Yuletide Defender. Sandra Robbins

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СКАЧАТЬ thud. She pressed her hands to her chest and breathed deeply. No matter what happened, she had to keep control of her senses and observe every detail accurately.

      The thumping in her chest slowed and she relaxed. Careful not to make a sound, she scrunched against the wall and waited.

      From his position at the second-floor window of an abandoned building, he watched her slip into the alley across the street. “Well, Rachel Long. What are you doing here? If you’re looking for a story, maybe I can oblige.”

      He had to hand it to her—she had spunk. Not many women would put themselves in danger by coming into this neighborhood at night, not even for the promise of a sensational story.

      He picked up the sniper rifle lying beside him and stroked the weapon. Never had he seen a better barrel contour than this masterpiece exhibited.

      He raised the rifle to his shoulder and peered through the scope. Rachel’s image came into his sights. It would be so simple. The paper might offer a reward for information leading to the arrest of the gang member who killed a crusading reporter.

      His index finger hovered over the trigger. So simple.

      The roar of an engine shattered his focus. He watched as a black sedan with tinted windows pulled to a stop, just over ten feet from Rachel.

      He frowned as he studied the vehicle. He knew the owner, Terrence Cooper, well. Tonight was shaping up to be a fun-filled outing. Terrence might not think so if he knew what was about to happen.

      Within moments, another car drove up and parked behind the sedan. A man jumped out and hurried toward Terrence’s car. Even in the shadows he recognized Tom Carr.

      A movement from the alley caught his attention and he swung the rifle to his shoulder. Evidently Rachel wanted a better view. He grasped the rifle tighter. The stock felt cool against his cheek and sent a thrill coursing through his body.

      He peered through the scope at Rachel’s magnified figure and then focused on the man on the sidewalk. Terrence, who had an envelope in his hand, emerged from the car and appeared in the scope’s crosshairs. Three people who had no idea of the danger around them. He wavered back and forth. Who should be first? Tom reached for the envelope and stuffed it in his coat pocket.

      There really was no choice. It was time for retribution. He held his breath and pulled the trigger.

      THREE

      The sharp crack of a rifle ricocheted off the brick buildings. Rachel slammed backward into the recesses of the alley. With the second shot, she fell to her knees and covered her head with her arms. Panting for breath, she waited for another report. When a third didn’t follow, she pushed to her feet and inched toward the sidewalk.

      The black sedan, its motor idling and its windshield shattered, hadn’t moved. Beside it, a man with blood pouring from his head lay on the sidewalk. Another man sprawled next to him.

      Afraid to expose her position, Rachel debated on whether or not to go to their aid. A third shot hit bricks on the front of the building. She screamed and jumped backward.

      Yanking her cell phone from her pocket, she called 911.

      The operator’s voice crackled in her ear. “What is your emergency?”

      “There’s been a shooting at Walters and Branson. Two men are lying on the sidewalk and the shooter is firing at me.”

      “Help is on the way, ma’am. What’s your position?”

      “In an alley. Please tell them to hurry.” She flipped the phone closed before the woman could ask more questions.

      Footsteps pounded on the asphalt street. Rachel peeked out. A man sprinted from the shadows of a building across from her. Zigzagging as he ran, the shadowy figure headed toward the two lying next to the car.

      Rachel’s chest pounded with fear. Could he be the shooter? As if in answer to her question another shot rang out. The runner dived to the pavement behind the car as the bullet hit the back window.

      Her chest heaved in panic as she looked around for an escape route. She took a step backward and her foot struck a tin can. As its clatter echoed in the alley, the man next to the bodies cocked his head to one side and pushed into a crouching position. His gaze locked on the alley.

      Cold fear crept through Rachel’s body. She had to get out of there. A streetlight burned at the far end of the alley. Willing her unresponsive body to move, Rachel turned and ran toward it as fast as she could. Behind her, footfalls echoed on the concrete.

      “Police! Stop!”

      The words registered in her mind, but the voice from behind only served as a command for her feet to move faster. How could the police have gotten here so quickly? It had to be the shooter chasing her. If she could get to the next street, maybe she could find a place to hide from him.

      “I said stop!”

      The light came closer and she pushed harder. Just a few more feet and she would—

      Something blocked her path. Before she realized what was happening, she plowed into a rusted garbage can that sat in the middle of the alley.

      She clawed at empty air as she fell forward. With a scream, she landed facedown on the hard concrete.

      A hand clamped around her left arm and pulled. Pushing to her feet, Rachel straightened, whirled to face her pursuer and stared into the barrel of a gun. She shook free of the restraining hand. “Get away from me.”

      A loud gasp sounded and the hand released her arm. “Rachel?” The surprised croak bounced off the brick walls.

      Shaking, she inched backward. Her attacker took a step forward into the light filtering into the alley. Rachel’s knees almost buckled and she staggered even farther away.

      She tried to speak but her vocal cords felt useless. She shook her head in denial. “Matt? What are you doing here?”

      Matt blinked in disbelief and lowered the gun he held. He didn’t know if he was more surprised at the two bodies lying on the pavement behind him or Rachel’s presence at the scene of a murder. He rammed his revolver back in the holster and advanced on her with fists clenched.

      Every expletive he’d ever heard came to mind. With a shake of his head he tried to banish old habits from the days before he turned his life over to God. Besides, if David had been right about Rachel’s commitment to her job, nothing he said would faze her.

      “What am I doing here? I’m a policeman doing my job. Do you realize you could’ve been killed?”

      Her chin quivered. “I—I’m doing my job, too. I w-was following a lead for a story.”

      Matt leaned forward. He could smell the perfume he’d come to associate with her presence. The familiar reminder calmed his racing heart. “And did you just happen to pick this spot out of all the other streets in town?”

      “No, of course not.”

      He pulled his cell phone from his pocket. “Tell me now, or so help me, I’ll call your editor and tell him you’ve just interfered with a police СКАЧАТЬ