Page 105 of Pied Sniper

I didn’t dare nod, although this seemed kind of extreme.

“Take the shot,” said Maddox.

“Danny? Danny Lorenzo?” I couldn’t help the name that slipped out of my mouth when another man emerged from behind Maddox. He wore dark jeans, boots and a thick, navy jacket. His hair was receding but there was no mistaking those green eyes.

“Lexi Graves? No way!” said Danny as he raised a gun.

“What are you doing?” I asked. “Are you a cop now?”

“You know each other?” hissed Maddox, poised to shoot.

“Sure! Lexi was my prom date back in high school.” As he said it, Danny’s face paled. “You know each other?”

“No comment,” said Maddox.

“I’m so sorry for what my dad did to you,” I gasped, even though I’d apologized profusely several times in the past already.

“Unbelievable,” muttered Maddox.

“No, it’s totally believable,” I said. “My dad sat him down, aimed a spotlight on his face, and interrogated him.”

“I was terrified,” said Danny. “Your dad said he’d kill me if I laid a finger on you. Is he still like that?”

“Not so bad,” said Solomon, somewhere to my right.

“Where did you come from?” I asked, looking for him.

“Stay very still,” said Solomon.

“You know Lexi too?” asked Danny.

“I’m her husband.”

“Small world,” said Danny. He raised a weapon and aimed. “Stay very still.”

“Why does everyone keep saying that?” I asked, my hands still in the air.

“Why do you keep ignoring everything we tell you?” hissed Maddox, sidestepping me, his face tense and his aim ready.

“Just handcuff that idiot and get me out of here,” I wailed.

Behind me, something growled.

“What’s behind me?” I asked, the blood draining from my face. I was pretty sure neither Tiffany nor her stupid cousins growled. “Is it a bear? There aren’t supposed to be bears here!” My voice rose in panic.

“It’s not a bear.”

The growl came louder and I spun around, slipping in the mud, when something struck me in the shoulder. “I’m hit!” I cried, whirling around, my hand going to my shoulder. Everything was soaked but I couldn’t tell where the blood started and the rainwater ended. Something flapped in my shoulder and I pulled it out. A dart?What the hell?

“I’ll take another shot,” said Danny.

“You should just arrest him,” I said. “He’s in on the whole thing!”

“What are you talking about?” asked Danny.

I pointed at my pursuer.

Then I saw it.

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