Page 46 of Nothing Watching

Juliette felt a surge of conflicted relief. At least they could get inside now, even if it was not in the circumstances she’d hoped for.

But at that moment, faintly, only audible because of the sudden silence, she heard another sound, one that sent chills all the way through her.

It was the sound of a door slamming hard, and it was coming from behind the house. She spun toward Wyatt, staring in concern.

Having a warrant to get in the front door wouldn’t help if their suspect had run out the back. She was now convinced that was exactly what he’d done. And so was her partner.

“Run!” Wyatt shouted, turning to sprint around the building. “That was him, for sure! And he’s trying to get away!”

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

Juliette raced behind Wyatt as he forged his way through the overgrown yard to the back of the house. Concern now flared inside her. Having the suspect flee was a disastrous outcome. Chasing him down was the only solution.

She paused for just long enough to shout to Sierra, “Take the car! See if you can drive in the direction where we’re chasing him!” She threw the keys in her direction and then turned the corner, sprinting through the narrow strip of overgrown yard, around to the back of the house and Frederick Vogel’s escape route.

The backyard was just as overgrown as the front, making it difficult to navigate through the vegetation. Juliette’s heart was pounding as she chased after Vogel. She could hear his footsteps crashing through the underbrush just ahead of her. She had to catch him before he got too far.

As she pushed through the clinging undergrowth and the tangles of shrubs, she saw Vogel’s form racing toward the back edge of the property.This was the first time she’d set eyes on him. He was wearing a black fleece jacket, although she couldn’t see if it had a hood or not. And, with surprising agility, he was leaping over the wooden fence behind the home. Now, on grass that was more neatly trimmed, he was racing along behind the row of houses, following a path that led down to a thick copse of trees.

As she leaped the wooden fence, she saw Vogel dart into the trees, his black jacket disappearing into the darkness of the leafy canopy. Juliette pushed herself harder, following in Wyatt’s footsteps as her partner powered ahead. Now, they were both bursting into the woods, following the narrow and seldom used track. Ignoring the twigs and branches that scratched at her skin, she pushed through the thick foliage. She could hear Vogel’s breathing up ahead, the crunching of leaves and branches as he fled.

She could see him now, and with a surge of excitement she realized Wyatt was gaining on him, catching up fast. But as Wyatt lunged toward him, he veered right, disappearing down an almost hidden track. Skidding down the sharp, muddy incline, he clawed back his lead, causing Wyatt to lose his balance as he tried to turn too fast and slid on a swath of damp leaves.

Now, thanks to that slip-up, Juliette had been able to turn faster and now had the lead, and was racing through a sharply winding trail, in forest so dense it was almost pitch-black. The trees were tightly laced overhead, blocking out the light. It smelled damp and musty in here, and she was now following by sound, more than by sight.

But then she saw him, surprisingly close once more. She guessed he was tiring, after the headlong chase. He was there, just a few yards and a couple of bends in the path ahead of her. She was going to get him.

Juliette pushed herself harder, her legs burning with the effort as she surged forward. And then, with a sudden burst of energy, she lunged forward as she rounded a sharp bend, her hand snatching at Vogel’s jacket. She thought she had him for one triumphant moment.

But he was too quick. Again, he surprised her.

With a sudden twist, he spun out of her grip, his elbow almost catching her in the face as he countered her attack with a vicious swipe of his arm. Juliette stumbled as she ducked out of the way, saving herself from the injury, but losing a few valuable seconds. It was enough for Vogel to race ahead, and then he was bursting out of the woods into the bright glare of daylight.

As she emerged from the trees, gritting her teeth in frustration because he’d been fast but also lucky, she saw him up ahead. Now, he was sprinting across a wide-open grassy park. On the far side of it, she saw a busy street, with cars and pedestrians crossing to and fro. That was where he was heading for, and he clearly hoped to lose them in the crowds.

Given his luck so far, and his knowledge of the area down to the last foot of pathway, she had a nasty fear that he might do just that.

But Juliette was not one to give up so easily. She dug deep, summoning every last bit of energy she had left, and sprinted after Vogel.This wasn’t just about stopping a runaway man, it was about stopping the deaths of innocent people. And she couldn’t let him get away.

“Stop! Police!” she yelled, her voice catching in her throat. She was sure nothing would make Vogel stop voluntarily, but perhaps someone would realize what was going on and step into the fray. There seemed to be nobody close enough in the park, though.

Wyatt was gaining ground now, his footsteps thudding behind her.

Vogel was about twenty yards ahead of her, and she worried it was too much of a lead, especially if he had another bolt hole in mind. She could hear his ragged breathing faintly, as he charged up the grassy hill, and the sound of his feet hitting the pavement echoed in her ears.

She followed, her feet digging into the soft grass, knowing that they were still too far behind, that until they caught him nothing was guaranteed, and there was a chance for him to melt into the crowds and disappear.

And then, from beyond him, she saw a sight that was welcome beyond words.

Sierra had pulled up on the street. She climbed out of the unmarked car and began running toward Vogel, with an intent expression on her face.

“Stop! Police! Stop!” she screeched, waving her arms wildly, as if to head off a runaway horse.

Only Juliette knew that Sierra was probably scared to death, but doing her best anyway, and her respect for the young woman’s bravery soared. Courage was acting despite fear, and Sierra was showing she possessed it in shed loads.

Vogel’s head jerked up as he saw her ahead, and he hesitated, slowing his pace, glancing around him in a panic. He hadn’t expected to be facing a third police officer, and was now clearly recalibrating his entire strategy.

But not fast enough, because that momentary pause allowed Juliette to reach him.

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