urgently. Cops are on the way.
He could hear sirens in the distance, and then a rustle of brushes as the intruder took off.
Knowing he had no choice, Zane ran alongside the back of the clinic, around to where the cop was. Zane knelt at the man’s side. “Take it easy,” he said, “we’ve got an ambulance on the way.”
The cop opened his eyes. “I didn’t think it was serious,” he gasped, his hand over his shoulder, blood oozing through his fingers. “I just figured he was some asshole coming back after more drugs.”
“Oh, he’s an asshole all right,” Zane said, ripping the cop’s shirt open so he could see the damage. He placed his hand over the wound. “The trouble is, he’s just seriously upped his game.”
With Zane’s other hand, he pulled out his phone and called Holly. “Can you bring some gauze and something to put pressure on the officer’s shoulder? The cops are on the way, but he’s bleeding pretty badly.”
The door at the back of the clinic burst open, and she ran out.
He grabbed the gauze and said, “Get back inside. Make sure he doesn’t circle around, find another way in.”
With a shocked look, she turned and bolted back inside again.
“You’re really trying to protect that dog?” the cop said. “Why do you care?”
“Because he did a lot to serve our country,” Zane answered quietly. “So did I. And it feels like we’ve both been abandoned.”
The cop looked up, and understanding whispered across his face. “I guess I can see that. You could always go into law enforcement. God knows we need good men.”
Zane chuckled. “I don’t know that I’m cut out for that. You take them off the street, and the judge releases them. What the hell are you supposed to do with that?”
“True enough.” He winced. “How bad is it?” he asked abruptly.
“It’s high in the shoulder. You’ll survive,” Zane said, “but you really should be still, just so you don’t bleed out too much before we get you some medical care.”
The cop just smiled. “I’m getting married next month,” he said. “I would like to make that date.”
“We’ll ensure that you do,” Zane said. “But now we have a bigger problem as this asshole has blood in his eyes. I don’t know what triggered it tonight, but he seemed to think you were a threat in some way.”
“I’m not sure he thought I was a threat as much as he thought I was just debris in his way. He had a very cocky attitude at the station. As in a seriously you can’t touch me type of a thing. He pissed us off with that. But then we found out he was allowed to leave. According to his lawyer, he hadn’t done anything. McAfee changed his story several times, using the excuse he was afraid the cops would treat him badly, so he lied. Like we give a damn about beating up these jerks,” he said. “We just want to take the assholes off the street, but the assholes are getting away with everything these days.”
“Maybe,” Zane said. “But, in this case, he’s not going to get away with attempted murder of a police officer. That’s guaranteed jail time. So possible suicide by cop? Or maybe just a man out of control. But still had to have something set him off.”
“Maybe but I have no idea what.” The cop looked up at him. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to pass out now.”
Zane nodded. “You do that. You’ll be in the hospital in no time.”
In the background he could hear the sirens getting louder, closer. But he was also concerned about another bullet coming his way. He didn’t dare move the cop, so he stayed low to the ground.
As soon as the ambulance pulled up, and the cops appeared, Zane cried out, pointing in the direction the gunman had gone. “He’s taken off in that direction. I’m not even sure we’re safe here.”
The cops fanned out and took off.
The paramedics came to his side.
“He’s got one bullet high in the shoulder,” Zane said. “He’s bleeding pretty badly. But I don’t think it’s fatal.”
“Step back and let us take a look,” one of the paramedics said as they both dropped to the ground to run a check on the policeman’s vitals.
Zane knew he wasn’t needed here anymore, and he sure as hell didn’t dare go out searching for this guy with the cops out there because Zane could be taken for the wrong man. So his best position right now was to go back to Holly and to stand by her side.
As the injured cop was loaded into the ambulance, he called out, “Zane?”
Zane, halfway to the clinic, stepped around to the end of the ambulance. “Yeah, I’m here.”
The guy looked up at him and said, “Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me,” Zane said. “It’s because of me that you got shot.”
“No,” he said. “I
t was the system that let this asshole back out on the streets. But I’m still alive, and, for that, you get my thanks.”
With a nod, Zane headed into the clinic. As he opened the door, he knew the alarm would go off. He headed in anyway.
Holly stood at the entrance and shut off the alarm. As soon as he was inside, she turned it back on again, then threw herself into his arms. “Oh, my God,” she said. “He actually shot a cop?”
He held her tight. “Yes, he did. And that changes the game entirely.”
“I know.” She leaned back to look up at his face, reached up with both hands on his cheeks. “You realize you’re next.”
Grimly, he looked down at her and nodded. “Not just me though,” he said. “You too. You’re the one who saved Katch.”
She frowned and shook her head. “No, I don’t think he’d blame me. I think it’s more a case of transference to you. You’re the one blocking his move every time.”
“Maybe,” he admitted because there was a certain amount of sense to that. “But that doesn’t mean he won’t transfer it again to whoever it is keeping Katch alive.”
She nodded. “That’s possible. But I can’t worry about that. Do you think it’s safe to take the dogs out now?”
He nodded. “A lot of cops are around. I doubt McAfee’s anywhere within the vicinity. We’ll stay close to the building and the fences.”
They took little Chico out, so he could do his business, and took him right back in again. Then they brought Katch out. He moved stiffly, his ears up, aware and weary.
“Do you think it’s safe?” she muttered from the doorway.
“I do,” he said. “But we’ll let Katch tell us.”
They let him out to do his business and to walk for a moment. He wasted no time emptying his bladder, then his bowels. And almost immediately the hair on the back of his neck went up.
Zane turned to Holly. “Get back inside now.”
She looked at him, startled, then bolted inside.
He nudged Katch along, but he needed no urging either. Within seconds, they were back inside. Once there, Zane turned and stared out through the open doorway. “I know he’s out there, Katch. We’ll get him. I promise.”
Katch shot him a look as if to say, Yeah, right.
Zane reached down and scratched Katch under the chin and head, then shut the door in front of him. “Honest,” he said.
A hard ping hit the exterior door. He stared at it and shook his head. “See? He didn’t even try that time. It’s obvious the door was closed, so that was just a shot in frustration.”
Holly bolted toward him. “Oh, my God! Did he just shoot the door?”
“Yes, he did,” Zane said. “But I think more because he couldn’t get into position to get a decent shot.”
“So he is still out there,” she cried out in fear. “What’s to stop him from coming back tomorrow or the next day?”
“I don’t know,” he said honestly. “Hopefully the cops will stop him, now that they’re motivated because this guy shot one of their own.”
“But they’re out there looking,” she cried out. “And yet, McAfee shot right into the door.”
“True,” he said, “which is why I need you to stay inside. Although I wasn’t planning on going back outside, now I think I have to.”
She shook her head. “No, no, no, no. The cops will shoot you. He’ll shoot you. You need to stay here with me.”
He looked at her for a long moment and then smiled. “You don’t want me to stay to keep you safe. You want me to stay so I stay safe.”
“Of course,” she said. “I don’t want to lose you. Not again.”
Prophetic words. He looked at her in surprise.
She nodded. “You must know that I’ve always loved you.”
He shook his head. “And yet, you married my brother.”
“Yes,” she said in frustration. “I did. And I loved him too. But I only came to love him because I knew you were gone, that you weren’t ever coming back.”
He frowned. “We were already broken up. You were free to be with my brother.” He stared off, confused and angry at the emotions tumbling through him.
“We’ve been over this,” she said. “All of that is true, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care. That I didn’t love you first. That I’m in love with you. Always have been.”
That caused Zane to pause, taking it all in.
“Even when mad at you. Even while I’ve waited for you to return since.”
He winced at that. “That was the big thing with you. You hated the fact you always had to wait for me to come home.”
“Yes,” she said, “it was a big deal. But I’ve also grown up. And I know that sometimes this is life. And, if I want to have a life with you, then this is the life I would have.”
“Except I’m not in the military anymore,” he said harshly. “I’m hardly a decent veteran. I have a pension, money for retraining and some savings but I don’t even have a damn job. At least not a permanent one.”
She took a deep breath, as if trying to hold back some of her own emotions. “I understand that, but I also know you’ll figure it out. You were always very capable in figuring life out. However, if you go out there right now and get shot, you won’t get time to figure anything out. We won’t get time to figure us out.”
At that, he looked down at her, and she reached up and kissed him. But not a gentle, easy kiss. It was a kiss of longing and urging and pain. And it was the pain that got to him. He wrapped her up tight in his arms and crushed her against his chest and kissed her back with a fervor that surprised him—and maybe her too.
When he finally lifted his head, she looked up at him, a smoky passion in her eyes, and she said, “See? We’re still there underneath all this talk, underneath all these years and underneath all this emotion and whatever it was that went awry. It’s still there. It’s still us. We are still together. Whether you’re ready to admit it or not.”
“I know,” he said gently. “I just don’t know what to do about it.”
“We need time,” she said. “If you go out there, we won’t have that time.”
“I can’t spend my life hiding.” He stepped back, putting her firmly to the side. “That doesn’t work. And, if I go out there, it won’t be with the intention of not coming back.”
“He’s got a gun. You don’t,” she cried out. “If he gets a chance, he’ll shoot you.”
“He has to get that opportunity first,” Zane said firmly. “And I’m no slouch when it comes to defensive measures. Believe me. He won’t get that chance.”
And he turned and walked back out into the dark night.
Chapter 11
Holly returned to her office and lay down on the cot. It was damn-near impossible to calm down with Zane outside. The last time he’d gone out there, a cop had been shot. What were the chances he would come back unscathed?
She hated to admit how much she loved him and how much just seeing him again hurt her. She was an adult now, a seasoned adult who certainly wasn’t the same as when he went back to the military, each and every time when he was on leave.
But it felt like she was losing him all over again. If he left again, there was a good chance it was final. Did he even consider what that was like for her? Chances were he didn’t.
How could she not make the comparison? McAfee was a dangerous man. He’d had no problem shooting that poor cop. He’d gone from trying to kill a dog to trying to kill a police officer. That was one hell of a jump, and he’d barely hesitated. The fact that Zane was out there hunting him—and Zane was unarmed—just made the situation so much more intolerable.
As she lay here in the darkness, every sound was magnified—a bird, a stone being kicked, the breeze through the trees, a vehicle down the road. Everything made her back tingle with a thousand nerve endings. Twice she jolted up at sounds she was sure came from inside. And each time it was nothing. There would be no sleep for her for the rest of this night. She wanted to get up
and put on coffee, maybe do some work, but she didn’t know if she could do it in the dark.
Then she realized just enough light was inside the building that she could see quite easily. Which meant it had to be lightening up outside too.
She walked into the staff room, put on yet another pot of coffee, and then headed in to check on the dogs. Chico lay curled up in a tiny ball, his eyes huge. But Katch sat, as much as he could in his cage, his eyes, ears, the nape of his neck, all at attention. Hating to see the dog so wary and so aware, magnifying her own feelings of danger, Holly bent and gently stroked the dog’s nose as much as she could through the cage.
“I’m sorry, sweetie. I don’t know what’s going on out there.”
She knew the dog had absolutely no chance if the guy came inside. He was completely cornered and couldn’t fight back. And that gave her another idea.
Or would it be foolish to let the dog out? It would be good for him to walk around a little bit, see how strong he was, but she might also have a hell of a time getting him to go back in the cage. But, then again, if he was strong enough to walk around the clinic on his own, maybe he didn’t need to stay here. Maybe he could go home to somebody. The problem was, what somebody? Where would Katch go?
She stood, walked back to the coffeepot and poured herself a cup. Then in the hallway between the cages and the offices and the reception area, she leaned against the wall and contemplated her options.
If Katch could get out of the cage, what would he do? Would he race to a door and start howling and growling at something outside? Because that would make it even more intolerable in here. Would he hide, terrified of what was coming? In that case, Holly knew she would hide right beside him. She could be brave in certain circumstances, but this was not her forte. She wanted to be home, safe and sound, thinking about sunshine and roses, not predators in the night and especially not men who would shoot a dog without a care and then shoot a cop because he was in the way.