Shouts filled the air even as the thick squeal of tires indicated the car was already racing away from the scene. Arlo and Wyatt ran after it, picking up a few other cops along the way, more shouts indicating the shooting was already called in.
Satisfied the immediate threat was over, Gavin shifted off Sera, her screams gone, replaced with steady, cool-eyed anger.
“She needs help. Now.”
Before he could stop her, Sera was on her way to Valencia, kneeling down on the sidewalk, on the opposite side of where Mack cradled his wife.
He wanted to stay with her, but Kerrigan was already at his side, urging him on toward the chase through downtown Sunset Bay.
Sera must have seen his indecision because she was already waving him on. “Go! Go help them. I’ll stay here.”
Everything in him wanted to stay by her side and keep her safe, but Gavin recognized where they were both needed, and it wasn’t watching what went down together. They each needed to act, and Sera already had a towel out of her purse, pressed to Valencia’s wound.
He’d ask her later where the towel had come from. Just like he’d check her out head to toe for himself to ensure she was okay. But right now, he was a cop, and every officer was needed on the chase.
He and Kerrigan ran in the same direction as Arlo and Wyatt.
But it was Kerrigan’s shout that had them switching course. “Gav! There!”
Their late start gave them a different perspective on the fast-moving getaway car, and even at this distance he could see far down the block that there was enough of a police presence that the driver had abandoned ship and was trying to flee on foot.
Random, wild shots flew into the air as the driver fired off a gun, and the already-considerable risk to civilians suddenly ratcheted up.
“You wearing your ballistics armor?” Kerrigan said, even as she kept rushing toward the shooter.
“Yeah. You?”
“Yep.”
The confirmation they were both armed with some measure of protection pushed them both harder, racing toward the fleeing perp.
He’d briefly considered the armor to be overkill as he’d dressed that morning, but now, with a threat still lingering, Gavin recognized it would have been the height of stupidity to have gone without. They still didn’t know who shot Darius, and now, he’d bet every dollar he’d ever earn the shots directed at Mack’s wife were done by the same perpetrator.
Or group of perpetrators.
What the ever-loving hell was going on?
Resolved to worry about it later, he put on another burst of speed, narrowing the gap with the fleeing gunman. The man had picked up his pace since he’d stopped the random shooting, likely needing to reload. But as they got that small reprieve, Gavin and Kerrigan let out twin curses when his next move became evident.
“Damn it! He’s headed into that shop.” Kerrigan dragged her phone out, hitting the face of the screen.
Arlo’s voice, winded from running, flowed out of Kerrigan’s speaker, barking out whatever he could remember from chasing the perp from the opposite direction. “One gun we can account for, no idea how well armed he is beyond that.”
“We’re assuming to the teeth,” Kerrigan said as the two of them came to a halt about twenty yards from the shop, out of immediate view from the inside.
“Perp entered the sub shop on Ninth,” Gavin reported as he scanned the area around them.
“Do you have a visual?”
“Not yet,” Kerrigan said as the two of them crept closer to the shop.
“Civilian risk?”
“School’s not out yet, and we’re past the lunch rush.” Gavin quickly listed out risks as they moved closer to the storefront. “No visual through the front windows yet.”
Sirens filled the air, their whiny shrieks indicating they were getting closer as Arlo and Wyatt rounded the corner. Both slowed, careful not to move within viewing range of the window. They stood on the opposite end of the store from Gavin and Kerrigan, Arlo remaining on the phone to avoid shouting and possibly being overheard from inside.
They continued an assessment of the location and possible risks to rushing the building when the door opened, and a petite older woman was pushed out. She stumbled before catching herself, her eyes flashing with terror as she ran from the building.
“Ma’am!” Gavin intercepted her, gently moving her out of the sight line of the sub shop windows. “I’m an officer. What happened in there?”
“A man! He has a gun! He ran in and started screaming at us.”
“How many people are inside?”
“Three now.”
“Patrons?”
“No, four total including me. I worked a few extra hours on my shift and stopped in to grab a late lunch. Two workers behind the counter and one other person inside besides me.”
Gavin had to give her credit—she was shaken, but she was sharp.
“The man with the gun sent me out. Said I was to tell all the cops outside the other three are hostages because he ‘don’t kill old ladies.’” She sneered at that, her fear over the situation not enough to remain unaffected by the insult. “Those other people don’t deserve this.”
No one deserved it, but Gavin directed her toward the pair of uniforms who’d arrived on scene as he discussed the details with Kerrigan. Arlo had heard most of what was shared on the connection and confirmed that SWAT was on its way.
With the instruction everyone needed to remain in place, Gavin could only wonder about Mack’s wife, Valencia, and how she was doing. Had the ambulance arrived? Was she alive? Or would they repeat today’s tragic sadness in a matter of days?
