Instead, he blew out a breath. “We took down the ecoterrorist activists within A Better World at four this morning. We raided the homes of eight people and brought charges against them for planning to bomb a factory.”
“But not murder?”
“No. But if we learn more about Sarah’s death from our perpetrators, you can learn about that on the news. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have someplace to be.”
“Wait, Special Agent Sanchez,” Tori said. “Please tell me that Sarah wasn’t involved in violence. That she wasn’t an ecoterrorist who got caught and had to make a deal.”
He pursed his lips for a couple of breaths, then said, “She was working with us the whole time, Peterson, if that eases your mind. As for her murder, I suggest you get back on track with your investigation, Detective, and focus on a different target and motive. You’ve missed the boat on this one.”
The agent was dismissing them.
Ryan suspected that Tori wanted to argue more. How could the arrogant Agent Sanchez know that someone within A Better World hadn’t found out that Sarah was an informant and decided to take revenge? Did Dee James know what Sarah was up to? Tori made it sound as if the guy liked Sarah and wanted to help. But Sarah had taken his idea of an alias email and used it against him.
He stood with Tori under the bridge and watched Sanchez drive away in his slick black Suburban. Again, just like in the movies.
“Well, that was weird,” Tori said.
Ryan would keep his thoughts to himself for the moment.
Back in his county vehicle, Ryan started the ignition, and let Tori process the meeting, as well. Ryan said nothing as he absorbed the news shared by the agent.
Tori pressed her head against the seat back and released a soft sigh. “It could be over, then. They’ve arrested the main threats in the group and will obviously find out more by questioning them. The FBI will know if there was some reason they could have had to kill Sarah, her friends, and then also Dee. I just know that Dee was scared. If only he had shared everything he knew with me. But maybe someone in this group they’ve arrested will share more—like who found me at the safe house today.”
“I hope you’re right.” For Tori’s safety’s sake. “Let’s hope they discover the true reasons for Sarah’s murder now that they have made some arrests, but it doesn’t sound like they’re connecting those dots the same way we are. I’ll do what I can to find out more, even though this guy made it clear he wasn’t going to share the information with us. Maybe when your leave is over, you can somehow use your connections within the FBI to find out more.”
“You’re assuming that I’m going back to work for them. I told you that I was considering staying even if only by extending my leave. You didn’t believe me?”
“No, actually. I believed you would come to your senses.”
“Can we just get out of here?” Irritation edged her tone.
“Yes.” He glanced at her. “But first, pull your cap on.”
She flicked her green eyes his way, and though she tried to send him a severe look, dimples broke out on her cheeks. And at the sight of them, his heart was in his throat. He reined in his emotions before he spoke.
“Tori, please. You agreed to work with me.”
“Fine, but I’m not ducking.” She tucked the hat over the wig of long black hair. “Even if Sanchez believes the killer is still out there, since he doesn’t believe the activists murdered her.”
“We can’t know for sure, and I, for one, don’t want to take any chances. There are too many unanswered questions.” He steered from the parking lot. “So let’s do this. Let’s relax and eat with Katelyn when we get back to my house. She’s going to be upset if we don’t, I know that much. So please just try to enjoy the dinner that she cooked. Sometimes we have to get away from the investigation long enough to clear our heads.”
“Agreed. And I assure you I won’t have to work hard to enjoy her dinner. It smelled amazing. Besides, I need a break. I’ve been overthinking. Whatever Agent Sanchez says, I still believe Sarah’s murder has something to do with that group—or at least her environmental activities, which just leads back to them. Maybe there’s another group she was involved with. Something we missed. At least the ecoterrorist faction has been effectively shut down for the time being. But after I eat Katelyn’s pasta, who knows what I will think.”
God, please let this be over.
And if it truly was over—if Tori was right and Agent Sanchez was wrong—then she would probably go back to her job in South Carolina. Maybe she wouldn’t go back now, or even next week, but eventually. His throat threatened to close up on him at the thought.
“Look out!”
Tori screamed.
The vehicle filled his vision. He accelerated and swerved in hopes of a near miss. But he had no time to escape the vehicle as it slammed into them.
THIRTEEN
A loud blast filled her ears as a force propelled her forward. The next thing Tori knew, she sat in the vehicle, stunned, a deflated airbag in her lap and a weird smell filling the air. Seconds ticked by before she shook off the daze and gathered her wits. The airbag had exploded and the impact happened much too fast for her to comprehend.
And screams.
She’d heard screams.
Tori realized the screams had come from her. But she wasn’t screaming now. She was absorbing the fact they’d been in a car crash and she was still alive. She gasped for much-needed oxygen as her heart pounded. Dizziness tried to swallow her but she fought it. She remembered a vehicle had headed straight for them.
A hand gripped her. “Tori. Are you hurt?”
Ryan. Ryan had been driving.
“No, I’m not hurt. I’m... I’m okay.” She looked at him, a deflated airbag in his lap as well, but he had a cut across his forehead, and the sunglasses propped on his head were broken. “But you’re hurt.”
She touched his head and then looked at the blood on her fingertips. Ryan checked the rearview mirror that barely remained intact on the cracked windshield. “I’ll live. We have to get out of here.”
Tori reached up to touch her own head to see if she, too, was bleeding. Then she realized she was no longer wearing the wig. The impact had dislodged the disguise she’d donned moments before. She disentangled herself from the airbag and unbuckled the seat belt to search for the wig. The move ignited a throb across her chest. She’d have a bruise from the seat belt, if not the airbag.
“Get ready to run.” Ryan’s tone was urgent. “Tori, are you listening?”
“Sure.” She tried to shake off the daze.
“I need you to stay down until I can get you out.” Ryan grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. “The wreck was deliberate. Your life is in jeopardy.” Ryan had his weapon out. “Get down, please.”
He urged her downward in the seat, which was hard because the front end was crunched inward, giving her less room. Again her chest throbbed. Tori did her best to remain down and out of view.
“Wait here,” he said. “I’ll be back.”
Ryan tried to open his door, but it wouldn’t budge. He shoved against it repeatedly. Then he shifted his body around, putting himself practically over her, and kicked the door open. He slipped out of the vehicle.
“We should stay together, Ryan.”
But he was gone. What was he doing? Panic spiked through her. Tori tried the passenger door. It wouldn’t budge. She reached for her own gun.
She could possibly crawl over the console and out of Ryan’s opened side, but then that would expose her if someone was aiming to shoot her. Tori remained crunched down in the seat.
Gunshots exploded around her in an exchange. Between Ryan and who else? Was he up against one person or many?
Her breathing accelerated. She needed to help him.
I have to get out of here. I’m a sitting duck.
“Where are you, Ryan?”
With all the gunfire, he could be shot and injured or worse... Dead.
He’d told her to wait, but she couldn’t.
Then she heard him.
“Tori, get out of the vehicle! I can’t make it to you!” he called, his voice sounding distant. “I’ll hold him off!”
More gunshots resounded.
Time to move.
She kicked against her door again but it still wouldn’t budge. Tori crawled across the console to the driver’s side. Keeping low, she slid out, her weapon ready to fire. She needed somewhere to go, but she was stuck hiding behind the door of the vehicle as she tried to figure out where to go. She wanted to call out to Ryan but didn’t want to give herself away. He had to know she had climbed out, because he’d been shooting at someone to keep them from shooting at her.
If someone wanted her dead, wasn’t there any easier way to go about it? What a ridiculous thought to have at this moment.
Footfalls pounded the ground.
Two sets now.
Her heart hammered. Someone was running, but in which direction? Away from her, or toward her? She risked a peek down the alley and spotted Ryan giving chase.
That was it. She was going, too. Tori shoved from the vehicle, propelling herself forward and running after the two of them. The man he was chasing turned a corner.
“Ryan, wait up!” she called.
Ryan hesitated at the corner and then turned to wait for her. She caught up with him and didn’t miss a step as together they bounded around the corner and into the service vehicle access behind the buildings.
But the guy had disappeared. They continued forward until they made the end of the access behind the buildings that opened up to another alley.
She gasped for breath. “Déjà vu. This happened before. We can’t lose him this time. I’m going right, and you go left.”
“No.” Ryan held his weapon ready to aim and fire at the first sign of trouble. “We’ll go together.”
Tori didn’t argue and crept down the alley, Ryan at her side. She held her weapon ready to lift and fire at a moment’s notice. As she moved, she looked in every direction, waiting for the perp to jump out of the shadows or a corner. Ryan did the same but she had the uncanny sense that he was guarding her, as well. What a strange situation to be thrust into. At least Tori trusted Ryan to have her back, though she wasn’t giving him much choice at the moment.
A door slammed in a vacant building up ahead. She gestured toward the building. “In there.”
“I don’t like this, Tori,” Ryan said.
“I don’t like it, either, but we have to catch this guy. I’m not going to be safe until this is over.” Clearly she’d been completely wrong to believe she was safe with the ecoterrorist group in custody. Sanchez had been right on that point. That chafed. Unless Sanchez had been wrong and they had missed someone. But she couldn’t think about that right now.
Ryan grabbed her before she entered. “I’m lead on this. I’ll give chase.”
“And I’ll watch your back.”
He opened the door and stepped inside. “Police. Give it up.”
Slowly and methodically they cleared rooms on the lower level of a forsaken, multi-floor commercial building, then moved to the next floor. Neither of them spoke as they worked together. Very well together, she noted.
When they approached the last door in the building, Ryan hesitated and they shared a knowing look. The guy had to be in this room. And the perp had to know this was the end of the line for him.
Ryan positioned himself to safely enter the room, then called out in his official law enforcement tone, “It’s all over. I’m going to open the door. If you’re holding a weapon—”
The man fired off three shots. Bullets passed through the door. Tori’s pulse roared in her ears.
“I think he’s out,” Ryan said.
“He could have another clip,” she said.
Ryan nodded. “Give it up,” he called through to the shooter. “I’m with the Maynor County Sheriff’s Office, and I’m going to open this door. I’m going to shoot you if you are still holding a weapon. Understand?”
“Understood.” The response from behind the door surprised her.
Except, what did that really mean?
“Be careful, Ryan,” she said. “This could be a trap.”
Ryan kicked the door open and pointed his weapon. “Police!”
Tori came in low behind him.
A man stood at the far side of the room with his hands in his air. A gun lay on the floor in front of him. “I’m out, man. Don’t shoot me. I’m out.” Oddly, tears leaked from his eyes.
He was scared? That didn’t fit with the cold-blooded killer she’d been imagining. There was more going on here than she’d realized.
Finally a break in this case. The break they needed. Finally she could learn what happened to Sarah.
The window shattered. The perp’s face scrunched and then he crumpled as gunfire rang out.
* * *
Lights flashed from the emergency vehicles parked near the car accident that had taken out Ryan’s unmarked car. The wrecked vehicles had been moved to the side of the road to allow for traffic to flow.
The county coroner had already examined the perp’s body, and the building across the street from where the kill shot had been fired had been swept for evidence. Ryan hadn’t been informed on what had been discovered yet.
Medics had checked both Ryan and Tori out because neither of them wanted to sit in the hospital again. Not with a killer out there. With the attacks ramping up, they had to be getting close to the truth about who was behind this. And that meant Tori was in even more danger.
Ryan and Tori had already given their statements. It was getting late and Ryan was exhausted, but he’d grown somewhat accustomed to the long and odd hours as a detective. What was unfamiliar—and uncomfortable—was the hands-on scrutiny he was facing. Ryan shifted back and forth on his aching feet as he filled in his boss, Captain Moran, as well as his boss’s superiors, Chief Deputy Carmichael and Sheriff Rollins. It was a rough day when the heads of the sheriff’s department came to the scene of the crime to question Ryan on the events of the evening, including the clandestine meeting with the FBI agent. Sheriff Rollins was none too happy about the turn in Ryan’s investigation, the threats on Tori’s life or the FBI agent’s attitude.
Ryan’s investigative tactics were being scrutinized, as well, for everyone to hear. Couldn’t they take this back to the office to discuss?
“I get the feeling from you that Special Agent Peterson has been working this investigation, perhaps even leading you, the lead detective on the case,” Captain Moran said.
The chief deputy watched and listened.
Ryan knew when to speak, and when to keep quiet. Now wasn’t the time to reply. His boss hadn’t finished with him.
“Maybe I need to have a few words with Agent Peterson’s boss,” Sheriff Rollins said. “It’s time for her to leave. She’s a distraction to you, Ryan, and her life’s in danger, and almost cost you yours.”
“Where is she now?” Captain Moran asked.
Ryan was more than relieved Katelyn had picked Tori up and carted her away from the scene so she wouldn’t have to endure more questions. “Safe.”
The captain eyed him. “I asked you a question, Detective.”
“In light of the fact that someone knew where to look for her at my original safe house,” Ryan said, “I prefer not sharing her location information here.” He gestured to the law enforcement presence and the public gathered at the scene. “Add to that, the Jeep that slammed into us was seen at the original safe house.”
Captain Moran lost his tough stance, his features softening a bit. Ryan hadn’t known him to be harsh, but maybe the captain was under pressure w
ith his two superiors here, as well. He had to perform his duties or be scrutinized himself.
“That was the correct response,” he said. “Lets me know that you’ve got your head on straight.”
Tension eased from Ryan’s shoulders.
“Yes, sir,” Ryan said. “We have the name of the man who was driving and who was subsequently shot and killed. Eddie Slattery. We’ve run a background. I’m still looking for his connection to the other murders—of Sarah Peterson and her friends, and Dee James. Or a connection to anyone who would want to harm Tori.”
The sheriff nodded, only half listening as he answered his cell.
Ryan released a slow sigh of relief. He fisted his hands by his sides, impatient to finish the inquisition and answer their questions—all of which would be written up in his reports for them to read later. He understood the investigation of four murders, now six, had taken several turns and the public also wanted the killer caught. The entire sheriff’s office was being scrutinized, not just Ryan as the lead investigator.
But all he wanted, all he could think about was to get out of here and check on Tori. They needed to talk through the implications of what happened tonight. This could mean they had been following the wrong leads. Did Sarah’s murder have something to do with her social justice activities or not?
Captain Moran squeezed Ryan’s shoulder. “All right. I think we’re done here. Carry on, Detective Bradley. You’re doing a good job staying on top of things, considering all that’s happened so far. But I do agree with the sheriff that Sarah’s sister needs to be out of the investigation.”
“She has insight into her sister’s goings-on and has provided me with important information.”
“I understand. She’s offering assistance, but she’s also interfering with your investigation, I hope you realize that. When is she heading home to her real job again?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve tried to persuade her to leave.”
“Well, try harder.” With those words Captain Moran left him, to join the sheriff and chief deputy.
Target on the Mountain Page 15
