Page 55 of Last Resort

“Did you catch them?” Erik asked.

Hendricks shook his head with a disgusted curl to his lip. “No. Although the blood trail held up for a while. Do you usually carry a piece when you take out the trash?”

“I didn’t used to, but maybe I should after today.” Erik got the feeling Hendricks’s annoyance was over not finding the goons and not directed at him.

“Given how trouble follows you two—and with all the right paperwork and permits in place—maybe that’s not a bad idea,” Hendricks admitted. “Did you recognize the guys who jumped you?”

“No. They didn’t look familiar.”

Hendricks pulled out a notebook. “Okay, take it from the top. Give me the whole story.”

The chief took notes as Erik recounted what happened, including his glance at the cameras before going out.

“They knew to keep out of sight,” Erik said. “I guess they planned to bide their time. I don’t know if they intended to shoot me or kidnap me, but I didn’t want to find out.” He didn’t mention the poker chips since they weren’t part of Hendrick’s investigation, and Erik didn’t want them confiscated.

“You think they were connected to the Raines killing?”

Erik nodded. “I don’t believe much in coincidence. Either the guys who sent Tom’s killer or Holden Carr decided to play rough. But if they thought I had something that belonged to Tom, they’re wrong. I don’t.”

Technically, that was true. The chips were stolen by Edwin and didn’t actually belong to anyone in the Raines family.

“I guess that an antique shop would be a likely place to look for something related to Edwin’s heist from back in the day,” Hendricks said.

“Any chance you might pick up footage of the assailants on the traffic cams?” Erik felt certain Ben’s question was timed to change the subject.

“Already requested them for a six-block area,” Hendricks answered. “And we’ve posted a reward for information. We were able to get a blood sample, so that can help make an ID when we have suspects in hand. Gunshot wounds have to be reported, so if the guy you hit turns up in a hospital, we’ll know.”

“If he’s a pro, he won’t,” Ben said. “There’s a whole off the grid underground network out there for patching up hired muscle.”

Hendricks gave him a side-eye look. “Your knowledge of the criminal element is impressive, Nolan. Try not to join the Dark Side.”

“I’ll do my best, but they have cookies,” Ben deadpanned.

“You think Holden Carr hired the attackers?” Hendricks asked.

Erik shrugged. “Who else? You’ve got ‘Freaky Eddie’ in custody. The people who sent him after Tom have more reason to set their mutts on Carr than on me. Carr’s the one actively looking for the heist money. Unless the hit on Tom was for old grudges and had nothing to do with his granddad’s hidden treasure.”

“Guess we won’t know until we catch them.” Hendricks snapped his notebook closed. “That’s it for now, gentlemen. I’ll call you down to the station if we get any leads. And there will be paperwork over you shooting the goon.” He paused and looked past Erik. “Don’t think I didn’t know you’re in the back, Mom. Thanks for calling it in.”

“This is why I have the scanner,” Susan said from the break room, and Hendricks chuckled, admitting she’d gotten the best of him.

“Try not to have a shootout in the street, okay?” he said. “Again, I’ll let you know if we find out anything.”

By the time Hendricks drove away, all the evidence of the morning’s excitement was gone. Erik flipped the sign in the window to “Open.”

“Thanks for checking on me. You’d better get back to the office,” he told Ben, although he had a crazy desire to lock them both in the apartment until the current danger blew over.

“Yeah, I know. Just—be careful.” Ben leaned in and gave Erik a peck on the lips. “I need you to be safe.”

“Same here.” Erik returned the kiss. He watched Ben leave and slumped against the counter with a heavy sigh.

“Coffee makes everything better.” Susan pressed Erik’s favorite mug into his hands, filled with brew he could tell had been made from the “expensive” grounds they saved for special occasions.

“You didn’t get hurt. That’s a reason to celebrate.” Susan toasted him with her mug.

“I know you want to keep me safe, and that’s why you don’t tell me some things.” Susan leaned on the counter beside Erik and stared at the window as she talked. “But I’m a grown-ass woman, and I can take care of myself. It’s entirely up to you what you decide to share, but I’m a pretty damn good partner when I know what’s going on.”

Erik felt color rise to his cheeks. “I’m sorry. You’re absolutely right. I think the whole ‘protect your mom’ thing kicks in for both Ben and me.”

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