Behind the Badge

by Susan Sleeman

  Sydney grabbed her backup gun from the pack. She slipped out of her shirt and removed her bulletproof vest. When she found Nikki alive, and she would find her, Nikki would need the vest more than Sydney would.

  If the text was true, the killer wanted something from Sydney and he wouldn’t kill her until she provided it. Not so with Nikki. He seemed very willing to put a bullet in Nikki to get Sydney to produce this mysterious item.

  She slipped the vest on over her shirt then ran for the car. By the time she arrived, Russ had it turned around and the light bar turning.

  She jumped in. Before she closed the door, Russ took off. He flipped on the siren and she sat back, finally feeling the strain running had placed on her injured knee. She’d been so consumed with fear for Nikki she hadn’t even noticed the pain. Now it throbbed in time with the wails of the siren.

  But a little pain didn’t matter, Nikki did. And what they both needed right now was God’s intervention.

  Dear Lord, please wrap Your arms around Nikki and keep her safe. Help us to rescue her and let no one be harmed in the process.

  She breathed out her distress and let God’s peace take over before opening her eyes.

  Russ glanced at her, his eyebrow raised.

  “What?” she asked.

  “What’s with the vest over your shirt?”

  She hadn’t expected him to question her, but he had to know from when he held her at the murder scene that she’d had the vest on under her shirt, so she explained her reason for the change. “When we get there, you can wait in the car. I’ll go in after her.”

  Russ cocked an eyebrow. “Your logic is full of holes, Syd. Did you take something from Dixon’s house?”

  “No.”

  “Then this could just be a ploy to get you out in the open to take you out.”

  She exhaled sharply. “I’m willing to take that risk to save my sister.”

  “This’s exactly what I was warning you about earlier when you followed Dixon. You have an emotional investment in this. You can’t simply bypass everything you’ve learned about safety and act irrationally.”

  “Do you have a better idea?”

  “We follow protocol and stay together. The area outside the pit is so wide-open we’ll be sitting ducks if this guy has a rifle. Our only chance is going in there together and working as a team.”

  She peered out the window. “It’s overcast so that’ll help.”

  “But we’re too far from the lake to count on fog hiding us.”

  “I still think you should stay in the car.”

  He snorted. “Not a chance.”

  “I told you—he’s not gonna shoot me. He might try to take you out or even Nikki, but not me.”

  “I’ll risk it. I’m not letting you go alone.”

  She knew by his tight expression that this wasn’t negotiable, so she stopped arguing.

  “I’ll need the phone number from that text so I can have Baker run it down,” he said.

  She picked up her notebook from the console and jotted it down. She ripped off the paper and gave it to Russ. “We should also check to see if it came from the same phone as the text we received on Dixon’s cell.”

  “I’ll have Baker cross-reference it,” he answered then fell silent.

  She figured he was thinking about how crafty their killer was. Using Dixon’s cell when he must have had her phone number, just to add a little more emphasis to the message.

  Or maybe the killer used Dixon’s cell for another reason?

  “You think he sent the message on Dixon’s cell to make sure we found the phone?”

  “Maybe. Though I don’t know why the killer would want us to find Dixon’s phone. He might’ve used it to show us how creative he is. Or maybe he didn’t have your cell number yet.”

  “We may never know.” She focused on the road as they neared the pit. She took out her gun. “We should go in silent so we don’t scare a bunch of inebriated teens into cars and onto the road.”

  He flipped off the lights and siren. As they turned onto the driveway, he killed the headlights and slowly drove them to the far end of the lot. He shifted into Park and faced her, uncertainly filling his eyes. “No cars. You think we were wrong?”

  “I hope not.” She tried to sound confident, but her stomach clenched into a tight ball. Because with no cars in sight, it was unlikely that a party was going on.

  Concern for Nikki gnawed at her. She looked away from Russ and sent up a prayer.

  If they were wrong, Nikki might have set out for a party somewhere else. Or the killer could already have her and she was at his mercy as he tried to recover something from Sydney that she couldn’t possibly produce.

  FIVE

  Sydney and Russ crept toward the mounds of gravel. As they’d suspected, fog wasn’t a factor and the moon had emerged from heavy cloud cover. If the teens were here, they would congregate in the back area of the pit, ringed on three sides by mounds of soil with only one way out.

  Worry for Nikki forced Sydney to up her speed, but her feet faltered in deep ruts, slowing her down. She wished a whole cavalry of officers were advancing with them, but they’d agreed not to call in backup, putting other officers in a potential sniper situation. Once they got Nikki out safely, they’d request other units to break up the party.

  Finally at the opening, she heard voices and music drifting into the night.

  “They are here,” she whispered to Russ, who stopped next to her.

  She peered at a small bonfire casting a flickering light on the group. Approximately twenty-five teens hung in small clusters.

  “There’s Nikki.” She pointed to where her sister, cup in hand, stood talking to Emily.

  Russ knelt beside her, and she saw him search the landscape. “Looks like we’re alone, but I don’t think we should take any chances.”

  Sydney had almost forgotten about the killer. Seeing Nikki alive and laughing had consumed her thoughts. But Russ was right. They weren’t out of the woods yet. Still, she took the time to breathe, slowing her racing pulse. To think this through when all she wanted to do was rush over and throw her arms around her sister. To hold her and plant kisses all over her sweet face.

  But that wouldn’t teach her what she’d done was wrong. Besides, there was still the issue of the missing gun. And another episode of drinking. Nikki had to learn her actions had consequences. Plus the killer could still end her life if he lurked in the woods.

  “I’m going in after her,” Sydney said, hating the way her voice wobbled from stress. “Watch our backs. I’ll bring her out.”

  Russ clamped a hand on her arm. “We never agreed to that. I have more experience. I’ll go.”

  Sydney shook off his hand. “We’ve been through this. You have experience, but the killer would be more than happy to plug you. He wants me alive so I have less to lose.”

  “I’ll cover you.” His words came out in a grudging tone, but Sydney had no doubt that he’d do his best to keep her safe.

  She gave him a smile, got a flat-lipped one from him. She pushed off and crept to the opening. Once inside the area where walls of gravel kept them out of a shooter’s range, she marched into the group.

  Nikki’s friends looked up. Anxiety spread across their faces.

  Good. They should be apprehensive.

  Sydney was so thankful her sister was alive, but a sudden wave of anger over her taking this chance with her life just to grab a beer made Sydney knock the cup out of Nikki’s hand. “You’re coming with me.”

  “Seriously, you didn’t come here.”

  “Seriously, I did.” She clamped her hand on Nikki’s elbow. “Now come on.”

  “Later,” Nikki said to her friends.

  Her friends responded with disappointed goodbyes, but also seemed relieved that Sydney had only come for her little sister and not to break up the party. They’d be sorely disappointed when other officers arrived on the scene to arrest them.

  Once outside the group’s heari
ng range, but still in the protective ring of gravel, Sydney took a few deep breaths.

  “Where is it?” she demanded.

  “Where’s what?”

  “I know you took my gun.”

  “What?” Nikki screeched. “I don’t have your gun.”

  “Are you telling me the truth? You didn’t take it from my backpack when I was having dinner with Russ?”

  “Why would I want your stupid old gun?” Nikki rolled her eyes.

  She wanted to believe Nikki, but she’d lied too often lately. “I hate to do this, but I have to search you.”

  Nikki glared at her. “Why am I not surprised you don’t believe me? You never believe me.”

  The hurt in Nikki’s voice cut to Sydney’s core, but she ignored it.

  “Lift your arms.” She gritted her teeth as she searched.

  Nothing in life had prepared her for this. Sure, the academy had taught her how to properly search a suspect, but her sister? How could she pat down her sister without ruining an already deteriorating relationship?

  Russ couldn’t believe his eyes. Sydney was searching her sister like a common criminal before dressing her in the vest and leading her toward him. He could never imagine treating his son like that. No matter what Zack had done. But then, he couldn’t have imagined letting alcohol control his life so he’d lose custody of a child who meant the world to him. So he was in no position to judge Sydney for her actions.

  When they reached him, Sydney jerked her head at the car. “I’ll take the lead.”

  She didn’t wait for his agreement. He urged Nikki forward with a light hand on her shoulder. She shot him a harsh look but started walking. He saw Sydney check her surroundings. He did the same until they safely reached the car. Sydney grabbed Nikki by the arm and put her into the backseat of the car. She slid into the front and requested units to break up the party.

  Russ stood openmouthed and watched.

  Was she planning to turn Nikki over to the officers when they arrived? If she wanted Nikki to hate her for life, Sydney was doing the right thing. If not, she was making a colossal mistake. He should know. He was the king of relationship blunders.

  But what difference did it make to him? This was her life. Her sister. He was just a fellow officer.

  She climbed out of the car and his mind waffled over how he should handle this. Should he tell her what he thought or walk away? Crossing over that professional boundary with Sydney wasn’t a good idea. But could he stand by and watch her ruin her relationship with Nikki if he could help?

  He groaned and went to her. He’d probably be sorry for trying to butt in, but he had to step in like he’d want someone to do if he were about to make a huge mistake and arrest his son.

  “You’re not arresting Nikki, are you?” he asked.

  “She’s lied to me one too many times. Maybe hauling her in for drinking will scare some sense into her.”

  “Or not.”

  Her eyes zeroed in on him. “Are trying to tell me how to raise my sister?”

  “Wouldn’t think of it. Just trying to help you think this through before doing something you might regret later.”

  She searched his face before she sighed out a long breath. “So what do I do with her? This’s the second time I caught her partying. It’s got to stop.”

  “You’re certain she was drinking tonight?”

  Sydney seemed to think about his question. “I don’t know. She had a cup in her hand. We both know she wasn’t here long enough to get drunk and she didn’t act like it, but why else would she be here?”

  Sydney had a point, but it also seemed as if she’d let emotions take over and reacted in haste. “Tell you what…why don’t we take her home? I’ll administer a breathalyzer. If she’s been drinking, I’ll talk to her and put the fear of the law into her.”

  Sydney’s jaw tightened. “Why would you do that?”

  Why indeed? Because her wounded eyes had kept him from behaving like himself all night. But he wasn’t about to admit that. “I’ve experienced what you’re going through and would like to help.”

  He didn’t add that his experience was from the other side of the fence. That he’d lived in the black hole of alcohol dependence for two years and barely escaped alive. That he’d fought hard to reclaim his life and relationship with his son, put his mistakes behind him and come out with regrets he didn’t wish on anyone else.

  No need to reveal his ugly history. To risk it getting around town and cause the people of Logan Lake to start doubting their police chief. No…not a good idea at all. Especially with a murderer on the loose.

  Russ sat back on the sofa in Sydney’s family room and let a smile cross his face. He’d spent the past thirty minutes administering the breathalyzer and talking with Nikki. They’d really connected, which totally surprised him. She’d started out belligerent but when he listened to her, she opened up and expressed her frustrations over Sydney not taking the same time to listen.

  Now all he needed to do was go out to the garage, tell Sydney that the breathalyzer had come back with a zero reading and discuss Nikki’s complaint. Hopefully the two of them would be on the road to better communication by the time this night ended.

  He headed for the garage, his steps lighter than they’d been in years with hope trying to ease its way into his heart. Been a long time since he’d hoped for anything. Felt kinda good.

  If this was what happened when he opened himself up to others, maybe he should believe what they said at AA about deserving a second chance at life and really start living again.

  He passed Nikki coming out of the kitchen with a soda.

  “You still here?” she asked, but he heard the humor in her tone. “Thought you’d be out in the garage telling Sydney how great I am and to lighten up.”

  He laughed. “I’ll do that if you remember your promise to talk to her about this.”

  “I said I would, didn’t I?” The good humor disappeared with a shake of her head.

  “And if she doesn’t hear you right away, don’t clam up and take off.”

  She stalked across the room. “Or if she does something so lame again, like accusing me of taking her stupid old service weapon.”

  Hold up. Was Sydney’s gun missing? If so, it explained why Sydney had patted Nikki down. He wondered if that was the real reason she hadn’t been carrying at the town house. Then again…she’d had a gun at the gravel pit. But it could be her backup.

  He hated to think she might have lied to him at the town houses when she told him she’d left her service weapon in the car. He was a good judge of character. Lying didn’t fit what he knew of Sydney. But it did fit a teenager.

  “Did you take her gun?” he called after Nikki.

  She stopped and looked back at him. “If you have to ask, you’re as lame as she is.” Shaking her head, she went down the hallway.

  Despite the return of her attitude, he had to say he believed her. She sounded convincing. Plus he hadn’t seen Sydney pull a gun from Nikki during her search. After he told Sydney about the breathalyzer, he would ask about the gun.

  He went to the garage and found her lying on her stomach in the front seat of her cruiser, digging under the passenger’s seat.

  “Syd,” he called out.

  She snapped up, banging her head on the steering wheel and groaning.

  “Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to startle you like that.” He handed her the breathalyzer case. “The test read zero.”

  “She wasn’t drinking.”

  “Not a drop.”

  “Then why was she at the party?” She set the breathalyzer kit on the seat.

  “She wants to tell you about it. If you’ll listen.”

  When Sydney’s eyes narrowed, Russ took a step back. This was probably the same look she used on traffic stops. Very effective.

  “Did Nikki tell you I don’t listen?” she asked, her tone testy. “I listen all the time.”

  “Like tonight? When you patted her dow
n and threw her in the back of your car without letting her explain?”

  Pain swept over Sydney’s face. He shouldn’t have been so direct. He knew how hard it was to be a parent. His wife had left him and taken Zack when he was too deep in the bottle to be a good father, so who was he to accuse Sydney of anything?

  He gazed into her eyes. Eyes that were older than her years, as if they’d seen far too much trouble in her young life. But they were also compelling and deep enough to drown in, if he ever let himself take a plunge.

  “I’m sorry, Syd. I should never have said that. I know how hard it is to raise a seven-year-old boy. It’s gotta be even harder to parent a teenager… I could never do what you’re doing.”

  “I appreciate your apology.” Her voice thick with emotion, she looked off into the distance.

  He caught a glimpse of disappointment before she turned away.

  Was she disappointed in herself or in him for questioning her? If he told her about his failure with Zack maybe that would help. Or would it just blur the lines of professionalism between them that he couldn’t seem to stay behind? It was better to leave before he confided his problems and involved her in his personal mess.

  “I’ll get someone to drop off my car so you can have that talk with Nikki.” He dug out his phone and pressed Garber’s speed-dial number.

  “It’ll take a few minutes for someone to get here, so why don’t we wait inside?” Her lips turned up in an endearing smile, making him want to be on the receiving end of smiles like this more often.

  He stood there basking in the warmth. Letting the strong connection settle over him and watching her eyes transmit a flash of interest.

  “You there, Chief?” Garber’s voice coming over the phone turned her eyes shy. She spun and went to the door.

  He eased out a breath and put the phone to his ear. “Any word on the lights?”

  “Not yet.”

  “I need someone to drop off my cruiser at Deputy Tucker’s house.” He shook his head and watched Sydney enter the house.