by BJ Bourg
I shook my head. “I don’t recognize the number. Please continue…what happened next?”
My pulse rate quickened with excitement as he spoke. When he’d finished telling the story, he told me he was heading back to his office and that he’d be in court early the next morning. I waved goodbye and jumped into my Tahoe. I was on the phone with Susan before I pulled out of the parking lot. She said she was at the coroner’s office with Melvin and they were attending Megyn’s autopsy. It was just down the road, so I told her to meet me outside and that I’d be there in a few minutes.
When I arrived, she was standing in the shell parking lot near the gate, chewing on her lower lip. I stepped slowly from my Tahoe and approached her. Her face was a shade lighter than usual and I didn’t want to leave her in suspense any longer.
“You’re back, Sue. It’s over.”
Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. “Wait…what? Are you sure?”
I nodded. “Isabel’s going into court bright and early tomorrow morning and dismissing all charges against you. Bill would be doing it himself, but Perry convinced him it would be in his best interest to cease his involvement in any proceeding involving you—”
Susan didn’t wait for me to finish. She bolted forward and threw herself against me, wrapping her arms tightly around my neck. “Thank you so much,” she whispered into my ear. “You did this…this is your work.”
I felt something warm splash against my neck and I knew she was crying…but they were happy tears. I squeezed her back and we held each other until it felt awkward, and then she loosened her death grip on me. Embarrassed, she turned her head away and dabbed at her eyes with her hand. “Does this mean I can put my uniform back on?” she asked.
“It does, but do you mind waiting until the autopsy is done?”
This brought a chuckle from her and then she turned to head back into the building. “Are you coming in?”
“I am.” As I started to follow her, my phone rang again. It was the same number from earlier. I picked it up. “Hello, this is Clint.”
“Clint, your secretary said for me to call you.” It was Chloe’s dad and his voice was curious. “Is there something wrong?”
“Oh, no, I’ve just been trying to call Chloe’s cell phone all day, but I keep getting her voicemail. I figured it was probably dead and that I could catch her on your house phone.”
“Um, she’s not here. We thought she was with you.”
“Is there something wrong?” I heard Chloe’s mother call from the background.
“What do you mean you thought she was with me?” I asked.
“Well, she sent her mother one of those text things last night to say she was going back to your place. She never came home, so we figured she was with you.”
My heart dropped to my boots. “Are you sure she’s not there? Can you check her room?”
“Clint, I would know if she was here or not. Once she left for work, she hasn’t been—”
I ended the call and rushed toward my Tahoe, with Susan hollering after me wondering what was going on.
CHAPTER 21
I skidded to a stop in the gravel driveway of Chloe’s dad’s house and jumped out of my Tahoe. Andy and Viola Rushing were out in the front yard before I could reach the house. Tears rolled freely down Mrs. Rushing’s cheeks and there were deep worry lines in Mr. Rushing’s leathery face.
“Are you sure she didn’t get home last night?” I asked, pushing past them and into the house. “She texted me around ten o’clock to say she’d made it home and was tired, and she said she’d call me in the morning.”
They followed close behind me, with Mr. Rushing trying to convince me she hadn’t come home. “I fell asleep on the sofa waiting for her, but I went to bed when she sent that message. I’m telling you, Clint, she said she was staying with you. Now, she told us earlier she had to stay here because those evil men were threatening harm and you were out of town, but then we figured you’d returned early since she decided to stay with you.”
I pushed through the doorway of her childhood bedroom and glanced around. It looked eerily like a shrine. Other than the crumpled sheets on the bed, it appeared as though Chloe had left for school one day and her parents had come behind her and locked everything up without moving a single item. One thing was clear, she wasn’t there.
I turned to walk out, but Mrs. Rushing stepped into my path. She was clutching at her throat and wailing. “Do…do you think they did something to her? The bad men…do you think they got to her? Oh, dear God, please tell me she’s okay…please!”
My stomach burned with fear, but I didn’t want to freak them out even more, so I masked it as best I could. “I’m sure she’s fine. Maybe she got to my house after I left last night and just decided to stay there. I could’ve easily passed her on the highway and not known it was her. I’ll check it out first thing when I leave from here.”
“Then why not answer her phone?” she asked. “I must’ve called a dozen times since we hung up with you, but it’s ringing straight to her voicemail. I’ve left a dozen messages, but she hasn’t called back yet. That’s unlike her. She never goes that long without answering her messages.”
“Maybe her battery died and she didn’t bring her charger,” I suggested idly, my mind on other things. I needed to retrace her steps, beginning with yesterday morning. “What time did she leave for work yesterday?”
“She and Achilles got here late, so she slept in a little.” Mr. Rushing rubbed his face and shook his head. “I’m guessing she left at about eight, eight-thirty.”
“She did leave in a hurry,” Mrs. Rushing said through her tears, “because she didn’t make her bed.”
I walked out the front door and around to their back yard, where Achilles was tearing up a water hose in the fenced enclosure. I winced. “Sorry about that.”
Mr. Rushing just waved his hand. “Our last dog—a big yellow lab—did much worse.”
When Achilles heard my voice, he yelped and bounded toward me, trying to jump over the six-foot cyclone fence. I let myself in through the gate and dropped to my knees beside him, ruffling his ears as he rolled onto his back and squirmed in delight. My mind was racing as I knelt there scratching my dog. I told him to stay and then stood to face Chloe’s parents. “Mr. Rushing, is it okay if Achilles spends some time here while I figure out what’s going on in town? I’ll pay for all the damage he causes.”
“That’s not necessary.” There were tears in the elder man’s eyes. “Just please bring our daughter back home. She’s all we have.”
I nodded and left, heading for my house. I knew better than to hope that Chloe was there, but I felt deflated when I turned the corner and didn’t see her car. I headed for the office next and found it buzzing with activity. Several deputies were milling around eating from plastic bowls and Mayor Boudreaux’s wife was walking around refilling their drinks. The place smelled of chicken and sausage gumbo. Although I hadn’t eaten lunch, I wasn’t even tempted. I had to find Chloe first and foremost—I could eat after that was done.
Susan pushed through the crowd and tugged at my arm. Her eyes were troubled. “What’s going on? Lindsey said something about Chloe being missing.”
My jaw burned as reality settled in. “It’s got to be Simon and his brothers. Somehow, they figured out who she was and…and they got to her. I need to find them, Sue—and fast.”
Susan pursed her lips. “Melvin said they searched everywhere. They checked with everyone living along Bayou Tail and on Lake Berg, but no one’s seen anything. They even rummaged through all the abandoned camps, but there’s no sign of them or the stolen boat.”
I nodded. “I need to go to—”
“Chief, is it true?” Melvin had rushed up and grabbed my arm. “Is Chloe missing?”
“I’m afraid so.”
Amy walked up and handed me a bowl of food. “You need to eat so you can keep your strength up. We’ll find her.”
Knowing she was right,
I took the bowl and forced the food down. While I ate, Susan updated me on the results of their investigation into Megyn’s murder. “There were no surprises at the autopsy. She was shot three times, with the fatal wound being the one to the head. Her friends and family can think of no one who would want to hurt her. Like I told you before, her computer and phone turned up nothing.” She paused and frowned. “I think you were right—this is a robbery and our prime suspects are the Parker brothers.”
“Yeah, it’s the only thing that makes sense.” I looked up as Mayor Boudreaux approached and slapped Susan on the back.
“Congratulations, Susan! I heard the bogus charges are going to be dropped tomorrow.”
She smiled. “Thanks, Dexter.”
“I know a good lawyer if you want to sue that bastard for false arrest,” he offered. “That was one hell of an injustice.”
“No, I’m just happy to put it behind me,” she said. “I’ve had enough drama for one year.”
“I understand.” The mayor then turned to me. “I’m going to take the missus back home. She’s tired from cooking all morning and needs to get her rest. I’ll get some rest, too, and come back for the night shift so you kids can get out there and find Chloe.”
I thanked him and watched as he patiently helped his wife gather her purse and a bag. She wanted to take her dishes with her, but he told her he’d bring them home tomorrow. Taking her by the elbow, he then guided her toward the front door of the office.
“That’ll be me and Claire a hundred years from now,” Melvin said, smiling at the old couple. “You know they’ve never even dated anyone else? They were each other’s first love.”
“They’re precious,” Susan said. “I hope to someday find a love like that.”
I only frowned as I watched Dexter open the door for Mrs. Boudreaux. I couldn’t watch them without wondering about Chloe. Where was she? How was she? A sense of panic threatened to seize my breathing as a thought crept into my mind…was Chloe alive?
I hung my head as I focused on pushing the thought from my mind. I knew I couldn’t go there in my mind or—
A distant pop and a nearby splat caused me to jerk my head upward. I gasped out loud when I saw Mrs. Boudreaux fall to her knees, clutching at her stomach. Blood oozed between her fingers and a look of shock fell across her face as she toppled onto the floor, groaning in pain. Another pop sounded and Dexter’s lower jaw was ripped violently from his face. He collapsed in a heap on top of his wife and lay still.
“Dexter!” I drew my pistol and lunged forward as more gunshots erupted in the distance and bullets rained into the police department. I saw Mrs. Boudreaux’s head flinch and she lay still, her eyes open and her mouth sagging. Screaming in anger, I continued toward the door. I had sixteen bullets in my pistol and I had every intention of sending each one of them in the direction of the Parker brothers. I was about to reach the doorway when something struck me violently in the ribs, knocking the wind from my lungs and sending a sharp pain through to my core. My knees buckled and I dropped to the floor, nearly losing my grip on my pistol. As I lay there struggling for air, my eyes locked on Dexter’s lifeless and disfigured face.
CHAPTER 22
Bullets whizzed by overhead and splattered the back wall. I saw two deputies squatting in the corner returning fire through one of the lobby windows. I strained to breathe, but it felt like a sack of oysters was on top of me. Melvin entered my plane of view from the side and sprang toward the front door, kicking it in an attempt to shut it. The door smashed into Dexter’s lifeless body and flung wide open again.
Gripping my pistol, I situated my hands under me and tried to push myself up to help him, but the weight held me down. It was only then that I realized Susan was on top of me. She had tackled me to the ground and once again probably saved me from certain death. She rolled off of me and scrambled toward the right side of the door where Melvin squatted. She flinched once as a bullet splintered the floor just inches from her face, but she made it to Melvin without being injured. The exterior walls were wrapped in brick and provided decent cover from the gunfire, but the open doorway was another matter. I could almost see the bullets spraying through the opening.
Staying clear of that funnel of death, I managed to reach the left side of the doorway and prepared myself to move the bodies. I grimaced as I looked down at Dexter and his wife. They were two people who had done nothing but work hard and help others their entire lives. They didn’t deserve to go out like this. While I was upset and angry that they were gone, I remembered the way Mrs. Boudreaux had acted last year when Dexter disappeared in the swamps, and I knew neither of them would’ve wanted to go on living without the other. As horrible as it was, it felt appropriate that they would expire at the same time.
Seth appeared directly behind me and shoved my boot. “I’m here, Chief, I’ll get the woman.”
I nodded and grabbed Dexter’s arm and dragged him off of his wife and out of the way of the door. Seth grabbed Mrs. Boudreaux and pulled her body beside Dexter’s. In one smooth motion, Melvin lunged forward and delivered a kick to the door that sent it slamming shut. He sighed and started to wipe sweat from his brow, but bullets zipped through the door and splattered against the back wall, sending him ducking for cover.
Susan worked her way around three deputies who were huddled behind Lindsey’s desk and she headed toward my office. Melvin and Seth disappeared into Susan’s office and I heard them fire off some shots from the one window in her office.
I began to follow Susan to my office when I saw Lindsey crouched behind her desk with the deputies. Her hands were covering her head and she was crying out loud. Crawling to her, I grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her toward me. “Get to the shower room,” I yelled into her face. “You’ll be safe. There’re no windows and it’s made of concrete.”
She was shaking uncontrollably and refused to move. Shoving my pistol in its holster, I wrapped my arm around her back and began dragging her in the direction of the hallway. She finally pushed her knees under her body and scurried along until we were halfway down the hall. I let go of her back and told her to keep going.
The gun battle was increasing in intensity and I needed to get into it. I whipped around and rushed toward the patrol section, staying low as I ran. I’d last seen Susan enter my office, so I headed in that direction. I caught sight of the three deputies firing their handguns from behind Lindsey’s desk. They would take turns popping up and aiming across the room and through the windows in the lobby, and then drop down behind cover. I grunted, wondering if they could even see anything from that position.
I crashed through my door on hands and knees, trying to stay lower than the windows in my office. Susan turned when she heard me bump against the doorframe. She was crouched near one of the windows, her pistol held firmly in her hands. Most of the bullets from the opposing gunfire impacted the exterior brick walls and disintegrated harmlessly against the hard surface, but an occasional bullet found its way through the window and whizzed by overhead.
“Where’s your AR?” she asked.
I pointed to my cot. “Under there!”
As she went for the AR, I crawled behind my desk and pulled the shotgun from where it was leaning in the corner. I pressed the release switch and pulled the pump back slightly, checking to make sure a round was chambered. One was, so I made my way to the opposite side of the window where Susan was crouched. The window provided a view of the front of the building and I knew I should be able to get a bead on the shooters. Although I hadn’t seen them, I knew it had to be the Parker brothers. Only they possessed the intestinal fortitude to declare war on an entire police department, and they were ruthless enough to kill an elderly woman and her husband for no good reason.
One of the window panes was shattered, but the curtains were still in place and the room was dark enough to hide us from the view of anyone outside. Susan—my AR-15 in her hands—pulled her feet under her butt and prepared to spring upward. She turned to
look at me first and her eyes twinkled. “I guess we don’t have to go looking for them,” she said. “It seems like they’ve found us.”
“That was a bad move on their part!” Gritting my teeth, I jumped to my feet and shoved the barrel of the shotgun through the shattered window. I had to squint to try and penetrate the long shadows growing across the street. I searched for hostiles, but saw none. I dropped back down and took a deep breath. “I don’t see anyone.”
I’d caught a glimpse of a pickup truck and some trees across from the office, but I couldn’t be certain they were behind them. I didn’t want to shoot if I couldn’t identify my target. A citizen could’ve gotten caught in the crossfire and sought refuge in the trees. And what if they had Chloe with them? I shuddered at the thought and tried to push it from my mind. That would only distract me and cause me to hesitate at a crucial moment. Chloe’s best chance of survival would be us taking out the Parker brothers as soon as possible.
Susan pointed overhead to let me know she was going up for a look and I nodded. Scooting back from the wall, she took a deep breath and lunged to her feet, the AR extended out in front of her. I stood up at the same time and scanned the area again.
“There,” Susan said, “behind the truck!”
She squeezed off two quick shots and the rear tire blew out. I saw movement behind the truck and a large man bolted from behind it and ran toward another truck parked several feet in front of it. I swung the muzzle of my shotgun in his direction and pulled the trigger, but the buckshot pellets landed harmlessly against the front quarter panel of the first pickup.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the figure again. This time he was moving toward a clump of bushes to my left and he had something long in his hands. Before I could work the pump-action on the twelve-gauge and turn it in his direction, he snapped off a shot and a window pane above my head exploded. Shards of glass peppered the side of my face and I quickly dropped to the ground with Susan, who grabbed my chin and turned my head so she could look me over. “You’re bleeding!”
