Page 55 of So Smitten

It was generous to call it a mountain range. Just a few hills, really, where Garvey informed the agents that hunters would come to practice their aim and fine-tune their weapons.

Garvey ran the license plate and, a moment later, confirmed that the truck was Ciccolo's. "Okay, "she said, "we're in business."

Faith looked up at the bungalow, barely visible in the fading light. “We should hurry,” she said. “I don’t mean to further mess with your protocol, Detective, but this might be an ask questions later scenario.”

As if to punctuate Faith’s point, a scream pierced the night. Instantly the four humans: Faith, Michael, Garvey and a uniform she had brought with her, and Turk sprinted up the path to the bungalow.

As they ran, Faith drew her weapon. She felt bile rise in her throat. For the first time in her career, she hoped she didn’t have to use her weapon on a suspect. Not that she normally enjoyed shooting criminals, but she didn’t usually feel bad about it.

She would feel bad if she had to use it now. Eric wasn’t innocent. She knew that, but it was hard to think of him as guilty either. What had he done except avenge innocent dogs and innocent people by ridding the city of a few lowlifes?

She knew that was a dangerous mindset to have, but the fact remained that a part of Faith hoped they would find Gaucho already dead when they made it inside.

That turned out not to be the case. Turk, of course, reached the building before they did. Faith heard loud barking and another shriek. Then she and the other three sprinted into the bungalow.

Ciccolo was there, wearing his wolf mask and holding a shock collar in his left hand. His right hand held a handgun, but he wasn’t aiming at Turk or the officers. He was aiming it at the cowering, prostrate form of Gaucho. When the agents walked in, he turned his weapon to them, then back to Gaucho. The hesitation allowed the officers to spread out and cover Ciccolo with their own weapons.

Gaucho turned wide eyes toward his rescuers. His eyes widened even further when he saw Michael. Then they narrowed in anger. “Pinche pendejo!” he shouted. “Screw you, Mike! This is your fault!”

“You keep telling yourself that,” Michael said drily.

“Eric Ciccolo,” Garvey said, leveling her weapon at Eric and approaching slowly while the other officer flanked him. “You’re under arrest. Put the weapon down and put your hands in the air.”

Ciccolo looked at the approaching officers while Turk and Faith flanked the other side and Micheal joined Garvey in the middle. Then he looked back at Gaucho. His fingers tightened around the trigger, and Turk jumped in between the two criminals.

“No!” Faith cried.

But Eric didn’t shoot at Turk. Instead, he lifted his handgun and aimed at a point above Garvey and Michael’s head. He fired three quick bursts.

Faith looked up just in time to see one of the light fixtures start to fall. “Watch out!” she shouted.

Michael and Garvey looked up and jumped backward at the last possible second. The uniform, shocked by the sudden collapse, took his focus off of Eric, and the big man slammed a meaty fist into his temple. The officer went out cold, his gun clattering across the floor.

Gaucho tried to take advantage of the commotion. He got to his feet and started for the exit, but Michael reached him first, grabbing his shoulders and throwing him to the ground. “Uh uh,” he said, “you’re under arrest too, buddy.”

“You’re not my buddy!” Gaucho shouted as he writhed ineffectually underneath Michael’s knee.

“You’re still under arrest,” Michael said, wrenching the criminal’s left arm around and clapping handcuffs onto his wrist.

While Michael dealt with Gaucho and Garvey assisted her fallen officer, Faith and Turk rushed after Eric. The big man moved with surprising agility, leaping over a counter and vaulting through an open window.

Faith cursed and sprinted for the front door, knowing she would lose him if she tried the direct route. She needed to get to flat ground and flank him. Turk followed easily, though, and by the time Faith came back to the side of the building, he had cornered Eric.

Eric kept running, and for a terrifying moment, Faith thought he was going to kick Turk. Instead, he leapt over the dog, showing surprising dexterity for a man his size.

Turk hesitated, probably just as shocked as Faith was. That allowed Eric time to leap into a shallow crevice and sprint toward the mountain. Turk leaped after him, and Eric leaped out of the crevice. Turk followed and he jumped into the crevice again, keeping Turk occupied so the dog couldn't catch up to him.

Faith sprinted on the outside of the crevice and shouted ahead to Turk. “Stay inside!”

Turk looked back, confused by the command, and Eric dove behind a boulder. Faith skidded to a halt, knowing that Eric would be waiting for her behind the rock, gun drawn.

Turk didn’t stop. He barked and ran toward the boulder, believing he had his prey quarried.

“Turk!” Faith shouted. “Stop!”

Turk did stop. Right behind the boulder. He snarled and snapped, but backed away as he did so, watching Eric warily.

Faith couldn’t see behind the rock, but she knew Turk was watching Eric’s weapon. She sprinted forward, no longer caring for her own safety. “Eric, don’t you dare hurt my dog!”

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