Page 28 of Close Quarters

He didn’t answer her, instead giving her a look that told her not to argue. He hurried past the radius of the glass and into the kitchen, then came back a moment later wearing a pair of tennis shoes and carrying her boots from earlier. She stuffed her feet into them and followed him away from the stairs to the door where she could hear the sirens getting louder.

Alex tucked his weapon into his waistband at the small of his back and opened the front door as a squad car pulled into the driveway. It was the city police, she noted. The officer cut the siren, but left the lights on, and stepped out of his vehicle, then walked up the sidewalk.

“Dr. Randall?”

“Yes. Come in, officer.”

“I’m Officer Danby.” The man stepped over the threshold and let out a low whistle as he took in the damage. “Someone was either a poor shot, or you got lucky.”

“It was dark,” Alex replied. “And just so you know, I’m armed.” He pointed to his back.

The officer’s gaze sharpened, and he rested a hand on the butt of his gun. “Remove the gun slowly and hand it to me, please.”

Alex did as asked.

“Did you shoot back?” Danby asked, checking that the safety was on on Alex’s gun. He tucked it into his belt.

“No. He surprised us when we came down to investigate and turn off the alarm. I grabbed that when we ran back upstairs. I never had to use it. He fled when he heard your siren.”

Danby nodded and picked up the radio mic on his shoulder. “Dispatch, send additional units to my location, including K-9. Burglary suspect fled on foot.”

“Copy, sending additional units.”

The officer dropped the mic back in place and turned his attention on them. “What happened?”

“We were in bed and the alarm went off. We came downstairs to a broken slider.”

“But no one was in the room?”

“No,” Katie said. “He came out of the hallway after Alex turned off the alarm. I saw him right before he raised his gun and took a shot at us. It hit the wall behind me.” She pointed at the hole in the wall to the left of the door. “We took off up the stairs, and he shot several more times.” She motioned to the broken window and the holes in the wall leading up the staircase.

“Did either of you get a look at his face?”

Katie glanced at Alex, then they both turned to the deputy and shook their heads. “No. It was too dark.”

“He was dressed in all black. He was white and about six-feet tall. That’s all I can tell you.”

“Slender? Muscular?”

They shared another look.

“Average,” Katie said.

The front door opened again, admitting another officer. Seb was right behind him.

“Are you guys okay?”

“We’re fine,” Alex answered. “Shaken up, but unharmed.”

“The K-9 is outside. Hopefully, we can track this guy down.”

“I think he fled through the broken slider,” Katie said. “I don’t remember hearing the front door close.” She hugged herself tighter, a fine shiver running through her. Now that the adrenaline was wearing off, she was starting to feel the chill from the broken windows.

“Okay. Officer, tell the K-9 where to begin searching, then help secure the scene. Because Ms. Mitchum is with our forensics department, I’ve called the neighboring county for assistance. They should have someone here within the hour.”

“Yes, sir.” The officer left.

Katie curled her toes inside her boots and bounced a little, trying to warm up. Alex noticed.

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