The phone rang. And rang. And rang.
Reed stared at his phone, wondering if he’d pressed the wrong button. He hadn’t. Maybe his sister was outside with Abigail and Midnight and didn’t have her cell with her. As unlikely as that was, it soothed him to think it.
Ending that effort when voice mail answered, he tried Abigail’s number. Surely one of them would have a phone on her.
Two rings. A shrill voice said, “Hello?”
It took Reed a moment to realize he was talking to Dominic. What was that kid doing with Abigail’s phone? Had he stolen it and taken off?
“Let me talk to Ms. Jones,” Reed demanded.
“She’s...” The boy fell silent, but the connection didn’t. In the background Reed heard the sound of splintering wood. Someone screamed.
Lani yelled, “Stop. Police.”
“Dominic!” Reed shouted into his phone.
“He broke the door!” the boy yelled.
Multiple voices rose in fright. Anger. Confusion. A puppy yipped.
And then there was the unmistakable sound of gunfire!
SEVENTEEN
Abigail dragged Dominic behind the sofa with her and kept him there as long as she could. It was a monumental struggle to hang on to the wiry teen.
Lani’s voice came across strong. “He’s down. Call 911!”
“I’ll do it,” the boy answered. With a twist and scramble he was out from behind the couch and had hold of Abigail’s cell phone.
“It’s not working,” he reported. “Hello? Hello?”
Abigail took it from him and managed to calm herself enough to disconnect from the previous connection and report the break-in. She relayed the street address Lani called out to her and was assured that patrol units were on their way.
“Tell them it’s an officer-involved shooting and we need an ambulance,” Lani insisted. “I don’t want them busting in here and taking me down by accident.”
“Is he... Is he dead?” Abigail asked.
“Not yet. But he’s not doing well,” Lani replied.
No matter how nonchalant she sounded, Abigail could tell how deeply affected the other woman was because of the quaver in her voice and the fact that she’d backed up to a chair and sat while keeping her gun pointed at the wounded attacker.
“Who is he?” Lani asked.
Abigail shook her head. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen him before. At least, I don’t think I have.” She glanced over at the teen. “Do you know him?”
The boy shook his head vigorously. “Uh-uh. No way.”
By this time the injured man was moaning and holding his thigh. “I could have hit the femoral artery,” Lani said. “We need to try to stop that bleeding or we could lose him.”
“I’ll do it,” Abigail said. “Have you got a scarf or something like that handy?”
“Use a towel from the kitchen and his belt,” Lani told her. “And be careful.”
“Okay.” As she cautiously approached the man she sensed Dominic at her elbow and told him to stay back.
“I can help. I can. Honest.”
Rather than waste precious time arguing, Abigail opted to let him stay close. Truth to tell, she wasn’t keen on nursing this person’s leg, and the teen’s presence was soothing her jangled nerves.
“Okay. You take his belt off while I apply pressure to the wound with the towel,” she told him.
The job was done in a jiffy. Abigail sat back on her haunches. If her hands had been clean she would have high-fived the boy. Instead, she started to stand.
At that moment, the victim lunged. His shoulder rammed into her and sent her reeling. Dominic fell back, too, landing on his hands and feet like a crab.
Lani shouted, “Get out of the way!”
One thing was crystal clear to Abigail. Their so-called incapacitated victim was back on the move and dangerous. She threw herself to one side, hoping to get out of Lani’s line of fire. Dominic, however, sprang up and made a grab for the man, spoiling the officer’s aim.
“Dominic!” Abigail’s heart was in her throat. If the rookie fired again she was sure to hit the boy by accident. “Stop! Stop!”
The limping, bleeding interloper used the door frame to scrape off the slightly built teen and leave him behind in a heap before making it all the way outside and disappearing.
Acting stunned, Dominic began to sob. Abigail fell to her knees beside him and gathered him up in her arms, mindless of the bloodstains.
She saw Lani run past, swing around the splintered door jamb and assume a shooter’s stance.
Abigail was holding her breath, too shocked to move. As Lani’s body relaxed and the firearm was lowered, she knew it was all over. They had probably just lost their best chance to identify one of her former attackers and she was thankful he had been the only one injured in the melee.
Yes, she was supposed to forgive her enemies, but she’d reserve that noble attempt for after he had been captured and jailed.
Lani tucked her gun into a holster, clipped it to her waist and went out onto the front porch to wait for the first responders.
“Don’t let Midnight out,” Abigail called after her.
Frowning, Lani stuck her head back inside. “Where is she, anyway?”
“The last time I saw her she was hiding behind the drapes,” Abigail said. “I hope she’s still there.”
“She is,” Lani answered. “Poor baby is terrified.” She fastened a leash to the puppy’s collar and gently coaxed her to come out. Even then, Midnight continued to tremble from nose to tail.
Busy comforting the boy, Abigail cast only a cursory glance at her pup. Lani was patiently consoling her. That would have to do until she and Dom could get cleaned up and take over. It was sad to see how frightened Midnight was.
Until she noticed Lani’s frown, she didn’t realize that the negative experience might have done damage to her impressionable Lab baby. Obviously Midnight was going to need a whole lot of cuddling and reassurance in the days and weeks to come.
Abigail was more than all right with that notion. She, herself, needed the same kind of TLC that the pup did. It was going to be good for both of them. After all, she had only her street kids and a few coworkers to count as family. There was nothing wrong with adding a furry member, as well.
Part of her mind wanted to include the Bransons, both of them. Lani had saved her life this time and Reed had rescued her in the past. But that was from her point of view. Theirs was the key. Reed had often insisted she was part of his job. And Lani? Well, the rookie cop couldn’t be thrilled with them since she and Dominic had inadvertently let the attacker escape.
Abigail sighed and soaped her hands. It seemed as though trouble followed her wherever she went. And now, despite monumental efforts to help, she had involved both police officers as well as at least one of her homeless kids. That was unacceptable.
Then again, she thought, using a brush on her already clean fingernails, so was getting killed when she hadn’t purposely done one thing wrong. Or had she? Could there be facts obscured by her lost memory that would paint a different picture?
* * *
Reed skidded his SUV to the curb between two patrol cars and ran into the house. If he’d seen the blood on the floor before spotting his loved ones he’d have shouted in anguish. Knowing it could have been theirs had things gone awry, he gathered up his sister and Abigail in a group hug.
“You, too, kid,” he said, gesturing to Dominic. “I was listening to my radio on the way back and they said you tried to tackle the guy. Come here.”
Hesitant to approach, Dom inched closer to the adults. “He got away.”
“Thankfully,” Reed said. “Look, I know you were doing what you thought was right, but it wasn’t. Promise me you won’t try anything like that again.”
“Yeah, okay.”
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That simple agreement should have sufficed, but Reed didn’t like the intonation. Unless he was so overwrought he was imagining things, the teenager had his own agenda. That figured. After all, Dom was used to running wild and making his own decisions, the same as Kiera was.
Satisfied to hold Abigail and his sister however long they needed comforting, Reed found himself disappointed when they both eased away. In the background, one of the patrol officers was photographing the splintered door off the kitchen while a second inspected the backyard.
“I’ll go get Jessie as soon as these officers are through,” he said. “Where’s the pup?”
“I put her in her crate in the bathroom to calm her down. She was a basket case after all this,” Abigail said. “I didn’t know what else to do and Lani said it would be best to give her some quiet time.”
Reed nodded sagely. “That’s fine. Where was she when the shooting started?”
“Hiding behind the sofa with me and Dominic,” Abigail answered. “Lani was the only one who wasn’t scared silly.”
“Yeah, well,” the other woman drawled. “I’m thankful I’d had the training to fall back on, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t shaking.”
“I’ll talk to Noah Jameson and explain what happened here. How you had no choice,” Reed said. “I don’t think it will hurt your chances for being assigned a working dog. Might slow things down a little, that’s all.”
Lani gestured to the uniformed officer who was inspecting the broken door. “He took my gun and bagged it.”
“Standard operating procedure,” Reed assured her.
She pulled a face. “I know, I know.”
Reed turned to Abigail. “Could this guy have been the bigger one with the round cheeks? The one you couldn’t really describe?”
“I don’t think so, but it is possible. If I had heard him speak I might have a better idea. Everything happened so fast this time I can’t be positive, but I don’t remember anything he may have said.”
“Okay. I’m sure our lab can get DNA from the blood he lost. It may take a while, though. They’re always behind.”
“How about fingerprints?”
“He was wearing gloves,” the teen volunteered. “Didn’t you see?”
“I guess I was too busy worrying he’d die before we got the bleeding stopped,” Abigail answered. “I’ve had a first aid course for my job, but it didn’t cover serious stuff like gunshots.”
Reed looked askance. “Really? I’d think that would be part of the normal curriculum. That and learning how to help victims of knife fights.”
“Very funny,” she said cynically. Reed could tell Abigail’s nervousness was lessening. That was how this odd attitude worked for cops, firefighters and other first responders. They joked about the deathly serious aspects of their jobs as a tension reliever. The ones who never lightened up were bound to burn out a lot faster than their opposites did. Like what had happened to Abigail. The mind could take only so much trauma before it shut down.
Reed palmed his phone and thumbed through the photo albums before holding it up for her to see. “Take another look at the guy you were able to describe and try to picture him with the shooting victim.”
Sighing, she seemed reluctant. Nevertheless, she stepped up and studied the face before closing her eyes. “Sorry. I’m not getting any flashes of insight. I really doubt they’re connected, but if they aren’t, then why come here and break down your door?”
“Good question.” Reed was lowering his arm as the teenager inched closer. He raise the picture again. “What about you? Have you seen him down by the boardwalk or on the streets at Coney?”
Instead of offering a nonchalant no, Dominic began waving his hands and backing away. His dark eyes were wide and glistening. “No. No way. Never saw him before. Uh-uh.”
Well, that was overkill. Reed stood still, observing the boy’s reactions. He was lying. Big time. Not only had he seen the thin face Abigail had come up with, he knew who the man was and probably had a good idea where to find him. That was newsworthy. And troubling.
“Okay,” Reed finally said, pocketing his phone when the boy hurried out of the room. “I’m going to find out how much longer these cops will be working our crime scene, then go get Jessie and put her in with Midnight to help calm her down. Later, I’ll grab a hammer and repair the door frame. We can’t leave it like that overnight.”
“I’m really sorry,” Abigail told him.
Reed checked to make certain Dominic was long gone before he leaned closer and said, “Don’t always blame yourself, Abigail. What happened here today may have had little or nothing to do with you.”
She began to frown and make a face. “Are you serious?”
“Serious as a gunshot to a leg,” he said, deadpanning the quip. “There’s something else going on and I plan to figure out what. Just go along with whatever I say or do, okay?”
“Sure.” She shrugged. “Are you going to let your sister in on it, too?”
Casting a glance across the room at Lani and reading unspoken understanding in her expression, he said, “I doubt that will be necessary. She has the mind of a cop, same as I do. We’re naturally suspicious of everybody and everything.”
“I’m not sure I like that,” Abigail admitted.
“Yeah, well, it beats looking at the world through rose-colored glasses and making yourself so vulnerable.”
“Meaning me?”
“If the glasses fit.” Reed could tell Abigail was upset. That was fine with him. If he could do or say anything that opened her eyes to the evil in their world and made her safer as a result, he would. It was a personal sacrifice to admit he didn’t have a trusting nature because it showed him in a negative light. That could easily stop her from caring for him the way he cared for her. He could deal with that idea. He’d have to. But he didn’t have to like it.
EIGHTEEN
Abigail spent the night tossing and turning, imagining all sorts of boogeymen hiding in the house or sneaking in and out through the windows the way the prowler had at her apartment. The old brick building in Brighton Beach had been noisier, but she’d been used to the ambient din of the busy city streets and her fellow tenants. Here, in Rego Park, it was so much quieter that every little noise stood out.
By morning she felt more weary than she had the evening before. Yawning, she joined Lani in the kitchen, drawn by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. “Oh, that smells good.”
The other woman filled a mug. “Here you go. Compliments of the cook.”
Abigail chuckled, blew on the steaming liquid and took a cautious sip. “Mmmm. As good as it gets.” She eyed Lani’s jogging outfit. “Are you going running?”
“Been and back,” Lani told her with a grin. “You have to get up pretty early if you want to run with me. I walked your puppy, too. She’s out in the yard now.”
“Wow. I guess I need to set an alarm. I don’t hit my stride until eight or so.” She saluted with her mug. “And that’s only after a couple shots of strong bean juice.”
“Orange juice is better for you,” Lani offered. “Want some?”
“No thanks.” Abigail looked over her shoulder. “What about the guys? Any sign of Reed or Dom yet?”
“Nope. It’s been nice and peaceful.”
Laughing softly, Abigail nodded. “Believe me, I get it. I’m used to living alone.”
“You don’t get lonesome?”
“Sometimes.” Another sip, another smile. “I am looking forward to having Midnight underfoot. She’s a sweetheart. How was she acting this morning? Better?”
“Yes. I think she’ll get over her fright from yesterday. If she’d been used to us and had developed more trust she’d have coped better. You have to remember, she hasn’t been with you for very long. Socialization and bonding take time. You do realize you’re only caretaking her,
don’t you?”
Sobering, Abigail nodded. “Yes, I know. How long can I expect her to stay with me?”
“As long as you participate in any formal training she may need, providing she improves enough to be considered for classes, you may be allowed to keep her at home for a year or two.”
“That doesn’t seem like very long at all.” Abigail pictured those big brown eyes, velvety ears and feet almost the size of Jessie’s, plopping against the floor like clown shoes. Midnight had just come into her life and she loved her already.
Reed’s deep voice echoed down the hallway. “Dominic?”
Abigail swiveled to greet him as he entered. “Good morning.”
“Where’s Dominic?”
She and Lani shrugged. “We thought you were both sleeping in.”
Instead of explaining, Reed stomped to the front door and jerked it open, then slammed it and circled through the kitchen to the rear. The patched door stuck slightly, but he strong-armed it open long enough to call, “Dominic!” without letting the eager dogs in.
“I didn’t see him when I put the puppy out with Jessie,” Lani said. “Wasn’t he on the cot we fixed for him?”
“No. I thought maybe he’d moved in here to the sofa, but I can see he didn’t.” Raking his fingers through his short, dark hair, Reed began to pace. “We had a good man-to-man talk last night, and I assumed he understood that I wanted to be his friend and help him. Considering the rough life he’s had, I should have guessed he’d take off instead of trusting me.”
That conclusion settled in Abigail’s stomach like a rock. “You think he’s left?”
“Absolutely.”
“Why? He knows he’s safer here with us.”
“Is he?” Reed strapped on his utility belt and opened the combination lock on the gun safe where he stored his duty weapon. “Tell me,” he said, directing the query to Abigail, “when you said he was trying to stop the guy Lani shot, is it possible he was trying to leave with him instead?”
“No, I...” She reran the chaotic scene in her mind. Reed had a point. “I suppose he could have been. I just assumed, since he’d been helping me with first aid, that he was on my side. Our side. What makes you think he was trying to escape?”
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