Page 7 of Shea's Hero

It’s one of the many reasons I’m glad I moved here just over a year ago. After spending almost a decade with the CIA, first traveling overseas and then working at headquarters in Virginia, I’ve grown to enjoy the slower pace of life. As an officer with the Sleepy Hollow PD, my shifts are usually spent responding to minor traffic accidents, investigating misdemeanors, and helping with the DARE program at the local elementary school.

That’s not to say there aren’t major crimes here. But compared to some of the things I saw as a collection management officer in the CIA, Sleepy Hollow is downright relaxing.

“Oliver? Do you see something?” Kane’s posture stiffens. His tone goes brisk.

“No. Sorry. Just thinking. But sure, I’m up for some hiking. I just have to be back before five, since I’m supposed to be having dinner with Maya and Cole.”

“Nice. How are they doing?”

“Good.” I smile as I think about the main reason I moved to this small town just north of New York City. My younger sister,Maya, lives here with her husband, Cole, and my absolutely adorable niece, Clara. “Now that Blade and Arrow has another branch, Cole doesn’t have to travel as much. And Maya’s still working part time from home, so she can spend lots of time with Clara.”

“And how’s Clara?”

“She’s great. Talking like crazy, running all over the place, and so smart. I mean, maybe I’m biased, but?—”

The radio crackles on in a burst of sound, and I cut myself off to listen.

“We have a potential 207A at the Hop-less Horseman. Sounds like only minor injuries. Two men jumped out of a van and went after some women on the patio, but they were interrupted and took off.”

My heart stops.

A kidnapping attempt at the Hop-less Horseman?

That’s where Maya was going tonight.

Fuck. Was she targeted? Hurt?

“Who called it in?” I ask through a narrowing throat.

There’s a pause. “Maya Kingston.” Gloria, the dispatcher, pauses again. “Oh, crap. Oliver. That’s your sister. I didn’t think?—”

“It’s fine,” I clip out. Although I feel the exact opposite of fine.

Maya’s supposed to be safe. That’s the main reason I moved here. To be closer to her.

As Kane flips on the sirens and guns the engine, he replies, “Ten-four, Gloria. We’re less than a mile from there. We’re on the way.”

Even as I prepare myself to assess the scene, it’s a battle to stay calm. To keep my focus. I keep seeing Maya in the hospital all those years ago, so badly hurt after being abducted. And I can’t forget the crushing guilt that I wasn’t there to protect her.

“She sounded fine,” Gloria adds kindly. “And she said her husband was there. That he and his teammates had secured the scene.”

The pressure building in my chest releases a little. But not completely.

If Cole is there… Some of my worry eases. As the founder of Blade and Arrow Security and a former Green Beret, he’s more than capable of keeping Maya safe. And I know without a doubt he’d do anything to protect my little sister.

Just as we blow through the intersection two blocks down, sirens blaring, my phone rings.

I normally would never answer my phone when we’re out on a call, but as soon as I see Maya’s name appear on the screen, I answer. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She sounds stressed, but I suppose that’s to be expected. “Are you coming? The dispatcher said?—”

“Yes. We’re a couple of minutes out. Is Cole there? Are you safe?”

“I’m safe, Ollie.”

Andthere. Maya only calls me by that irritating nickname for two reasons. Either she wants to annoy me, or she’s scared. And in this case, I know it’s the latter.

“Who else is there?”

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