Susan Sleeman - Behind the Badge

Yeah, that’s what he’d do.

Before he changed his mind, he made a quick call to Lieutenant James, who was most obliging. Krueger would be miffed when he heard Russ went over his head, but Russ could handle it.

He made one last sweep of the area then went inside.

“Let’s finish this place up and get out of here.” He returned to the desk. “Oh, by the way. I called Lieutenant James while I was outside. He agreed to put you on the team. You’ll report to me until this investigation is closed.”

She smiled. “That’s great, Russ. Thank you.”

“You can thank me by being extra vigilant until this killer is caught.” He let his gaze connect with hers. “Keep your head on a swivel. Wear your vest at all times.” He wanted to add Sleep in it, too, but he knew that would only earn him a roll of her eyes.

“Don’t worry, Russ. I hear you.” She turned back to digging through the sofa. “Found some weed. Didn’t take Dixon long after getting out to replenish his stock.”

Russ sat on a chair and dug deeper into a bottom drawer. He pulled out a power cord from a computer. “Did you take a laptop into evidence?”

She shook her head. “We saw that power cord, but no computer.”

“Maybe that’s what our suspect thinks you took.”

“Could be, I guess. Though I don’t know what kind of evidence a drug dealer would have on a computer.”

They worked for another hour, but didn’t locate anything else of interest so Russ decided to call it quits. At the door, he said, “I still want to show those pictures of the motorcycle to Garber if you’re up for it.”

“Sure.”

They stepped onto the porch, where the whispery mist had turned to soft rain. The temperature had dropped when the rain came in, and neither of them wore jackets.

Sydney shivered and nodded at the patrol car sitting at the curb. “What’s he doing here?”

“Just a precaution.”

“You thought the killer might come back.” The worry returned to her eyes.

He scanned the area on the way to his cruiser, but tried not to be obvious about it and raise her concern even more. He nodded at his officer to let him know he could leave.

At the car, Russ opened the trunk, retrieved his jacket and draped it over Sydney’s shoulders.

“You keep it,” she said. “You’re cold, too.”

“I’m fine.” He moved to open her door before remembering not to. Not saying anything, she tugged his jacket tightly around her shoulders and climbed in.

On the road, she didn’t speak. He didn’t mind the silence. He used the quiet to keep his focus on making sure the killer wasn’t following. When they pulled up to the town houses, he was certain no one tailed them. Of course, that didn’t mean their killer hadn’t left Dixon’s house and returned before them.

Feeling the killer’s eyes on them, Russ shifted into Park and searched the area. Dense woods and heavy undergrowth made plenty of places to hide. The rain, growing thicker by the minute, gave him even more cover.

Russ turned to tell Sydney to wait here and he’d drive her home, but a car fishtailed to a stop across the road, drawing his interest. The passenger door opened, emitting throbbing music. A young teen climbed out.

“Nikki?” Sydney said on a whisper.

“What’s your sister doing here?”

“I don’t know, but don’t worry. I’ll make sure she leaves right away.” She started to open the door but he grabbed her arm.

“You think that’s such a good idea?” he asked.

“Her leaving a murder scene? Of course.”

“What if our killer got here before us and is watching you? Even in this weather it’s easy to see her resemblance and figure out she’s your sister. He could see Nikki leave. Follow her to—”

“Get to me.” Sydney finished his sentence.

“Exactly.”

A plethora of emotions shifted over Sydney’s face. Worry morphed into rage, the exact emotion he’d feel if Zack were targeted by a murderer. He would do anything to keep his son out of the hands of a killer. Russ could understand the thoughts traveling through Sydney’s mind and knew she was probably thinking like a parent, not a deputy.

Resolve tightened her eyes. “I’ll take her home with me.”

“I’ll drive you.”

She arched a perfectly plucked eyebrow. “I don’t need a babysitter, Russ.”

“I know, but humor me. Once I show Garber those pictures, I won’t be needed here until the lights arrive.”

“That doesn’t mean you need to escort me home.”

“I think I do.” He held up his hand before she argued more. “This event tonight has made you more of a victim than a deputy and you aren’t at the top of your game. Worrying about your sister is just an added distraction. If the suspect follows you, it would be good to have another officer present.”

She glanced across the lot in the direction of the other officers. “I can’t see you telling one of your men to duck and cover like this.”

“You’re wrong. If one of my men were in this situation—” he paused, locking eyes with her to communicate the truth in his words “—I’d make sure he was escorted home. I would never do anything to endanger their lives. I’ll do no less for you.”

He was afraid he’d scared her again by the over-the-top intensity in his tone, but she simply shrugged. “Okay…but we take my car. I’ll need it in the morning.”

“Fine, but I’ll drive.”

She leaned closer and her eyes burned into him. “I don’t like this, Russ. Not one bit. Your officers will think I’m soft and need coddling, but your points are valid. Nikki’s safety comes before my reputation. If you think driving my car will accomplish that, then I’ll agree.”

“You made the right decision, Syd.”

The roll of her eyes said she thought otherwise. “Here’s my phone. I’ll get Nikki and wait at my car.” She handed it to him.

“I’ll walk with you.” He got out and came alongside her.

An uneasy feeling settled over him again. He searched the scrub lining the road. Nothing. So why did he keep feeling as if the killer was watching them, waiting for Russ to turn away to strike?

He glanced back at Sydney, vulnerable and scared for her sister. Now he had two people to protect from a killer.

Could he keep them safe or was he fooling himself?

A fresh wave of apprehension washed over him. Visions of Willie falling to the ground flashed into his mind.

Let it go, Russ.

He couldn’t let the raw pain from Willie’s death rise up and make him paranoid. Emotions like that only led to two things in his life. Mistakes and regret. He had to keep his head and apprehend this creep before he returned, got the information he wanted from Sydney and ended her life.

Sydney didn’t know what to say to Nikki. Her training as a deputy didn’t prepare her for this situation, and her role as Nikki’s surrogate mom didn’t, either. Only God could give her the right words, now.

Father, I need Your help. Everything is crumbling around me. People are getting hurt or this madman is threatening to hurt them and now I have to tell Nikki about him. Give me the words, Lord, and help me keep her safe.

She took Nikki’s arm and moved her behind the protection of a van. “What’re you doing here, Nikki?”

“We heard about the shooting on Mr. Clark’s scanner.” She shook off Sydney’s hand. “You always stop here on the way home. When you didn’t answer your phone, I got worried. So Emily brought me.” Nikki pointed at her best friend, Emily Clark, who waved at them from the driver’s seat of her car.

“It was sweet of you to check on me, Nikki, but I’m fine and this is no place for either of you to be.”

“You don’t look fine.” Nikki stared at Sydney’s forehead, then whistled. “That’s some awful shade of purple already.”