Page 40 of Grave Peril

“I don’t know.”

He prayed that Ashlee hadn’t been killed, that Lela’s fast reaction had prevented a direct hit. The cop might have intended to fire a warning shot, or aimed for a non-lethal area. But there had been no way to know for sure.

*****

Senator Ortiz was at dinner with a couple of associates from the firm. He was about to order another cocktail when his phone vibrated. He pulled it out of his pocket to see that it was Officer Hagan.

“Excuse me, gentlemen,” Ortiz said. “I have to take this call.”

He stepped outside so the conversation wouldn’t be overheard. “Hagan, what is it? I was at dinner.”

“I’m sorry, senator,” Hagan said, “but this can’t wait. There was a shooting. The victim is en route to the hospital; I just got a call from my officers.”

“What the hell happened?”

“I assigned a couple of guys to keep an eye on Ashlee Vidal, like you asked. They weren’t my regulars, just honest cops doing a job. I didn’t share any details of your legal case.”

“How much do they know?” Ortiz said.

“Orders were to follow the woman, as she was suspected of conspiring with Lela Cabelo. The guys reported directly to me on a daily basis.”

“That shouldn’t have been a problem,” Ortiz said.

“I took the liberty of putting a tracker on her vehicle, and when I noticed she was headed away from the city, I radioed her location.” Hagan took a breath. “Well…turns out my hunch was right. She met with her friend Lela out at Sylvan, in the parking lot.”

“Why in God’s name did they shoot at her?”

“One of my men ordered Lela to stop. He attempted to take her into custody. But Ashlee went for his weapon, and the other officer had to intervene. The officer drew his weapon to protect his partner, and he’ll be backed up for that decision.”

Ortiz dragged a hand through his hair. “Jesus…is she dead?”

“Don’t know yet,” Hagan said. “She’s being transported right now, but I can’t guarantee she’ll still be breathing by the time she gets to the emergency room.”

“Don’t you guys know about firing warning shots?”

“Well, that’s the thing—the situation got out of control,” Hagan said. “It seems Lela tried to knock Ashlee out of the way, which skewed the officer’s aim, so I don’t know where the bullet struck.”

“So you have Lela in custody?”

There was silence for a second too long. “No, sir. She escaped.”

“Again? This is insane.”

“In our defense, Lela wasn’t alone. There was a military-looking dude with her, and they fled the scene in a sedan. Shots were fired, but they got away.”

Ortiz groaned. “I want to know who’s helping her, you understand me? I want the man’s name. He has to be taken care of.”

“Yes, senator.”

“And if a meeting took place, then Lela told Ashlee something. It might be a clue about how she’s evading the authorities. I want her interviewed the moment she’s conscious.”

“Of course, senator—that is, if she’s still alive.”

Ortiz returned to dinner, but he’d lost his appetite. It seemed the situation had plunged downhill in the space of a couple of hours. The only good thing was that the shooting wouldn’t be linked back to him. The officers had been justified in trying to take Lela into custody.

It was Ashlee’s assault on a police officer that had gotten her shot. And she’d have trouble explaining just how she happened to be with Lela at the time. After swearing to the FBI that she’d had no contact from her friend, it would put her in a bad light. It was obstruction of justice, and she’d face the penalties…if she didn’t die first.

*****

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