Читать книгу Behind the Badge - Susan Sleeman - Страница 11

After Russ and his men searched fruitlessly for the killer, he went back inside the house. He found Sydney sitting on the floor, Dixon’s phone still in hand. He squatted next to her and took the phone, still in its evidence bag.

“We’ll get him before he hurts anyone else, Syd. I promise.” He didn’t know how he could say that. He could no more promise this guy wouldn’t hurt anyone than he could promise she’d be fine.

“Promise me something else.”

“What?” he asked gruffly.

“That you’ll let me work on the investigation with you.”

“I—”

She held up her hands. “Don’t say no right away. Just think about it. I may be a rookie, but I also seem to hold the key to this case. I didn’t take anything from this house, but our killer thinks I did and he seems more than willing to come after me to get it.”

He let himself spend a few moments peering into her eyes, thinking how much she’d changed and yet how much she hadn’t. Her eyes seemed bluer, her face softer. If he didn’t move away from the pull of her gaze, he’d promise her the moon.

He stood. “All I can say right now is I’ll think about it.”

“Fair enough.”

The door opened and Officer Baker came into the house. Russ went to meet him.

“Here’s the phone.” Russ handed the bag to Baker, who was busy checking out Sydney.

Russ got in his face. “I want a log of every call and number on here before you go home for the night. And put some pressure on the phone company to get Dixon’s past phone logs ASAP. Call me as soon as the log is finished.”

“You got it,” Baker said, his eyes returning to Sydney.

“Let’s step outside, Baker.” Russ bit back his irritation and went out. “What’s wrong with you? Staring at Deputy Tucker like that. She’s a capable officer just like us and deserves respect.”

“Sorry, Chief. I didn’t mean anything by it. As you say she’s a capable officer, but—don’t jump down my throat for this—you have to admit she’s nothing like us.” He grinned.

Russ would admit no such thing aloud and definitely not to one of his officers. “Get out of here and get to work on the phone.”

Russ couldn’t blame Baker for noticing Sydney. He’d done the same thing when his only thoughts should be about protecting her. He needed to keep his focus. Especially out here.

He made a quick sweep of the area. He’d left one unit stationed out front so they could finish searching Dixon’s house without worrying about the killer.

Russ felt as if the creep was long gone, but he couldn’t help worry about what his next move would be or if Russ would be with Sydney when he did strike again. Maybe Russ should call county and ask them to arrange protection for her.

No. Not a good idea.

If he went that route, Russ would have to deal with Krueger all the time just to talk to Sydney. He could ask to have her assigned to the investigation as she’d requested. She’d not only be available when needed, but he could also keep an eye on her to make sure she didn’t come to any harm.

Yeah, that’s what he’d do.

Before he changed his mind, he made a quick call to Lieutenant James, who was most obliging. Krueger would be miffed when he heard Russ went over his head, but Russ could handle it.

He made one last sweep of the area then went inside.

“Let’s finish this place up and get out of here.” He returned to the desk. “Oh, by the way. I called Lieutenant James while I was outside. He agreed to put you on the team. You’ll report to me until this investigation is closed.”

She smiled. “That’s great, Russ. Thank you.”

“You can thank me by being extra vigilant until this killer is caught.” He let his gaze connect with hers. “Keep your head on a swivel. Wear your vest at all times.” He wanted to add Sleep in it, too, but he knew that would only earn him a roll of her eyes.

“Don’t worry, Russ. I hear you.” She turned back to digging through the sofa. “Found some weed. Didn’t take Dixon long after getting out to replenish his stock.”

Russ sat on a chair and dug deeper into a bottom drawer. He pulled out a power cord from a computer. “Did you take a laptop into evidence?”

She shook her head. “We saw that power cord, but no computer.”

“Maybe that’s what our suspect thinks you took.”

“Could be, I guess. Though I don’t know what kind of evidence a drug dealer would have on a computer.”

They worked for another hour, but didn’t locate anything else of interest so Russ decided to call it quits. At the door, he said, “I still want to show those pictures of the motorcycle to Garber if you’re up for it.”

“Sure.”

They stepped onto the porch, where the whispery mist had turned to soft rain. The temperature had dropped when the rain came in, and neither of them wore jackets.

Sydney shivered and nodded at the patrol car sitting at the curb. “What’s he doing here?”

“Just a precaution.”

“You thought the killer might come back.” The worry returned to her eyes.

He scanned the area on the way to his cruiser, but tried not to be obvious about it and raise her concern even more. He nodded at his officer to let him know he could leave.

At the car, Russ opened the trunk, retrieved his jacket and draped it over Sydney’s shoulders.

“You keep it,” she said. “You’re cold, too.”

“I’m fine.” He moved to open her door before remembering not to. Not saying anything, she tugged his jacket tightly around her shoulders and climbed in.

On the road, she didn’t speak. He didn’t mind the silence. He used the quiet to keep his focus on making sure the killer wasn’t following. When they pulled up to the town houses, he was certain no one tailed them. Of course, that didn’t mean their killer hadn’t left Dixon’s house and returned before them.

Feeling the killer’s eyes on them, Russ shifted into Park and searched the area. Dense woods and heavy undergrowth made plenty of places to hide. The rain, growing thicker by the minute, gave him even more cover.

Russ turned to tell Sydney to wait here and he’d drive her home, but a car fishtailed to a stop across the road, drawing his interest. The passenger door opened, emitting throbbing music. A young teen climbed out.

“Nikki?” Sydney said on a whisper.

“What’s your sister doing here?”

“I don’t know, but don’t worry. I’ll make sure she leaves right away.” She started to open the door but he grabbed her arm.

“You think that’s such a good idea?” he asked.

“Her leaving a murder scene? Of course.”

“What if our killer got here before us and is watching you? Even in this weather it’s easy to see her resemblance and figure out she’s your sister. He could see Nikki leave. Follow her to—”

“Get to me.” Sydney finished his sentence.

“Exactly.”

A plethora of emotions shifted over Sydney’s face. Worry morphed into rage, the exact emotion he’d feel if Zack were targeted by a murderer. He would do anything to keep his son out of the hands of a killer. Russ could understand the thoughts traveling through Sydney’s mind and knew she was probably thinking like a parent, not a deputy.

Resolve tightened her eyes. “I’ll take her home with me.”

“I’ll drive you.”

She arched a perfectly plucked eyebrow. “I don’t need a babysitter, Russ.”

“I know, but humor me. Once I show Garber those pictures, I won’t be needed here until the lights arrive.”

“That doesn’t mean you need to escort me home.”

“I think I do.” He held up his hand before she argued more. “This event tonight has made you more of a victim than a deputy and you aren’t at the top of your game. Worrying about your sister is just an added distraction. If the suspect follows you, it would be good to have another officer present.”

She glanced across the lot in the direction of the other officers. “I can’t see you telling one of your men to duck and cover like this.”

“You’re wrong. If one of my men were in this situation—” he paused, locking eyes with her to communicate the truth in his words “—I’d make sure he was escorted home. I would never do anything to endanger their lives. I’ll do no less for you.”

He was afraid he’d scared her again by the over-the-top intensity in his tone, but she simply shrugged. “Okay…but we take my car. I’ll need it in the morning.”

“Fine, but I’ll drive.”

She leaned closer and her eyes burned into him. “I don’t like this, Russ. Not one bit. Your officers will think I’m soft and need coddling, but your points are valid. Nikki’s safety comes before my reputation. If you think driving my car will accomplish that, then I’ll agree.”

“You made the right decision, Syd.”

The roll of her eyes said she thought otherwise. “Here’s my phone. I’ll get Nikki and wait at my car.” She handed it to him.

“I’ll walk with you.” He got out and came alongside her.

An uneasy feeling settled over him again. He searched the scrub lining the road. Nothing. So why did he keep feeling as if the killer was watching them, waiting for Russ to turn away to strike?

He glanced back at Sydney, vulnerable and scared for her sister. Now he had two people to protect from a killer.

Could he keep them safe or was he fooling himself?

A fresh wave of apprehension washed over him. Visions of Willie falling to the ground flashed into his mind.

Let it go, Russ.

He couldn’t let the raw pain from Willie’s death rise up and make him paranoid. Emotions like that only led to two things in his life. Mistakes and regret. He had to keep his head and apprehend this creep before he returned, got the information he wanted from Sydney and ended her life.

Sydney didn’t know what to say to Nikki. Her training as a deputy didn’t prepare her for this situation, and her role as Nikki’s surrogate mom didn’t, either. Only God could give her the right words, now.

Father, I need Your help. Everything is crumbling around me. People are getting hurt or this madman is threatening to hurt them and now I have to tell Nikki about him. Give me the words, Lord, and help me keep her safe.

She took Nikki’s arm and moved her behind the protection of a van. “What’re you doing here, Nikki?”

“We heard about the shooting on Mr. Clark’s scanner.” She shook off Sydney’s hand. “You always stop here on the way home. When you didn’t answer your phone, I got worried. So Emily brought me.” Nikki pointed at her best friend, Emily Clark, who waved at them from the driver’s seat of her car.

“It was sweet of you to check on me, Nikki, but I’m fine and this is no place for either of you to be.”

“You don’t look fine.” Nikki stared at Sydney’s forehead, then whistled. “That’s some awful shade of purple already.”

Sydney smiled her thanks for Nikki’s concern. It had been a long time since her sister said anything nice to her. A month, to be exact. Since the drinking episode at Dixon’s house, after which Sydney had grounded Nikki.

Hoping she’d learned her lesson, and hoping to repair the relationship that had been deteriorating of late, she’d agreed to let Nikki spend the night at Emily’s house. Now she had to tell Nikki that she needed to come home.

So what did she say without giving her the gory details of the murder and scaring her?

“I know that face, Syd.” Nikki drew her attention. “What’d I do now?”

“You shouldn’t be here. This is a crime scene and you need to leave.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Nikki saluted, but her tone didn’t hold the usual sarcasm. “Is it all right if Emily and I stop for some ice cream on the way to her house?”

Sydney took a deep breath before breaking the bad news. “I really wish I could let you go with Emily, but you need to come home with me tonight.”

“What?” Nikki cried, drawing stares from the officers. “This is a joke, right?”

“No joke. Something’s come up.”

Nikki pouted. “No, it didn’t. You just figured if I left her house tonight that I’d do it again. Admit it. You don’t trust me.”

Her sullen tone hit Sydney like a punch to the gut. “That’s not it.”

“You just want to ruin my life.”

Sydney hated to tell Nikki what was going on, but if she didn’t her sister wouldn’t understand. Their relationship would only suffer. “This wasn’t just a case of gunshots being fired tonight. A man was murdered.”

“What?”

“Someone killed Carl Dixon.”

Nikki’s mouth dropped open, and she brought a hand up to cover it.

Sydney moved closer and laid a hand on her sister’s shoulder. “That’s why I need you to come home.”

“I’m really sorry he got killed, Syd, but what does it have to do with me? I only went to a party at his house—I didn’t, like, know him or anything.”

“This is about me, not you. Three days ago, I arrested him for selling drugs to Julia. Seems like whoever killed him thinks I took something from the house and he wants it back.” She took a deep breath. “He tried to kill me tonight, too.”

“No way.”

“Unfortunately, yes. He could come after me again or even you.”

“Me?” Nikki’s tone squeaked higher. “Why me?”

“It’s a long shot, but he could go after you to get to me. I want you with me so I can protect you. Until the killer is found, I’ll need you to stay close to home.”

“But what about Emily’s birthday party? It’s tomorrow night.” She pleaded with Sydney. “You said I could go. Promised, even.”

“I’m sorry, Nikki. I don’t like to break a promise, but this’s out of my control.”

Nikki crossed her arms. “You’re not sorry at all. Ever since you became a cop all you want to do is keep me locked up in the house.”

“That’s not true. What I want is to help you become everything you can be in life. Sometimes that means being the bad guy.”

“Whatever.” Nikki’s nostrils flared in anger.

“I want you to call Emily. Tell her you’re coming home with me, but don’t say anything about the murder.”

“I’ll just go over and tell her,” she huffed.

“No—call her. I want you to stay behind the van. This guy could be hiding around here, and I won’t risk exposing you.”

Fear sparked in Nikki’s eyes. Sydney hated that she was the cause of it, but sometimes you had to do the hard things to protect the ones you love. The text from the killer proved he’d stop at nothing to retrieve the item he was looking for, and she wasn’t about to let this crazed man anywhere near her sister.