Page 25 of Deadly Attraction
Chapter Six
An hour later, Emma removed her pistol from the gun cabinet where she’d locked it prior to Danika’s arrival. She stuck the handgun in her leather holster, grabbed a box of bullets, and returned the shotgun to its home over the front door.
“Where are you going?” Mitch said as he followed her outside.
The midday sun was warm overhead, though smoke from the fires clouded the sky. She headed for the barn, the dogs running ahead. “Shooting practice.”
His long legs ate up the ground, keeping up with her with no problem. “Excuse me?”
“I thought it might be a good idea to brush up on some target practice.”
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
“You’re welcome to join me.”
The bullheaded son-of-a-bitch was cute but annoying. He’d sat and scanned fan forums, complaining nonstop about her lousy satellite Internet service while she tried to concentrate and dictate her notes. Finally, in order to drown him out, she’d slapped in her earbuds and cranked some meditation instrumentals to lower her blood pressure while she typed up an analysis of Danika’s mood and emailed it to the girl’s caseworker.
It took three tries, but finally the e-mail went through.
The landline and cellular service continued to play havoc with communications and Mitch had been unable to speak to Victor or his team of fellow agents. He’d sent several e-mails and texts but hadn’t received any replies.
“You have a secure shooting range out here?” He shaded his eyes as he looked around the property.
There was nothing in the woods but wild animals, sosecurewas a matter of perspective.
The barn was cool and shadowed. Twinkie raised his head at the sound of them entering. Second Chance and her foal were still outside.
“In the woods.” Emma stroked Twinkie’s neck as she went by, murmuring soothing words to him as she hauled his saddle from the wall and secured it on his back.
“The woods.” Mitch crossed his arms and looked at her like she’d grown an extra head. “That seems like a safe place to go when two people are gunning for you. What are you, a glutton for punishment? A too-stupid-to-live heroine in a horror flick? There’s a killer on the loose who’s coming after you, and oh, yeah, there’s a forest fire blazing out of control a few miles from here, so let’s go into the woods.”
The sarcasm in his voice could have peeled the paint from the barn walls if they’d had any. Emma tightened the cinch on Twinkie’s saddle and made sure his bit was secure. “My woods are on the southeast side, a half mile or so from the ranch and even farther away from the forest fires than we are right here. We’re both well-armed. I don’t see how that compares to a movie heroine with questionable decision making skills or someone with a victim or martyr complex.”
He stood there, staring at her as if she suddenly turned into an alien or was speaking a different language. “I stand by my earlier assessment that you’re nuts.”
She half smiled to herself, grabbing a second saddle for Igor, the old gelding standing in a patch of sunlight. “I understand your reluctance to be here, Agent Holden, and I hope we can resolve this situation soon, but until then, would you rather I cower in the house or take you out for a round of gun practice? Special agents like yourself have to stay sharp, right? Regular practice at the range and all.”
Glancing over her shoulder as she saddled up Igor, she saw the slightest tick in his jaw. “We should be figuring out where Brown and Goodsman are hiding out, what kind of vehicle they might be driving, and who might be helping them.”
“You said there was nothing more in the fan forums, and we have limited internet access, so that seems like a further waste of time to me.” Emma patted the gelding’s neck and handed Mitch the reins. “Agent Holden, meet Igor. After we get back from target practice, I’ll give you my notes on Chris from my sessions with him. I also have quite a collection of research on Linda and her obsession with the show. Maybe it will give you insight. Deal?”
A heartbeat of silence. “Would you really shoot Goodsman if he showed up here?”
She hauled herself up onto Twinkie’s back. “I can and I will if necessary.”
“What about the shotgun? I thought you were going to use that to do it. What’s with this sudden need to take your pistol out and shoot it?”
The truth felt like a rough pebble in her throat. “I haven’t shot my Smith and Wesson in two years. It saved my life then and it may have to again.”
She forced herself to meet his gaze. The tick in his jaw sped up. His face hardened even more but his voice came out softer, more sincere. “Goodsman’s fan? The one you mentioned earlier?”
“Someone attacked me and I stopped them. I don’t take shooting anything—human, animal, even a can—lightly, but in the event that my life, or the life of someone I love, is threatened, you’re damn skippy I’m pulling the trigger.”
A sly grin crossed his lips. “I like you, Dr. Collins. You’re as crazy as your patients, but then maybe you have to be to survive all that shit you have to listen to from them.”
He didn’t know the half of it. “You’re starting to get the picture, Agent. Have you ever ridden a horse before?”
“Couple times.” He kicked a boot into Igor’s stirrup and hoisted himself up. “You a good shot?”
