*Elizabeth and Rafe ensured the meth lab was locked down after DCI finished and left, then set up cameras to hopefully catch someone coming back here. But Elizabeth doubted anyone would return if their mysterious visitor had passed the word along that the lab was compromised.
“Now what?” Rafe asked as they walked back to their vehicles.
“Have you made any progress on looking into Ma?”
“Little. Neva’s death, getting Joel to agree to let us use the ATVs, and last night have eaten up my time.”
“Get on that. Today.” Elizabeth rubbed her eyes. “I’m going to check on Bentley and make sure Joel hasn’t decided to play house.”
“Then what?”
“Pay a visit to the Wagners.” She turned. “Rafe, I’m calmed down now, but you bringing Joel into this would have been a nice heads-up.”
He grunted. “You were married to the man for how long? He was never going to stay out of it.”
“One day Joel’s going to learn he can’t be lord over all.” She grasped the SUV’s handle. “If I can, I’m going to catch a nap in my office after I talk to the Wagners.”
Rafe’s hand covered hers and stopped her from opening the door. “I don’t think you should drive.”
She faced him. “I can’t leave my vehicle here.”
“You’re in no shape to drive. Let me call Fitzgerald and Lundquist down here to pick it up.”
“Rafe, stop coddling me. It’s not going to look good to the voters if you have to bail me out. Like I can’t stand on my own two feet.”
“Ellie, no one will fault you if you’re exhausted, which you are. It’s been a trying week.”
She scowled. “This is crap Joel would pull on me. I’m not a weak woman in need of rescuing when things get rough.”
“No, but you are human. A human who is sleep deprived, and it will get you killed.”
She slapped the side of her fist against his chest. “Stop it. Now.”
As she went to repeat her beating, he grabbed her wrist and ceased her movements. “Stubbornness got nobody anywhere but hurt.”
“Speak for yourself,” she snapped.
The proximity to his body, his musky scent, and her weakened will was playing hell on her mind. What was it Marnie had told her yesterday? Time to screw Rafe.
What the hell.
Rolling up on the balls of her feet, Elizabeth smashed her lips into his. There was the barest hint of stiffening from him, more of shock than hesitation, and then Rafe returned the kiss with a ferocity Elizabeth craved. He backed her against the SUV and devoured her mouth.
From inside the cab her radio screeched. Elizabeth ignored it. By God, she was finally kissing Rafe and nothing was stopping her now.
Rafe’s radio squawked, and the voice penetrated their heavy panting.
“Officer down!”
Pushing Rafe off her body, Elizabeth ripped his radio from his shoulder. “Georgia?”
“It’s Brent, Ellie. Brent’s been hurt.”
Her legs wobbled, and she started to slide. Rafe’s strong hands caught her and stabilized her.
“Not Brent,” she whispered.
He took the radio. “Georgia, where?”
“An ambulance is on scene. Deputy Dayne is with him. I sent Lundquist to help her.” Georgia’s voice cracked. “Just go to the hospital.”
Rafe grabbed Elizabeth’s hand and dragged her to his Charger. “It’ll be all right.” He opened the door and ushered her inside. “He’ll make it,” he said before closing the door.
Elizabeth stared ahead, her brain playing over every moment she’d had with Brent.
He couldn’t die.
*
The Charger came to a squealing halt outside the hospital entrance. Elizabeth bailed from the car. Rafe left the car parked where it was, lights flashing, and followed her inside.
She’d made it halfway down the hall.
“Ellie!” Olivia rushed from a side hall toward Elizabeth.
“Olivia, what happened?”
Olivia latched on to Elizabeth’s arm and escorted her down the hall. “He was shot. I don’t know any more than that. I’ve got Lila in a room. She’s in shock.”
Elizabeth looked over her shoulder. Rafe was following. Assured he was near, she let Olivia lead her.
“Has anyone told Sophie?”
“Georgia is calling her. No doubt she will be here quickly.”
But would Pratt come as well? His not coming would be better for all involved.
Olivia took Elizabeth to the walk-in clinic and straight to a closed door. Pushing it open, she stepped in. “Lila, the sheriff is here.”
Lila lifted her head. Sucking air at the sight before her, Elizabeth hesitated. Dried blood war-painted her deputy’s face, stained her hands and clothing. Her eyes revealed the shattered woman inside.
“Is she hurt?” Elizabeth asked Olivia.
The doctor shook her head.
Elizabeth gestured for Rafe to remain outside. He nodded and took sentry. Sighing, she moved over to the exam table and sat next to Lila. She laid her hand over Lila’s shaking one, and stayed that way until the shaking stopped.
From her post by the sink, Olivia waited.
“Is he going to live?” Lila’s voice, small and raspy, was like shards of glass to Elizabeth.
She met Olivia’s troubled gaze. The doctor shrugged. When she wasn’t the one in the operating room, how would she know the outcome? Even in the best of circumstances, it was hard to know.
Elizabeth squeezed Lila’s hand. “Brent is a fighter. Dominic is the best surgeon we have.”
Slipping her hand free, Lila tucked it under her arm.
“Lila, what happened?”
Staring at the wall, the deputy remained locked up. Rafe’s warnings trickled through Elizabeth’s mind. Had Lila met her breaking point and this was the outcome? A shell of a police officer?
“I was in the gas station. I had to use the restroom. I was looking for coffee for us, and then I heard the shot.” She faltered but kept her gaze zeroed on the wall. “I ran outside.”
Lila squeezed her eyes shut and bowed her head. She sat that way, taking deep breaths. Elizabeth feared she’d go light-headed and pass out. As she reached for Lila, the deputy’s head came up and her eyes flared open.
“It was a white Chevy pickup. It had a huge dent in the tailgate and looked like it should have been in the junkyard. There were two people in the cab. No license plate. Bald tires. Bits of a bumper sticker, red, blue, green. The bumper hung off the backend, like it was ready to drop off.”
Elizabeth gaped at the details rolling from Lila. Suddenly the woman’s head snapped in her direction. The shattered look that had met her entering the room was gone.
“We need a BOLO on that vehicle.”
“I’ll get it out as soon as I walk out of here. What else can you recall?”
Lila went on, everything spilling out in crisp, clinical detail. She spoke as if she were writing her report, detaching from the moment. Elizabeth sensed under Lila’s words, she was trying not to rehash the fear her own attack had left on her soul. Between this incident and her actions at Neva McKinnley’s house, Lila was trying to piece her life and her career back together.
It had been a good decision to add her to the department force.
Elizabeth gripped Lila’s shoulder. “You did good, Deputy Dayne.”
She shook her head. “I shouldn’t have left him alone in the car.”
“We can’t fight the call of nature. By what you’re describing, I don’t think the shooter would have stopped at Brent. Did he say who did it?”
Lila shook her head. “I was too worried about saving him to even ask.” She lifted her hands as if to rub her face, but halted, staring at the dried blood on them. “Why shoot him in the gut?” she whispered.
A knock on the door kept Elizabeth from answering.
Rafe poked his head in. “Lundquist is here.”
“Good. Rafe, we need a BOLO on a white Chevy pickup with a big dent in the tailgate, no plates, two armed suspects.”
“On it,” he said and disappeared.
Lundquist stepped into the doorway and entered when Elizabeth beckoned him forward. He too had streaks of blood on his uniform. “Sheriff, I’ve got the area around the shooting taped off and the car is on a wrecker headed for the department. DCI and the PD investigator are on the scene. I left Fitzgerald to stand watch.”
“Did you get a coffee cup that came out of the car?” Lila asked, her voice firm.
“I did, left it with the DCI team. I’m doubtful there will be any prints aside from Meyer’s, but we might get lucky.”
Lila stood suddenly. “I want to go over that car.”
“Whoa.” Elizabeth came up. “Deputy, you’ve had a shock. You need to take some time.”
“No. Don’t make me sit this one out. I owe that much to Brent.”
“I know that, and I respect it. But I really must insist.”
“Sheriff, if I don’t get back out there, that gives Brent’s shooter more of a chance to disappear. I’m done running.”
Her statement had more meaning than the other two would ever realize.
A smart sheriff would bench her deputy. Would tell her to rest and look at this with fresh eyes. But Elizabeth’s intuition warned if she did that, she’d have a rogue deputy on her hands, and that was not good.
“At least go home, clean up, and put on a fresh uniform. Lundquist will take you there and then to the department.”
“Thank you, Ellie,” Lila whispered.
“Go.”
The two left.
Olivia shook her head. “I hope you don’t come to regret that.”
“I have a lot of regrets in my life, but listening to my gut has never steered me wrong.”