Carol Steward - Shield Of Refuge

“Handcuffs? Oh, no, those aren’t for the shower.” Her porcelain skin turned bright pink. “Parties Galore also has costumes and decorations. I was going to repackage them for costume parties. They were on back order and just came in. Police costumes are very popular, you know.”

“I see. Bride’s name wouldn’t happen to be Sarah, would it?”

“I’m afraid I can’t share my client’s information.” She quirked her eyebrow, trying to hide her smile. “Why? Is that your fiancée?”

“My what?” He laughed. “No way.” Garrett shook his head. “Future sister-in-law,” he whispered.

“Well, send her my way. I’m a party planner and owner of Parties Galore—used to be the bakery downtown. Weddings are my specialty.”

“I see.” He forced a smile as he stood. Flashing lights caught his attention and he headed toward the ambulance. “I’ll be sure to pass along your name.”

She studied him. “Are you okay? You look kind of pale. Maybe you need some food. I should have offered you a bite of cake.”

“No,” he growled. “I’m not much for sweets, even when I’m feeling good.”

Just as he started to weave, Amber stepped up next to him and wrapped her arm around his waist. “Here, lean on my shoulder,” she said, then called for help. The paramedics rushed to her aid with the gurney and took his vitals, then put a neck brace on. “I don’t need that. There’s nothing wrong…” he argued, even though he knew it was futile.

Lieutenant Chavez reminded Garrett that it was a requirement that he get checked out in any on-duty accident.

Garrett watched the fear escalate in Amber’s eyes and fought the inclination to be angry with her. While he didn’t feel fine, he knew he had to do something to ease Amber Scott’s guilt. It wasn’t as if she’d been rushing to make it to the wedding shower. She was after a kidnapper, just as he would have been under the same circumstances.

A few minutes of oxygen in the ambulance and he’d be fine again, he was sure of it.

Garrett looked at Amber and winked. “I’m going to be fine. It’s just a formality.”

She didn’t look convinced.

The paramedics rattled off numbers that indicated his heart was doing just fine, considering he’d just been in an accident and met an attractive woman. “Hey,” he said to the lead medic. “Give me a minute, would you?” He waggled his finger, motioning for Amber to come closer.

She stepped to his side and stared at him, regret and fear washing the color from her face. “How can I ever make this right?” she asked.

“You did all the wrong things for all the right reasons. I admire you for that.” He reached up and touched her hand. “That in itself is enough for me.”

Amber watched in fear as they loaded the officer into the ambulance and drove away. God, take care of Officer Matthews, and help him remember how much I regret hurting him.

“Ms. Scott, we need to get more information from you about the crime you apparently witnessed.”

“Apparently?” She knew that tone and it snapped her right out of her pity party. Pretty blonde, just pacify her. “I didn’t ‘apparently’ witness anything,” she said, wishing she could sound more forceful. “I did witness a crime, and somewhere out there a woman’s life is in danger. So are you telling me you let a dozen or more officers stand here and glare at me over an innocent accident and no one was out there looking for the criminal? A police impersonator may have killed someone? That’s just frightening, Officer.”

“Lieutenant Chavez.” He glared at her, reminding her why she disliked police officers. “If you’d have left the pursuit up to us, we wouldn’t be here now, and one of my officers wouldn’t be headed to the hospital.”

“I can’t tell you how bad I feel about Officer Matthews. I never meant for anyone to get hurt. Why else would I follow someone that had already hurt one woman?”

“I don’t know, you tell me why you’d put yourself in danger when it didn’t involve you? Did you recognize either of the people?” The lieutenant seemed as annoyed as Amber was.

“No. If I did, why wouldn’t I tell you who it was?” She watched them load her van onto the tow truck and drive away, wondering how she was going to get home. She didn’t want to ask. The lieutenant wasn’t as cordial as Officer Matthews. Surely at some point they’d let her know. An officer was sweeping up the glass, but most were finally leaving, getting back onto patrol she hoped.

The officer motioned to his police cruiser. “Get in and show me where you saw the crime take place. The officers can finish up here.”

Amber suddenly froze. It wasn’t even intentional, though she was sure the officer wouldn’t see it that way. She knew from past experience, officers didn’t like their authority questioned. She certainly didn’t need another resisting arrest on her record. The first time she’d been sure the plain clothes cop was an imposter, until after he’d caught her and cuffed her. She didn’t need a repeat.

A female officer joined them. “I’m Samantha Taylor, the victim’s advocate officer. Do you have someone who can pick you up after you’re done tonight?”

Amber shook her head. “I’m not sure, depends on how long this takes.”

“I’d guess at least another hour,” Samantha said, pulling a card from her pocket.

“No, most of my friends are at a wedding shower.”

“Well then, have one of the officers give me a call when you’re done and I’ll take you home. And here’s my card.”

“Thanks.”

“Officer Taylor, could you come with us to the scene please?” The lieutenant gave instructions to another officer and led Amber to his squad car.

The female officer stepped into pace with them, easing Amber’s concerns about being alone with the grumpy officer. The two officers sat in the front seats of the squad car and put Amber in the back.

“So, where’d this incident take place?”

She directed him to the Victorian Inn, going through the incident as he drove. After they got out, she showed him where she’d parked, and where the police car had been. “This is the yellow SUV that the woman was driving, well, not literally driving, but she was inside it. It was in this same place.”

The officers took a quick look around it, using a gloved hand to try to open any of the doors. They were all locked.

“When I came out from finishing the cake, I saw the unmarked police car parked in the street behind the yellow SUV, but sort of pulled in at an angle. There, where that black Suburban is now. That’s where I was parked. The cop was parked…” She looked around, pictured herself walking out of the inn, thinking about the scene. “About here.” Amber pointed to the right. “There was a small car between the yellow SUV and me. The door to the SUV was open when I drove off after him, though.”

“Run the plates on it, Taylor,” the lieutenant ordered while he shone a flashlight both directions along the ground. “You sure this is where it happened?”

“Yes, I’m sure. I parked in the 15-minute zone because I wasn’t staying much longer than to assemble a two-tier anniversary cake. This space was the only one available, because I thought it was too bad I couldn’t have had the closer spot, so I wouldn’t have to go around the van carrying the heavy cake. When I came out, the spot I wanted,” she pointed to it, “was open. Then next to it was a red Mustang.”

“I thought you told Officer Matthews you don’t know cars,” he said, interrupting her thought process.

“I always wanted a Mustang, so I noticed it, candy-apple red. That’s when I heard the man telling her to get out of her truck. I was putting my cake kit into the van and rearranged it a little because I didn’t want the cake to be damaged, since it didn’t fit into a covered box. I thought of asking him to move, but I don’t…I didn’t have a good feeling about him.”