Page 24 of Sinner's Secret

One of her other team members brought a first aid kit over and Baz wrapped up Smith’s arm.

“Is that a hole in your jacket?” Williams asked, staring at Baz’s back.

Shit, he’d hoped no one would notice. He glanced over his shoulder but couldn’t see it.

Nika strode over, bent close, then stuck her finger into something and poked him.

He jerked, like it hurt. “Huh. I thought I imagined it. I guess I caught one.”

“You’ve been shot in the back?” Nika demanded, her voice a squeak.

“Hey, no worries,” he said, removing his jacket and lifting up the bottom of his shirt to reveal the body armor he’d put on after he’d left Joe’s. “I had a bad feeling about tonight, and thanks to getting jumped one too many times in the sandbox, I’m a little paranoid about being prepared.”

“A little paranoid?” Williams asked, staring at him.

“Is that why you put yourself between Smith and the shooter?” Nika asked.

Baz shrugged again. “I figured it was better for me to get shot than him, and I didn’t know if he was wearing armor or not, so...” He finished wrapping up her partner’s arm. “That should do until the paramedics get here.”

“Thanks.” The sneer was gone from the man’s face and tone. Instead, he stared at Baz with his head cocked to one side looking both grateful and curious.

Oh, look, he’d made a friend.

Baz just nodded. He stood and looked down the street toward the police station. “How did those two fuckwits fare?”

Nika was busy picking up shell casings from the pavement and putting them into a small plastic bag. “I have a bad feeling about that.”

“You carry evidence bags with you all the time?” Baz asked.

“You never know when you’re going to need one.”

“That’s what my mother used to say about clean underwear.”

Smith chuckled. “Mine too.” He got to his feet, but swayed, so Baz put a hand under his good arm.

A couple of ambulances raced past to stop in front of the police station.

“Nika?” Baz asked.

“Let’s head down there.” She didn’t sound happy. She probably wasn’t the only one this event was going to make unhappy. Dead cops were one thing. Dead corrupt cops were going to make this a shit show.

“I’ve always wanted to join the circus,” Baz said with mock brightness.

Smith gave him a considering sidelong glance. “You’re a bit weird in a paranoid sort of way, but you’re also smarter than you look.”

Bemused, Baz followed Nika at a speed her partner should be able to manage. “I can’t tell if that was a complaint or a compliment.”

Smith grunted. “Neither can I.”

Their little group walked slowly toward the crowd forming near the police station. By the time they got there, Williams had to use his ID to make people get out of the way so they could get Smith to the paramedics.

At least three ambulances had shown up, but instead of gurneys with wounded, all they were doing was covering bodies.

Smith was taken into one of the ambulances for treatment.

The members of the tactical team stationed themselves around a hastily erected perimeter of barricades in front of the station. A growing mob of press and onlookers were kept back, though there were enough cameras pointed at the carnage that everyone in the world would be seeing it within an hour.

Baz sighed and kept his head turned away to keep down the chances of anyone getting a clear image of his face. Nika glanced at him, frowned, then glanced around. She edged over to him, as if hiding from the public too.

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