Page 56 of Not This Way

“Stay back,” Rachel whispered to her partner, adjusting her leather jacket and bracing herself for action. She could feel the weight of her boots on the cracked ground, her muscles tensing like a coiled spring.

This man needed help, not more violence, she reasoned.

“Sir! Please put the gun down!” Rachel called out, her voice steady despite the chaos swirling around her. The man turned to her, startled, but didn’t lower his weapon. She inched closer, holding up her hands in a gesture of peace.

“Who are you?” the man asked, tears streaming down his face.

“Rachel Blackwood, Texas Ranger,” she replied, her words imbued with a quiet strength. “Now, please. Lower the gun.”

The two cops had shuffled back briefly, shooting uncertain glances at her, both of them still holding their guns tightly.

She raised a hand at them as if she were attempting to quiet wild stallions.

The cops hesitantly lowered their guns, following her lead, but they kept their attention on the man. If he lowered his gun and aimed at them, it wouldn’t end well.

She needed to prevent this from happening.

“Sir, I can talk to you about Emily,” Rachel said quietly. “Mr. Thompson, what’s your name?”

He stared at her, wide-eyed, pupils dilated. Fear emanated from his every motion.

“I…” He swallowed. “Callen.”

“Alright, Callen, just lower the gun. Slowly, okay? We can talk about Emily. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

She kept her tone even, gentle, as if she were speaking to a wounded creature.

As if sensing her sincerity, the man hesitated for a moment before slowly lowering the gun. The cops tensed as it reached shoulder height, but relaxed as it aimed at the ground. Rachel moved swiftly, closing the distance between them in an instant. With practiced precision, she disarmed him, securing the weapon.

The man didn’t have time to react.

She didn’t twist hard, though, not wanting to hurt him.

She didn’t even focus on the weapon, as she didn’t want Callen to either.

“Look at me, sir,” she said quietly, meeting his gaze.

He did, his tear-stained eyes finding her calm, quiet countenance.

The other officers held back, watching as she reached out, touching his elbow lightly.

“Come with me, please.”

He hesitated, but under the rain as it drummed around them, he slowly allowed her to guide him away.

Directly away from the body.

If he saw his wife in that state, there was no telling what he might do.

She led Callen Thompson gently away from the chaos, her firm grip on his arm offering both reassurance and restraint.

“Tell me about your wife,” Rachel urged, her voice softening as they moved to a quieter spot beside one of the police cars. The man’s breath hitched, his eyes welling up with fresh tears.

“Her name’s Emily,” he said, his voice barely audible. “She’s everything to me. I heard… I heard she was here. Where is she?”

He looked around, peering in the back of the cop cars.

Shit. He didn’t know she was dead.

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