Page 15 of Rescuing Baylee

“I’m sorry about that,” the woman said, moving toward them. “Gunnar, go do your business.”

The dog gave Baylee a lick on the hands, and she snorted again, then he moved away to water a clump of grass in the yard. The dog wore a black emotional support vest.

Baylee glanced at the woman, and realized she was being stared at as well. Meh, happened a lot. She forced a smile. “He’s a cutie.”

The woman cocked her head. “I think he is, but it’s curious that he came to you. He’s better trained than that, and he knows not to interact with the public when he’s working.”

Baylee shrugged, brushing her hands together. “Dogs and kids like me,” she said simply, and it was the truth.

Detective Hunter stopped a few feet away, as if he knew she didn’t want him close.

The woman smiled, quirking a brow. “Apparently.”

“Cass, this is Baylee Mitchell, the woman I was telling you about. Ms. Mitchell, this is Cass Moran.”

Baylee thought it was curious he didn’t expand on the woman’s name any further. Partner? Girlfriend? She nodded at the woman. “Nice to meet you.” She glanced at the detective. “You were talking about me, hm?”

He winced a little. “Just getting some advice. Cass used to work in the gang suppression unit. She consults now, when we need her to.”

Baylee looked at the woman a little more closely. Yes, she could see the experience written there in her eyes. Had she been injured in the line of duty? Was she still a cop?

“Sounds like you did a good thing taking that guy out,” Cass told her.

Baylee shrugged. “Thank you.”

Cass narrowed her eyes at Baylee. “You need to be aware that the Tango Blast tends to be a retaliatory group. You should keep an eye out for any suspicious characters in the area.”

Baylee quirked a brow. “Have you heard something specific?”

The former detective shook her head. “I just know these guys. They’re an unregimented prison group, kind of flying by the seat of the pants of whoever is in charge. And we believe that was Chino Vega. They’re probably scrambling for dominance right now. And if there’s any chance they can make a name for themselves on the streets, they will.”

Baylee huffed out a breath. “Not sure what kind of name they’d make themselves taking out a nurse.”

“A combat decorated veteran,” Detective Hunter corrected, his eyes direct, “who took out a suspected member and leader of one of the most dangerous gangs in Austin.”

Baylee grimaced. “Regardless, Detective, I don’t think they’ll come after me.”

“The Tango Blast and the Texas Syndicate have been in a turf war for the past two weeks, with the Latin Kings nipping at their heels,” Cass said. “Culminating in what you saw last night. Whatyou didn’t see were the fourteen other men shot and taken to other area hospitals over the past three nights.”

“Okay, that’s bad,” Baylee agreed, “but I don’t think it will come back on me.”

The detective was frowning as he looked at her. Even as she watched, he crossed his arms like a disapproving parent, but he didn’t say anything.

Baylee admired his restraint.

“I’ll be careful. I promise,” she said, giving him a sideways look.

He just stared at her, and she felt a moment of insecurity. Was he looking at her scar? It was kind of hard to miss, running down her face the way it did. She held his stare until he blinked and grimaced, looking away.

Baylee had learned a long time ago that when you pointed out a person’s bad habits, sometimes it was enough to make them change their ways.

“Has anyone talked to his family?” she asked.

“I spoke to his mother,” Cass said, huffing out a breath. “She wasn’t surprised, but she wasn’t happy, either.”

“I’m sure not,” she murmured.

They saw the results of gang violence in the hospital all the time. Even in the pediatrics wing. It seemed like the most innocent were always the ones who paid. She’d seen more than a dozen accidental child shooting victims over her career. And more than a few family breakups over the incidents.

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