A Shot at Redemption

by Liz Bradford

  Once he had an estimate, he began searching the area. Nothing. To the left, nothing. Nothing to the right either. Nor up or down. He had hoped it wasn’t the hospital. The skill required to make that shot would prove this lunatic that much more dangerous. But he walked back over to the body and raised the camera to his face again. It was a clear line of sight. He turned again and looked for where the bullet might have ended its deadly course.

  There. Buried in the corner of the stone stairs. “Found it,” he shouted. Jocelyn appeared at his side and snapped a few pictures. Another CSU tech appeared and began the delicate work of removing the bullet. He joined Becca. “It was the hospital.”

  “But it’s so far.”

  “Yeah, over twice the distance from Sunday.”

  “Think it’s the same guy?”

  “I do. I wouldn’t be surprised if we find a single bullet sitting somewhere over there.”

  “A calling card of sorts?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Let’s find out.”

  “Found it!” Gavin’s voice crackled over the radio as Jocelyn walked into the hospital with two other members of the crime scene unit.

  “Perfect timing,” one of the lab technicians responded.

  Gavin spoke over the radio again and told them the location, and the team crossed the lobby to the elevators. The three of them had left the scene once most of the work had been done, leaving behind the ME and another tech. Gavin had been so adamant that the shooter’s hide had to be at the hospital that they had headed straight there.

  Jocelyn shifted her bag on her shoulder as they stepped off the elevator on the eighth floor and turned down the hallway. This wing of the hospital was under construction and no medical personnel were to be seen. It could have been a set from a zombie apocalypse movie. Plastic hung from seemingly random places. Ceiling tiles were missing. A shiver ran down Jocelyn’s spine. She and the guys walked down the hall until they found the room Gavin had indicated. The door was open, but it was quiet. Too quiet.

  “Oh good.”

  She jumped at Gavin’s voice. Her heart raced but only half because she’d been startled.

  Becca said, “You guys made it here fast.”

  Jocelyn set her bag down. “We’re that good.”

  Becca smiled.

  Jocelyn looked over at Gavin, expecting he would be smiling too. But instead his brow was furrowed and lips taut. He stood by a metal table next to the window of the dismantled room that had probably once been a lab. On the table were two .308 bullets, like on Sunday, standing up, side by side. She started snapping photos. First of the room as a whole, then, as she walked closer to Gavin, of the bullets.

  “Why two this time?” she asked.

  Gavin crossed his arms. “Not exactly sure. It wasn’t what I was expecting. Only thing I can figure is that he’s counting.”

  “Sunday was one kill, today was a second?”

  He nodded.

  “Good job, guys.” The sergeant’s voice filled the room as he entered.

  Gavin left her side, and Jocelyn turned. Jared handed Gavin his rifle case. Sometimes she forgot about that piece of Gavin’s life. He had been a sniper, one of the good guys, but still he’d had to take lives. They had talked about it some. She knew he’d made his peace with what he’d had to do, but ending lives still haunted him. He truly was one of the good guys.

  She continued to work the scene along with the techs, but she was acutely aware of Gavin’s presence as he patiently waited for them to gather trace evidence from the metal table and the stool next to it. Once they were satisfied that everything had been collected, Gavin set up his rifle.

  “This is a much better set-up than what he did on Sunday, but it would have to be for making this insane shot.” He looked through his scope.

  “Visual confirmation?” Jared asked.

  “Yes, sir. I can see the blood on the steps where Jeremy Fiat was. It’s a crazy shot.”

  “I want to know how he got onto this floor,” Becca said. “And with a rifle no less. How could they not notice someone walking around with a big ol’ rifle?”

  Gavin answered, “He could easily have disassembled it and put it in a much smaller bag. Plenty of people walk into hospitals carrying a bag. With no metal detectors, there was no way to detect it. And I’m guessing he didn’t walk in wearing a ski mask or anything suspicious. He probably looked like he belonged.”

  “Could be anyone?” Jocelyn asked.

  “Anyone with significant weapons training. But almost anyone can get that. While he could be military, or former military, he could also be a hunter who likes an extra challenge. Either way, he’s had training beyond plunking at a range or shooting a deer during hunting season.”

  A shudder ran down Jocelyn’s spine. Maybe it was the eerie setting, but she didn’t think so. Something else suddenly bothered her. What brought Patrick to mind?

  Gavin shoved himself away from his desk and stood. Even though it was one o’clock on Friday, they still hadn’t stopped for lunch. They had been at it all week and still felt like they were at ground zero. Two victims, one sniper, and zero suspects. He studied the rolling white board next to his and Becca’s desks.

  They had spent their Thursday focused on who the shooter might be. They had visited multiple shooting clubs in the area with long-distance ranges. This guy had to practice somewhere. But that hadn’t led to anything. Today they focused on the victims.

  Both victim’s pictures were taped up on the board, begging for their killer to be found.

  Becca sat at her desk behind him. “There has to be a connection.”

  He turned toward her. She dropped her head onto her folded arms. He wasn’t the only one who was exhausted. The two of them had been combing through each of these men’s lives, searching for some way they were connected, but they hadn’t found one.

  “They run in completely different circles, work on opposites sides of town, don’t have any hobbies in common. I’m at a loss, Palmer.” He leaned back against their desks and looked at the board again, hoping against hope that something would jump out at him.

  She lifted her head. “Was it random then? Is that what you’re saying?”

  He crossed his arms. “I can’t believe that. Not since Ralph was shot from his own house.”

  “What if Ralph wasn’t, but Jeremy was a random victim?”

  “That doesn’t fit. That was a tough shot. Why go to all that trouble for a random victim?”

  “To say you could?”

  Gavin shifted. Would that fit the mind of a hunter or sniper? “Maybe. But Jeremy seems a more likely target based on his lifestyle. Ralph was a church member and a nice guy everyone liked.”

  “While Jeremy was the hustler, the player with a sketchy reputation.”

  “Exactly. If anyone was going to have a grudge against one of these guys, I’d expect it to be against Jeremy not Ralph.”

  Becca pressed her lips together. “Hmm.”

  Movement in the corner of his eye brought Gavin’s attention to the squad room door. His heart tripped over itself at the sight of Jocelyn. So much for any focus he had. She smiled at him when she caught his eye.

  “Hey.” She came over next to him. “Y’all having any luck yet?”

  “I wish.” Jocelyn’s round little belly caught his attention. He could swear she looked significantly more pregnant this week than she had a week ago. Pregnancy looked good on her. She had longed for it for so long, even if she had refrained from talking about it after Nikki hit rock bottom. He was happy for her. Jocelyn was going to be a great mom. If only Patrick wouldn’t be such a lousy father.

  He brought his eyes back up to find her staring at the board. Her head was tilted to the side and her face was scrunched a little, like she was analyzing the information before her. “What is it? Because if you see something, please tell us. I’ve got nothing.”

  “There’s something about this case… I feel like Jeremy Fiat’s name is familiar, but I d
on’t know how, and I don’t recognize him.” She shrugged. “But anyway. I have to give these”—she held up a folder and made eye contact with him—“to Adam.”

  He couldn’t respond. He missed this. He missed having her randomly come up to the squad room and talk. He missed the friendly conversations and the intensity with which she thought about everything. He also missed her spunk and even her snarky comments, which still seemed to be MIA.

  Jocelyn left, and Gavin returned to his desk and fiddled with the papers that seemed to be reproducing like rabbits. He acted like he was organizing them, but really he was keeping his eye on Jocelyn as she gave Adam and Amelia the folder. She said something about being busy with the sniper case and apologized for just now getting them the photos from their case.

  She walked back past his desk on her way out. “Talk to y’all later.”

  “Later” was all he could manage. Oh, how he wished she’d reach out and touch him as she walked by. His shoulder tingled at the thought… or maybe it was a memory. He missed her touch.

  Stop! He had to stop thinking about her and her touch. He was going to drive himself mad if he didn’t.

  “Riley!” Becca’s quiet but pointed voice broke into his thoughts.

  “What?” he said with more agitation than he meant.

  She stared him down for a moment, and then said, “Conference room.”

  “We can talk about the case here,” he said, but she rose from her desk.

  She paid no heed to his statement and kept moving. What choice did he have but listen to his partner? He shook his head and followed her to the conference room. Once in there she closed the door and stared at him for a good minute before finally saying, “Spill it.”

  “What?”

  “I’m not an idiot, Gavin.”

  “Never said you were. Don’t go putting words in my mouth.” Nikki had always done that, and it drove him crazy.

  “I’m not. You’ve had something you need to tell me for a while, but you haven’t.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Come on, we’re partners. I need to know, and have the right to know, if anything is going to compromise your objectivity on any case we’re working.”

  He took a deep breath. His heart pounded hard in his chest. Telling the guys had been one thing, telling Becca was something else. He trusted her with his life, she was his partner after all, but this was personal on a whole different level.

  “Gavin,” her voice softened slightly, and she stepped closer. “What happened between you and Jocelyn?”

  He dropped his shoulders. Apparently, she really did know but wanted him to say it. “Fine. We had an affair. But it’s over, okay?”

  “Okay,” her voice lacked any hint of condemnation, along with any hint of surprise.

  “Okay? That’s it?” His blood pressure rose. He wanted to hear it from her. Someone needed to yell at him for his stupidity. He expected some sort of “what the heck, Gavin?” from her. But nothing.

  “I knew Jocelyn had an affair. I wanted you to admit it was with you.” She turned and walked out the door. She stepped out of the room but turned her head slightly and shot over her shoulder. “Back to the case!”

  Fire shot through his arms and his clenched fists. Sometimes that woman made his toes curl. On his way back to his desk he passed Jared, who was headed to the other side of the room. “How are you married to that woman?”

  Jared stopped and looked Gavin in the eye. Then laughed. “I don’t know, man. Some days I just don’t know.”

  Gavin chuckled a bit and continued walking. When he got to his desk, though, he couldn’t sit still. “I need some coffee.”

  “Take your time,” Becca said.

  Gavin shook the tension from his hands and left the squad room.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Jocelyn groaned as she trudged to the top of the steps in the police station again. She had come to hate these stairs but refused to take the elevator at the back of the building. Why did her office have to be so far from the detectives’ squad room?

  She still needed to talk to Gavin. Hunting for the elusive shooter, the last three days had been crazy. Most of them she had spent holed up in her little office analyzing the photographs of the crime scene and processing evidence. Exhausting work, and she wanted nothing more than to be home, napping. But she would try once more to talk to Gavin. She owed him that much.

  The longing in his eyes told her how happy he would be to know the baby was his. He wanted to be a dad. Whatever happened next, she finally had the courage to say something.

  She walked across the lobby toward the detectives’ squad room. The entire squad had put in countless hours of overtime. Gavin had been in and out of the station, even staying late the last two nights. She wasn’t sure he had gone home on Wednesday.

  “Jocelyn.”

  She stopped and turned toward Amelia, who was coming from the breakroom. “Hey.”

  “You sure you’re feeling okay? You look tired.”

  “I am. I’m headed home for a much-needed nap.”

  “That’s good. I was always so tired when I was pregnant, especially with Molly. Maybe you’re having a girl, then. My pregnancies with the boys were so much easier. You going to find out if the baby’s a boy or girl?”

  She tilted her head. “I hadn’t really thought about it. Did you?”

  “I did with Molly and Carter. Evan couldn’t stand the idea of waiting. But Caleb had managed to convince me to wait with Jonathan, although you know that Jonathan didn’t let us wait. I was pretty sure he was a boy, anyway.”

  “And you were right.” Jocelyn smiled.

  “The big twenty-week ultrasound is coming up soon, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah, next week. I guess I’ll have to decide soon.” Wonder what Gavin thinks? She shuffled her feet, unsure what to say next.

  “You’ll figure it out. And maybe your baby will be like Jonathan and not give you a choice.”

  “Right.” She snickered, then tucked her hair behind her ear. “Have you seen Gavin?”

  “He’s down in the breakroom.”

  “Thanks.”

  She walked down the hall but slowed as she neared the breakroom. Her courage waned. Was she ready to have this conversation? Maybe not. Probably wouldn’t ever be ready, but it was time. Jesus, help.

  Gavin sat at one of the little round tables, hands circling a mug of coffee, head down. “Hey.” Her voice was barely loud enough to even hear it herself.

  He lifted his head and smiled. “I was just thinking about coming to find you. We never got to finish our conversation the other day.”

  “That’s why I was looking for you.” She sat at the table across from him.

  His smile broadened. “Well, no time like the present, I guess.”

  “I guess. Well, this isn’t something you just jump in and say, but—”

  Doug Ramirez came through the door. “Sorry, guys, just need a refill.” He held up his cup, then filled it with coffee.

  Doug left and took Jocelyn’s courage with him. “Maybe now isn’t the best time.”

  “Yeah, maybe not,” he said. “Never know who will walk in. Can we talk after work?”

  “I’m headed home to take a nap, but that would work. Maybe we could meet at Adam’s. We shouldn’t go to each other’s places, and I don’t want to have this conversation at Starbucks.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  She pulled her phone out of her bag and shot Adam a text asking if he was busy after work. They waited for Adam’s reply in silence. Gavin yawned. He probably needed a nap as badly as she did.

  Jocelyn jumped at the shrill of her phone announcing she had a text message. Not if you need me.

  Gavin and I need a place to talk.

  Adam walked through the door. “Oh, hey, guess I don’t need to send this.” He lifted his phone, then shoved it in his pocket. “Y’all are more than welcome at my place. Ella’s coming over for dinner, so why don’t y’all
join us, and we’ll give you space to talk?”

  “Thanks.” Jocelyn bit her lip.

  “Yeah, thanks, bro.”

  “Anytime,” Adam said. “Well, it’s settled. I’ll see y’all around six-ish then?”

  “Sounds like a plan.” Gavin smiled at Jocelyn. “Take a good nap.”

  “I will!”

  Jocelyn left the room without looking back, even though she wanted to catch a glimpse of Gavin again. She was so drawn to him, but what if he freaked out tonight? Did she really have a clue how he would react? Would he be excited or scared?

  He’d be angry that she hadn’t told him sooner, that was a given, but she hoped the excitement of being a dad would outweigh the anger and fear he would definitely feel. He had so much to be afraid of after all. The prospect of being a parent was scary enough, but after what happened with Nikki… Then there was Patrick.

  Hopefully, Patrick would never find out.

  Bang!

  Jocelyn woke with a start. She rolled over and opened her eyes, hoping to find the source of the noise.

  Patrick! Her heart slammed against her chest. He was rummaging through the closet. “What are you doing here?” She sat up.

  He didn’t even turn to look at her. “Go back to sleep. I have a right to be in my own home.”

  “No, you don’t. You aren’t supposed to be here.” She stood but kept her distance. Her cell phone was on the nightstand, and she slid it into the back pocket of her jeans.

  “Listen.” He turned to face her. “I’m just here to get a few things. It’s none of your business. Leave me alone, and I’ll be out of here in a jiffy.”

  “There’s a restraining order against you. You need to leave.”

  “You were supposed to still be at work. And by the way, I don’t appreciate having to break into my own house. What’s with changing the locks?”

  She didn’t want to answer that question. She needed to tread lightly and not say anything that would throw him into a fit.