Page 54 of Last Resort

“Two men—went that way.” Erik pointed in the direction the goons had fled.

“Stay here,” Hendricks ordered. “Mom’s got an ambulance coming.” He and the deputy returned to their squad and drove off.

The ambulance squealed to a halt at the curb. By now, people had come to the windows and doorways of the surrounding shops and homes. Erik had the presence of mind to put his gun back in his waistband, glad that he had been concerned enough to bring it with him.

“Are you hurt?” The EMT looked Erik over from head to toe.

Erik shook his head. “No, but I shot one of the attackers in the shoulder, so he might need assistance if the cops catch him.” He wondered if there would be enough of a blood trail to lead them to the assailant.

Ben showed up seconds later, red-faced and out of breath after running from the rental company. “Susan called.”

“I figured.”

“She’s at the store entrance, sending gawkers on their way.” Ben gave Erik a worried once-over.

“I need to send her on vacation and buy her flowers when this is over.” Erik felt the adrenaline drop now that he was safe. He had come outside without a coat and started to shiver.

He permitted the EMTs to check him, although he didn’t expect to even have a bruise.It could have been so much worse.

“I clobbered one guy with the garbage, kicked the other in the ’nads, and then shot the first one when he was drawing down on me,” Erik said when the technician put a blanket around his shoulders.

“Did you recognize them?” Ben asked.

Erik shook his head, knowing that Ben wondered if Carr had been part of the attack. “No, but they didn’t look like vagrants. I think they were professionals.”

When the EMTs released Erik, he and Ben went into the shop. By then, Susan had dispersed the crowd and come inside, still leaving the sign on the door flipped to “Closed.”

“Erik—are you okay? I can handle things if you need to go to the hospital,” she said, triaging Erik with a glance.

“Thanks, but I’m fine,” Erik protested. “Assuming my heart rate ever slows down. I fought them off.”

“My boyfriend’s a badass,” Ben said with pride.

“More like a dumbass, taking on a guy with a gun,” Erik admitted. “Fortunately I brought my own gun with me, or it could have gone completely wrong.”

“Especially if they were hired goons,” Ben added.

Erik shrugged. “So were the guys I trained to fight when I worked with Interpol. The thing is, they tend to underestimate you if you aren’t in the organized crime world. I mean, who would expect a museum guy to know how to fight or shoot a gun?” He managed a wan smile.

“I wouldn’t know about that. Everyone seemed to expect me to start a brawl from the time I was a kid,” Ben said.

“Okay—you do rock the tough guy look, and this is New Jersey—just sayin’,” Erik teased.

“Yeah, yeah. Stop dissing my state.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Boys!” Susan broke up their banter, grinning broadly. “There’s someone at the door who would like a word with you.” She pointed to the front window, where a grumpy looking Chief Hendricks waited outside.

“Might as well get it over with.” Erik suspected the chief had stern words about the shooting.

“I mean, shoot one guy in an alley, and everyone gets bent,” Ben teased.

“Hush,” Erik replied.

“I’ll go make coffee.” Susan excused herself to the break room.

Erik opened the door and stepped back for Hendricks to enter. Ben moved closer, signaling support.