Page 25 of Special Agent Isabella

“Come with me, baby.” Swinging the child into her arms, she ran into the hall toward the office and met Tanner on his way down the stairs. He placed his arm around her waist and said, “I want you to wait until I clear the room.” Going in with his gun raised and ready, he made sure the space was safe before returning to the females to guide them inside.

“Stay in here and lock the door behind me.”

“Uncle Tanner. What’s happening? Mommy’s scared.”

“I know pet. It could be nothing, just a false alarm. But you need to stay put.” He glanced at Stacy, held his gun up and gave her a questioning look.

She seemed to know that he was asking – if she had a weapon – and when she shook her head, he bent down and uncovered a small gun hidden in a holster under his sock. He passed it to her. “The safety’s on. Be careful.”

“Thanks. You be careful too.”

He left them in the room and heard the lock click behind him. Looking at the movement from the stairs, he saw Bella. She nodded to let him know all was clear on her end. Moving close, they partnered with each other to clear the main floor.

She went to the right into the dining room, her gun held ready. Slowly, she pushed her way through the swinging door into the kitchen, doing a thorough sweep. A search of the pantry and under the long open counters revealed nothing. Finally, heading for the back door, opening it, she stepped outside and scanned the empty yard.

Eventually, she returned through the doorway and an itch began warning her she’d missed something. Holding her gun tightly, she whispered toward the door. “I know you’re behind the door. Come out or I’ll put a bullet right through the middle of it.”

Nothing.

Silence.

No movement.

Rather than carry out her threat, she yanked at the door and viewed the empty space behind.

Nothing.

She’d been so sure that something was wrong.

Turning, she spotted what had made her twitchy. From this angle, the motion light her movement had turned on outside had lightened the room. A gaping hole now visible from this angle could be seen clearly in the window over the sink.

Glass lay everywhere, as did a dark item. Running over, she made out a cement brick. Reaching for a plastic bag holding some cookies, she dumped out the contents. Gingerly, her hand now enclosed, she picked up the offending piece, reading the words clearly printed in dripping red paint that was supposed to look like blood.

Slut. Quit or Die.

Sudden silence. The ringing alarm shut off as fast as it started. In minutes, Tanner met up with her. “Find anything?”

“Yeah. Some sicko threw a brick through the window.” She held it out for him to read.

“Christ, they’re getting more gutsy, coming into her yard.” He made a disgusted sound. “And where’s her outside guard?”

“Dunno.” She turned to investigate, and he stopped her. “You go check on Stacy and Abbie in the office and be careful not to startle them. I gave Stacy my CCW to use for protection.”

“Right. You be careful too.”

His teasing voice drifted behind him. “See, I knew you cared.”

“You wish.” Her reply probably didn’t reach him, but she felt better for saying it. The fact that it didn’t ring true made her twitchy. Shaking off the awareness, she moved.

He headed out the door and closed it behind him. Wishing she could go with him, she instead followed orders and went to the office, knocking softly and calling out.

Trying the handle she found it open.Christ, what was Stacy thinking, leaving it unlocked?When she stepped into the lamplight, she saw Stacy, with Abbie clinging to her, kneeling on the floor while a masked gunman hovered behind them.

“Drop the weapon, or I’ll shoot the kid.”

The thud of her gun dropping sounded loud to her as with her freed hands now raised, she entered the room. “What are you doing?”

“What should have been done a long time ago. This woman should have left the state and taken her daughter with her. She’s been warned a number of times. We have a van waiting outside. I don’t want any trouble.”

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