Page 58 of Dark Terror
Twenty minutes later Captain Scanlon walked in with a tall, brown-haired woman dressed in jeans and a nylon jacket over a T-shirt. “This is Lucky Michaels. She owns Lucky Helicopter Tours. She’s going to fly you in. Her copter holds four people, so the SWAT team’s sniper is going with you and Harry. Local law enforcement will be waiting for you when you arrive.”
“Can you get us there fast?” Gabe said.
The woman smirked. “Three years ago I was an Apache pilot in Afghanistan dodging rocket launchers. Trust me, I know how to go fast and go hard.”
Gabe dipped his head in respect. “You’ll do. Let’s get this show on the road… or in the air to be more accurate.”
“As soon as Max Houser gets here,” Captain Scanlon said.
The sniper walked into the room, his rifle strapped to his shoulder and a canvas tote in his hand. “I’m here.”
“Detectives, you stay in touch,” their boss said as he and Harry headed out the door. They both raised a hand in acknowledgment.
* * *
True to her word, Lucky had them at the landing zone in a little under thirty minutes. Three police cars and six cops were at the clearing. He, Harry, and Max split up, each riding in one of the cruisers. Lucky stayed with her chopper.
“How far are we from the house?” Gabe asked when they were underway. His phone was still connected to Cara’s, and he’d put it on speaker in case she came back online. She hadn’t.
“Ten minutes. I’m Ben Shrouder and that’s Rex Wilder,” the officer in the passenger seat said. “We’ve been briefed, but how about running things by us again.”
“Detective Gabe Calder. My partner is Detective Harrison, and our sniper is Max Houser. We suspect our subject, Troy Sherman Jr., has already killed one woman. He abducted our only witness, and we think he plans to kill her, too.” If he hadn’t already, but Gabe forced that unacceptable thought out of his head.
“What’s your plan?” Shrouder asked.
To bring Cara home. “Unfortunately we don’t have one until we get on site and can assess the situation.” And that was killing him. He’d have to bring out the calm, cool, and collected detective his fellow detectives knew him to be. That was going to be harder said than done because he knew the danger Cara was in and wanted to storm the castle like an avenging warrior and rescue his girl.
When they reached the turn to the driveway, they parked their cars and approached the house on foot.
“Let’s hope he left the windows uncovered so I can get a clean shot if need be,” Max quietly said.
“That’s our last resort,” Harry said.
When the massive house, actually a log home, came into view, they stopped and huddled. He, Harry, and Max had earpieces and could communicate. “Max, find yourself a spot to set up.” He glanced at their local reinforcements. “One of you go with him.”
“I will,” Rex Wilder said. “I was a spotter in the army.”
Max gave a satisfied nod. “Then you’re my man.”
That left him and Harry with the other five officers. “The house has a wraparound porch. I’m going to ease up there and try to find a window where I can see what’s going on inside. Harry, take these guys with you and set up however you think best.”
His shoes were soft soled, but he still took care when easing onto the porch, testing each board first to make sure it didn’t creak. Like a thief in the night, he walked on light feet to the front door. Although he expected it to be locked, he tried the handle, surprised when it turned. There were narrow panels of glass on both sides of the door, and he could see that there was a foyer and a curved staircase that he couldn’t see past.
“Is everyone in place?” he whispered.
“I’m at the back door,” Harry said. “Our local friends are positioned around the house.”
“There’s a shed off to the right side of the house,” Max said. “I’m on the roof with Rex. Got a clear view into the living room. Ms. Jenner is standing along the north wall. Subject’s in the middle of the room, facing her. He has a gun.”
Gabe’s heart didn’t stop at hearing that bit of news, which surprised him because he sure as hell thought it should have. “The door’s unlocked. I’m slipping in.”
“You be damn careful,” Harry said. “I finally have you trained right, and I don’t want to have to start over with a new partner.”
“Ah, she loves me,” he said, then heard Max chuckle.
He slowly pulled the door open wide enough to slide through, breathing a sigh of relief when it didn’t creak. After stepping in, he eased the door closed. With his gun at his side, he backed up to the wall, stilled and listened.
“It’s a darn shame I didn’t know you couldn’t identify me,” he heard TJ say. “You wouldn’t be standing there knowing you’re about to die. But that’s neither here nor there now, is it?”
