Triple Double. James Lewis
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Название: Triple Double
Автор: James Lewis
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Короткие любовные романы
isbn: 9781646542277
isbn:
Christian immediately turned the wounded deputy on to his side, momentarily taking away the chance of Abron choking on his own blood. Worrying about a broken neck or spine in those first few minutes, Christian held the officer’s head as still as possible. Every action taken was to save Abron’s life. Talking to the downed deputy was of no use. Christian pressed his gloves into the stomach wound; there wasn’t even a groan. While trying to cover the wounded man, Christian’s adrenaline rush had subsided. Fortunately, inside the walls, the air was still. Covering Abron with his own winter coat, Christian began to shiver. It took almost thirty minutes for an ambulance and more deputies to arrive. Caine could now testify to just how cold it was in that lightly lit freezer of a barn.
*****
Shoshone County deputies from Wallace and Kellogg were first on the scene after the “Officer down” call. The local deputies were ten minutes ahead of the Coeur d’Alene responders who had to navigate the icy Fourth of July pass. Holding on to the stomach compression, Christian gave as much information to the first responders as he could, including a good description of the white getaway Ford pickup. Less than a minute later, the next patrol car arrived. The first patrol car took chase down the dirt road headed south toward St. Maries. While in pursuit, an APB was sent out to all Idaho, Montana, and Washington jurisdictions. Both officers giving chase knew it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Lost time and eroding winter road conditions would make it close to impossible. Sleet falling turned to heavy snow and blizzard-like conditions. As the officers headed south on the paved highway, they realized it was too late for tracks. Snowfall had taken its toll, blanketing the highway in the last fifteen minutes.
As Abron was being taken from the scene unconscious, Christian had no idea whether Kelsey would live long enough to make it to the hospital by ambulance. The snow and low ceiling wouldn’t allow helicopter transport. Detectives Ron Rowe and Terry Hollander pulled in and went straight to the barn area where the shooting occurred. The detectives found the north-facing side door ajar with just a skiff of snow on the ground, in the area shaded by the north-facing overhang. Two sets of footprints were entrenched. Four feet away from the outside wall, the tracks quickly disappeared. The POIs wore the same type of boot, leaving deep tread marks embedded in the mud, snow, and ice. The escape route was easy to follow. Disappearing prints led to where the pickup had been parked before the attack. “Do you think Abron heard that pickup arrive?” asked Ron.
It was Christian who answered. “No way. He was hit on the back of the neck and head while crouched down, then they shot him. Another few seconds, and they would have finished him on the spot. I think my arrival made them bolt.”
“From a stone-cold crime scene to red-hot. We now have persons of interest,” stated Terry. “And they’re both wearing the same brand of boots. Call the chief. Let him know all three of us are here and on it. Maybe he can buy us more time in Idaho to find out the reasoning for the attack.” Ron made the call.
*****
Christian was taller than Abron by an inch. Constantly in a struggle to stay below 240 pounds, he had just spent 8 weeks dieting down to 227 with noticeably more energy at the lower weight. Maybe, he thought, shedding more weight down to 215 would enhance his physical abilities to an even greater extent. The elevator battle he was constantly waging stemmed from one source: a must in his life, Tammy. Tammy was Italian, and Tammy could cook. With an inheritance, the first item she bought for their house was a two-tiered brick-lined oven that stood five feet tall. Every kid in the neighborhood knew when she was baking Italian bread. The kids would knock on the side door in pretense of asking Tammy and Christian’s twins if they could come out and play. When she opened the door, Tammy always had a platter of fresh bread, buttered and straight out of the oven. The twins, Cody and Jody, were younger than most of their half-dozen neighborhood playmates. The siblings were thrilled every time they heard the knock on the side door. It was playtime! In years to come, the twins would become as important as the bread. Theirs was a tight bond.
Christian’s take-home pay allowed Tammy to be a stay-at-home mom. She didn’t take the nicety for granted. Her thoughts were on the other mothers in the neighborhood, PTA meetings, baby showers, birthdays, luncheons, etc. Mrs. Caine knew most of the other moms worked full- or part-time jobs. Christian didn’t care one way or the other. He liked to eat—chicken cacciatore, veal piccata, lasagna, Italian meatballs. Tammy knew Christian loved linguini over spaghetti, so it was always linguini. For his birthdays, she strayed from Italian cuisine and would make his “favorite dish of all time,” as he would say—beef stroganoff with extra sour cream. The local butcher always sold her prime-grade filet mignon to use in her dish. After all, he thought, she’s cooking for Lieutenant Christian Caine. If Christian worked out every day of his life and took half portions each time he ate, he just might stay under three hundred pounds.
*****
Terry and Christian were the first to arrive at the hospital on day 7 of Abron’s hospitalization. His head was immobilized with a cage, pins anchoring it to his skull. He could, however, finally move his arms and legs slightly. Kelsey had asked a nurse for a mirror to see how extensive the cage was surrounding his head. All he could do was try to whistle when he saw the metal anchor screws. Terry spoke first. “How does it feel to be incarcerated?” Terry and Christian were grinning.
Abron tried to smile, murmuring “How long?”
“This is your seventh day, my friend,” replied Terry.
“A lot has taken place since your ambush. New connections have opened-up, too, for all four killings our department is involved with,” said Christian.
A third voice spoke. “No more questions. Dr. Marsh just instructed me to limit everyone’s time spent with Abron. Right now, I need some time alone with Deputy Kelsey,” bellowed their captain. Terry and Christian were outgunned. They quickly said their goodbyes, vowing to return later that evening.
“Christian already filled me in on why you two visited the Rose Lake crime scene. When he notified me of your meeting, I cleared it with Captain Croop and Lieutenant Bara at CDASD. My question, before your attack, would have been, what was to be gained? Obviously, the result was brilliant police work that almost got you killed. The two of you tipped somebody’s hand. At the same time, you gave our department greater autonomy at Rose Lake. You guys seem to have stirred up the proverbial hornet’s nest.”
“Captain,” whispered Abron, “traces of opiate and hidden room.”
“Are you sure about the presents of opiates?” asked Saunders. Kelsey blinked assent. “I’m calling in Terry and Ron to debrief you tomorrow morning. Should Christian be present?”
“Yes” came Abron’s slur.
“Rest while you can. Take your meds, and pay close attention to Scott, your rehab guy. He’s the best in the business. You’re probably a couple of weeks out from Scott. Listen to him when you start. He can work wonders with his knowledge and methods. As I said, the boys will be in to start a report on your crime scene and attackers.
The next morning, Terry, Ron, and Christian entered Abron’s room. He was just finishing up his liquid diet and cut fruit. “Good morning, are you ready for us?” Ron questioned. Kelsey blinked assent. The officers kept it short, realizing again just how badly Abron had been injured. “They came in via a dirt road that runs along the river. The tire tracks had the same studded tires on the rear drivers as the prints over at Neuman Lake.” СКАЧАТЬ