Page 42 of Relentless

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“Hands in the air,” shouted the first officer in the clearing. “Get on the ground. Now.”

“Everything will work out,” Liam murmured to Piper. “Do exactly as they tell you and don’t volunteer information. Answer questions they ask and nothing more.”

Liam wished he had time for more coaching but he didn’t want to be shot by a twitchy cop because he didn’t obey the commands. They didn’t know the circumstances and, until they did, would have to treat everyone as guilty of a crime.

He released her and backed away, hands in the air. He lowered himself to the ground and spread his arms and legs as did Simon. Piper was slower to react but complied as well. Liam hated to see the fear on her face. He kept his gaze locked with hers as law enforcement rushed to their sides and searched them for weapons. Their tension ratcheted up several notches when they found multiple weapons on him and Simon.

Once all three of them had been cuffed, the senior officer separated Liam, Simon, and Piper from each other and called in to dispatch to request an ambulance for the thug with the shoulder wound. That done, the officer turned to Liam. “What’s the story here?”

He gave a brief account of discovering Gavin’s body in the cave, the shots fired at them as they left the mountainside, and the hunt for the shooters.

“Why didn’t you run for help? You should have called us,” the policeman insisted.

“I was in the Marines and my friend was in the Army. We don’t run from trouble and my girlfriend’s life was in danger.” He inclined his head toward the pile of weapons confiscated from him and Simon. “Obviously, we’re well armed. If your girlfriend or wife’s life was in danger, would you run for help?”

The man grunted. “I’m the one with the badge. What about the man with the gunshot wound?”

Liam shrugged. “He was shooting at us. We defended ourselves.”

A shout went up a moment later. “Got a body here.”

The cop’s eyes narrowed as he rounded on Liam. “A second body?”

“Second shooter. He fired first.”

“Did you kill him?”

Liam shook his head. The cops would test his Sig and find he hadn’t fired his weapon. Since Piper wasn’t armed, that left Simon. “I stayed with Piper in case a third shooter was in the woods.”

“How long have you been at the resort?”

A small smile curved his lips. “Less than two hours.”

The other man shook his head. “The homicide detectives will be here soon.” He waved one of the other officers over to watch Liam and walked to Piper.

Liam kept his attention focused on the other man, watching for signs of aggression. Having his hands cuffed behind his back wouldn’t prevent him from protecting Piper should there be need. The odds were against him with this many cops in the clearing but between him and Simon, they would get to her if these cops were dirty.

From the body language Liam observed, the policeman treated Piper with respect and gentleness. Within a couple minutes, he waved another officer over to stay with Piper and moved on to Simon.

Liam knew the exact moment the cop learned Simon had killed one thug and wounded the other. The man’s body stiffened and his focus intensified. After a few minutes, he rose and signaled two officers to stay with Simon.

Yeah, this was going to be a mess. Liam angled his body to keep Piper in view at all times. He wanted to go to her and was frustrated that he couldn’t. She didn’t deserve to be cuffed, sitting on the cold ground.

Thirty minutes later, a man and woman strode into the clearing and met with the senior officer in the center of the open space. After a short discussion, the two newcomers approached Liam.

The man held out his badge as did the woman. “Detectives Barrett and Kerrigan,” he said. “Officer Rothchild says you found a body in a cave up the mountain.”

“That’s right.”

“We need you to show us where you found the body.”

“Either uncuff me or restrain my hands in the front.”

Barrett’s eyebrows rose. “Why should I?’

Liam inclined his head toward the mountain. “The climb is steep. I’m unarmed. The trek will be less hazardous for all of us if I have better balance.” A slight prevarication. He’d make the climb whether or not his hands were restrained in the front or back. He stood a better chance of defending himself with the change. He was still unsure if another shooter lingered in the area.

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