“Heard you’re dating Chloe.”
Normally, the mention of Chloe makes me smile, but I’m not sure how Mandy will react to the news. “I am.”
“It’s about fucking time,” she says, surprising me. “Sure, it’s a blow to all single women in Wildfire, but I’m glad you finally caught her. It took you long enough.”
“That it did.” But maybe it wasn’t soon enough. Maybe she and I didn’t get enough time to cement our relationship before Bodhi returned.
“10-33.” Kelly yells the code for an officer needing immediate assistance, then adds, “10-43,” the code for pursuit along with “On foot, multiple suspects.”
My adrenaline spikes, and I jog to my unit. “Thanks for your help.”
“They scattered,” Kelly says, breathless, “I’m following a Caucasian male, late teens, white shirt over black pants…headed east on Plum, two other suspects…turned west on Pepper.”
I swing my unit around and head toward Pepper Street. The radio is cluttered with traffic, confirming multiple units headed toward the scene.
“10-43,” comes from Tommy Croft, confirming he’s also in pursuit. “Two suspects, both Caucasian, one male, one female.”
; I’d bet my next paycheck this is the three idiots who can’t stay out of trouble around here—Smith, Dale, and Willow.
Only, Kelly comes back on the radio with “Suspect one in custody.” Then “10-52. Fourth suspect down.”
She gives the original store’s address to dispatch an ambulance to the scene. Fourth suspect has to be Chase, goddammit.
Then Croft calls in a breathless “On foot, male suspect…cutting through yard at…1610 Pepper. Female suspect…headed west on Maple.”
“613 headed east on Maple,” I call in, slowing to search for movement. My headlights catch the flash of light clothing on a person darting into a yard with long hair flying out behind her. A yard with no back fence.
I gun the engine and whip around the corner and down the opposite street. “613 10-43 female suspect,” I say, unbuckling my seat belt while I’m still moving. “Cutting through the yard at 1012 Maple—”
I catch movement on my left and stomp on my brake just as someone runs right into my left front panel and shoots across my hood, tumbling to the ground on the opposite side.
I’m on my feet and around the front of the car, weapon drawn and pointed at Willow Raven, rolling to her back. “Hands, Willow,” I yell at her. “Show me your hands.”
She immediately opens both hands, holding them out to me, empty.
“Keep your hands where I can see them and roll onto your stomach.”
She groans but complies. I pull my cuffs, shove my weapon away, and press one knee to her butt cheek as I secure her hands.
“613, female suspect in custody,” I report, then grab Willow’s bicep and lift. “Get your feet under you.”
We’re both breathless, and Willow’s got blood on her face, but it’s her smile that tightens my gut again. “If it isn’t the hottest cop in Wildfire.”
“613,” dispatch says, “10-21 Sergeant Lucero.”
Having my sergeant request a personal call generally means trouble that has to be relayed privately. My mind instantly veers to Chloe and Bodhi and the hundred ways that could have gone wrong.
But just before I shove Willow into my unit, she laughs and says, “Your precious goddaughter isn’t so precious anymore.”
My brain clouds with confusion and my stomach ices over. I zero in on that fourth suspect. I give Willow a hard shake and a venomous “What did you do?”
When she just laughs, I shove her into the back of my unit, then gun it a few streets over to the original address, a marijuana dispensary.
I can’t think of anything but Piper. God, please don’t let it be her. Even if it is, how badly could she be hurt? There was no report of weapons or gunshots. Maybe it’s minor. Maybe my sergeant just wants to talk to me before letting her off the hook.
When I pull up behind the other police units, my headlights sweep across a gurney on its way into the ambulance. I see Piper’s dark hair, her pale skin. I don’t remember getting from the car to her side. She’s bleeding from her neck, soaking piles of gauze. Her eyes are wild, her expression terrified.