Danger on the Mountain (12 page)

Maggie sank onto the couch. Yes, she’d figured it out before the first year of her marriage had passed. But his parents... “Then why didn’t they ever let me know that they wanted to see her?”

“Because Kent wouldn’t let them.”

Maggie’s jaw dropped. “Wouldn’t let them?” She knew she sounded like a parrot, repeating Shannon’s words, but shock had frozen her brain.

Shannon shook her head and narrowed her eyes. “Kent needed money. He asked them to give it to him. They wouldn’t.”

More shock settled over her. She wilted into the pillow behind her. “Money? But we weren’t hurting for money. You saw the house we lived in, the car Kent drove.” He hadn’t allowed her to drive, but spared no expense when it came to his own automobile. Fortunately, they lived within walking distance of a small grocery store. When he left for work, she often went walking, sometimes to the grocery store, sometimes to the small church on the outskirts of the neighborhood.

Shannon gave a small, uncharacteristic snort. “It was all image with him. And, yeah, he made good money as a stockbroker, but he also liked to gamble, and that wasn’t a good thing for his bank account.”

“Gamble?” Maggie felt the blood drain from her face. “I never really knew him at all, did I?”

“No, unfortunately, you didn’t.”

Belle’s “I’m awake” cry sounded and Shannon jumped to her feet, the book tumbling onto the floor. “I’ll get her,” she said as she raced toward the nursery.

In spite of the things she’d just learned about her former in-laws and the disturbing news about Kent, Maggie smiled and shook her head as she picked up the book. It might be nice having Shannon around.

She thought about the envelope still sitting on her desk to be mailed and looked down the hall where Shannon had disappeared into Belle’s room.

Maybe she’d wait another couple of days before mailing it after all.

* * *

Reese knocked on Deputy White’s cruiser window. The glass lowered and Reese caught the man on the tail end of a yawn. “Sorry,” White said. “It’s just boring as all get out watching this place.”

“Wasn’t boring a few nights ago.”

“Yeah. I know.” He said it as if he wished something would happen.

“Reese?”

He turned to see Maggie standing in the doorway. Her flushed cheeks and the white substance on her nose and cheeks said she’d been busy in the kitchen. He tapped the door and said to Jason, “You can take off. I’ve got the evening covered.”

“You don’t have to say it twice.” Deputy White started the car and left, a spray of gravel spitting up behind him as he turned out of the driveway.

Reese gave the area around him a good look as he walked toward Maggie. He admired her beauty, and wondered what she saw in him. Then decided he didn’t care as long as she liked what she saw.

The look in her eyes said she did.

A strange, peaceful feeling flowed through him, taking him by surprise. And making him smile.

“Would you like to join us for dinner?” she asked.

“Shannon’s still here?”

“She is.”

He swiped a finger down her nose. “What did that belong to?”

Maggie giggled. And his heart did strange things. Things it hadn’t done in a very long time. She backed up and motioned him inside, saying, “I made cookies for dessert. I haven’t baked in a while and decided we needed some sweets.”

“I’m always up for cookies.” He followed her into the small foyer and saw Shannon holding Belle. She smiled and he nodded. “I’m glad you’re here to keep Maggie company.”

“Me, too.”

Reese felt the hair on the back of his neck rise. Uneasiness flowed through him and he shivered at the sudden unexpected feeling.

The foyer window shattered inward and Reese felt a sting under his right eye even as he dove for Maggie, heard Shannon scream, and two more bullets pound the wooden door.

TWELVE

M
aggie whirled, her first thought to grab Belle and cover her. A hard arm around her waist stopped her midflight and took her to the floor. She cried out. “Belle!”

“Stay here,” Reese demanded. Maggie flipped around to see him pull Shannon and Belle to the floor behind the recliner in the den.

He was already reaching for his phone when the glass on the other side of the door mimicked the first one, shattering all over the foyer floor and spraying into the den.

Reese barked, “Shooter at Maggie Bennett’s house with a good view of her front door.”

Trembling, breaths coming in pants and tears blurring her eyes, she crawled toward Belle and Shannon, her only thought to get to her baby and cover her, protect her.

“Maggie! Stop! Stay still!”

She froze.

And realized she was crawling over the glass on the floor. And her arms were bleeding. “Belle,” she cried as she frantically searched for Shannon and the baby.

“She’s fine, Maggie. I have her. She’s fine,” Shannon reassured her. Maggie wasn’t reassured. She wanted to see her baby for herself, hold her in her arms and keep her safe.

A bullet hit just above her head. She ducked with a scream.

Glass crunched under Reese’s feet as he moved toward her. What was he doing? He’d be exposed. She felt him gently grasp her upper arm and pull her up and way from the line of fire. “Down the hall, into the bedroom and under the bed.”

She jerked from his grasp. “Not without my baby.”

“I’ll get Belle and bring her to you, but go.”

Three more shots beat a staccato beat against her door, and one whizzed by Reese, who flinched and pulled her down once more. “Go!”

She went. Crying and begging God to spare the life of her child.

And everyone in her house.

Anger, hot and furious flowed through her, drying her tears, fueling her determination, even as she heard footsteps behind her. She turned to see Shannon leading the way, followed by Reese who had Belle tucked up against his chest, shoulders hunched over her.

Maggie slipped into the bedroom and sank to the floor next to the bed, making sure she was out of sight of the window on the opposite wall.

Shannon burst through the door and dropped beside her. Maggie held her arms out for Belle and flinched when Reese hesitated, then handed the crying baby to Shannon. He stumbled back so fast he nearly tripped and fell. Her stomach dipped as she realized how hard it was for him to hold Belle even in this crazy situation. But to give the baby to Shannon, that hurt. Then she saw her outstretched arms and knew why he’d hesitated.

Blood covered her arms from elbow to wrist where she’d tried to crawl army-style across the glass in her foyer.

“We’ll get you some medical help soon,” he promised.

“I’m fine. I’ll be fine.” But the trembling wouldn’t stop, and the terrible nerve-shattering fear just kept building. Shannon looked pale, but surprisingly calm as she huddled over a now-screaming Belle. Maggie’s heart wrenched at her daughter’s angry and scared cries, but with her arms the mess they were, Maggie couldn’t do anything but whisper comforting words in her ear.

“I’m going after him,” Reese said. “Stay put and stay away from the windows.”

“Reese, no! You can’t! Not without your backup.” She blinked. “Where is your backup? Why are they taking so long to get here?”

“It’s not taking them that long,” he grunted as he pushed the tall dresser in front of the window. “It just seems like it is when you’ve got bullets whizzing all around you.”

And then he was gone, locking the bedroom door behind him.

* * *

The sudden silence made Reese’s ears ring. No more bullets came his way, but that didn’t mean the shooter was gone. In the foyer, he waited by the door, his gun ready. Where was Jason? When no more shots sounded, he headed for the kitchen door and threw it open, staying off to the side, well clear of the opening.

More silence.

Reese waited then said into his phone, “How far away are you?”

“You should hear us coming in about a minute.”

“I’m going after him, Eli.”

“Reese...” The warning in Eli’s voice didn’t deter him.

“He’s already stopped shooting. If I wait any longer, he’s going to be long gone.”

“Where’s Jason?”

“Good question.” Reese looked out the window and saw the deputy behind his car, weapon drawn. “I see him. The two of us will get started looking for him.”

“Where’s he shooting from?”

He looked across the lake. “My house.” Reese stiffened as he saw a lone figure racing along the edge of his property, a rifle clutched in his right hand. Reese shoved his Bluetooth piece into his ear and kept his phone on so Eli could hear what was going on. “I see him. He’s at the edge of the lake. I’m using the trees for cover.”

Over the radio, Reese said, “Jason, watch the house.”

“Copy that.” Jason’s voice sounded a bit wobbly. Could be he’d gotten a little more excitement than he’d wanted.
Lord, don’t let him get shot.

Slipping the phone into his pocket, he kept his eyes on the figure who still moved along the edge of the lake.

He was heading this way, toward Maggie’s house, not away from it. Coming to check and make sure his bullets hit home?

Reese frowned at the man’s uneven gait. He kept weaving, unsteady, losing his footing every now and then.

Now at the top of the semicircle the cove made, the shooter kept up his awkward pace and came toward Maggie’s house at a good clip, then stumbled and went down on one knee. He got up and continued on the same path. Coming straight toward Reese, who stayed hidden in the edge of the trees.

Then the silence was broken by the sound of sirens in the distance. Eli was on his way. Jason had the house covered. Maggie, Belle and Shannon were safe as long as Reese had eyes on the shooter. The man stopped, and Reese finally got a good look at him. The one named Slim. His indecision was plain to see from where Reese stood.

Keeping to the trees at the top of the property, Reese started making his way toward the shooter. Soon he would be in the exposed grassy area that led toward the muddy area of the lake.

Then Slim was moving again, having come to an apparent decision on what he planned to do.

And that was to run.

Reese quit trying to be quiet and took off after the now-fleeing shooter, leaving the cover of the trees and praying Slim didn’t turn and start taking shots at him. Slim probably had a car waiting near Reese’s house and wanted to get back to it now that he could hear that help was on the way. Reese felt sure that the man hadn’t planned on leaving anyone alive to call the cops. Fortunately, Slim didn’t seem to be such a great shot.

Heart thumping, Reese heard his feet pounding over the hard ground. He broke through the dense tree line, playing tag with the trees scattered along the edge of the crescent-shaped shoreline, using them for cover as he kept pursuing the fleeing figure. Slim glanced back over his shoulder, and Reese was close enough to see determination stamped on the man’s features.

Then he stumbled and went down. Propped himself up and tried to keep going. Fell again, then turned the gun on Reese who came within thirty yards. Reese darted behind the nearest tree as he lifted his weapon and yelled, “Freeze! Drop your gun!”

Slim slung the rifle around and pulled the trigger. Bark flew from the tree, and Reese flinched as he felt his cheek sting. As the man took a few precious seconds to aim for a better shot, Reese squeezed the trigger. Slim screamed and went down, his rifle landing beside him as he clutched his leg.

Reese looked over his shoulder to see Eli and backup racing toward him. Keeping his weapon trained on the man now writhing on the ground, he strode to him and kicked the rifle out of reach.

As Slim cried out his agony, Reese stated, “You’re under arrest. You have the right to remain silent.” As Reese quoted him the Miranda rights, another siren bit through the winter air. An ambulance, guided by Eli on the phone, headed their way. Fortunately, the injured party was the one on the ground and not any of his intended victims.

As Eli reached his side, Reese holstered his weapon. Eli patted the suspect down and came up with nothing but a piece of paper with a phone number on it in the man’s left front pocket.

Reese pulled his cell phone out and called the number.

“Anything?” Eli asked.

“Straight to voice mail. Phone’s turned off and the voice mail is an automated one.”

EMTs approached on Eli’s signal and went straight to the moaning man. Cal stood next to him to make sure he didn’t try anything, but Reese didn’t think he had the ability to do much. The bright flush on the shooter’s cheeks and the harsh panting breaths didn’t fit with the short sprint along the edge of the lake.

“Reese, are you okay?”

He turned to see Maggie jogging toward him, concern and fear on her face.

The blood on her arms was still there. He said, “I’m fine, but let’s get you looked at.” Reese gestured toward one of the EMTs, who came over. “Can you take a look at her arms?”

She flushed. “They look worse than they are, I think. They just sting really bad.” She frowned. “You’re bleeding.”

He lifted a hand to his cheek. “It’s nothing. We need to get your arms taken care of.”

A protest still on her lips and concern in her eyes, she walked with the paramedic toward the truck, Reese close on her heels. When they passed the man who’d tried to kill her, she came to a stop and looked down at him. The shooter met her gaze and smirked through his pain. Maggie’s expression didn’t change. She simply stared at him.

It seemed to unnerve him. “What?” Slim gritted out.

“Was it worth it?”

Confusion flickered in his bloodshot eyes. “What are you talking about?”

“The bank robbery. Trying to kill us? Possibly killing a baby. Everything. Was it worth it?”

He grunted then glared. “If you hadn’t interfered, everything would have gone as planned. And yeah, it would have been worth it.”

Maggie didn’t flinch, didn’t blink, didn’t move. She simply stared as she processed the man’s words. Reese frowned, wondering what was going through her head. Then she said, “But you got away. You could have kept going and never looked back. You could have hit another bank and probably gotten away with the money. Why keep coming after us? Why take a chance on getting caught when you knew I had deputies watching my every move?”

He shut his mouth and looked away.

“What’s your name?”

“None of your business.”

Maggie didn’t budge, just kept her gaze on the man.

Again, her unwavering stare seemed to make him uncomfortable and he sighed, then coughed, a harsh hacking cough. A groan escaped him and he said, “I’m in the system. All you gotta do is run my prints.”

“So what’s your name?” she pressed.

“Doug Patterson. Can I have some water?”

Reese wrapped his hand around Maggie’s upper arm and gently pulled her toward the waiting paramedic. This time, Maggie didn’t protest, but the frown between her brows remained.

“We got him. It’s over.”

A laugh sounded from behind him. He turned to see the EMT working on Patterson, but the man’s hard eyes said he had something else to say. Reese lifted a brow in his direction.

“Over?” Patterson gave a humorless snort then licked his dry chapped lips. “You think this is over? You ruined the chance of a lifetime for me,” he snarled. “It’s far from over. A lot of money was lost on this job.” Fury turned his blue eyes to chips of ice. “And my boss isn’t going to let it just be over. So you’d better watch your back and sleep with one eye open.”

“Shut up!” Shannon yelled as she stomped toward them, Belle in her arms. “Just shut up! How can you do this to people? To a baby? You could have killed her!”

Reese stepped in between Shannon and the man now glaring at her. She looked mad enough to do him bodily damage. Belle sucked on her pacifier and seemed content until she spotted Maggie with the EMT. Belle let out a cry and held her arms out toward Maggie.

Reese reluctantly took the baby from a glowering Shannon and walked over to Maggie. Another officer led a still-furious and vocal Shannon away.

Belle squirmed in Reese’s arms, wanting her mother. Maggie looked at Belle and crooned, “Just a minute, baby.”

Her wounds didn’t look as bad as he’d feared when he first saw all the blood. Now that they were almost cleaned up, he could see that the cuts weren’t too deep. As the EMT began to bandage the worst ones, he concentrated on soothing Belle, knowing his attempts were awkward and unwanted.

Screeching, Belle strained against him and lunged for Maggie. Reese prayed the paramedic would hurry up.

Maggie finally pushed the helping hands away with an apology and reached for Belle.

Reese let her go, the heat from her small body nearly singeing his palms. The baby quieted the moment her mother’s arms closed around her. Maggie placed a kiss on her daughter’s forehead and whispered soothing words in her tiny ear. Reese’s heart jerked in his chest, and he swallowed hard. What would it be like to be on the receiving end of Maggie’s love?

The thought nearly overwhelmed him and he turned away to concentrate on what he needed to do to get information out of the now-subdued Patterson.

Subdued due to pain medication. Reese wanted to jerk the IV out of the man’s arm.

The EMT working on him looked at Reese. “This guy has a bad infection in his left shoulder. Looks like it’s from a previous gunshot wound. He’s got a fever and is one sick dude.”

“Yeah, well, today’s not the first time I’ve shot him.”

The EMT lifted a brow. “Ooo-kay.”

Reese didn’t bother to explain as they loaded Patterson into the back of the ambulance. Cal holstered his weapon and said, “I’ll go with him.”

“I’m going to get Maggie and Shannon settled back inside the house.” He looked at Eli. “Then we’ve got to talk.”

Eli nodded. “Yeah, because while we’ve caught all the robbers, this is obviously not over.”

“Exactly.”

* * *

Maggie paced the floor of her kitchen, her sneakers making a squeaking noise on the linoleum with each step. It wasn’t over. Why not?