FIFTEEN

Karenna held her breath but kept the binoculars glued to her eyes.

“The shooter has been apprehended, Miss Pressley. We can move you safely to my vehicle now.”

“Just one more minute, please.” Karenna looked up at Officer Vivienne Armstrong who rested against the bark of a tree.

After Ray had run down the hill, Vivienne had listened to the radio and updated the surrounding officers on their position. Sarge had decided it was safer for them to stay put within the safety of the hill and trees until the shooter had been apprehended. Thankfully, despite Vivienne’s halfhearted objections, she’d agreed to let Karenna use the binoculars to watch Ray go after Marcus.

Karenna hadn’t been able to see what had happened in the middle of the trees and bushes to the north, but her heart finally started beating again when Ray emerged with Abby at his side and the rifle returned to his back. They were alive. And not only that, they were smiling.

The radio burst again with a gruff voice announcing, “K-9 Unit, suspect apprehended.”

“That’s what I like to hear.” Vivienne patted her side leg and her border collie instantly sat up, alert.

“They’re referring to Marcus, right?”

She nodded. “They got him. Come to think of it, I’d like to walk down this side of the hill instead and take the long way back to our vehicle. Hank and I haven’t had enough steps for the day yet. As a search-and-rescue dog, he needs lots of varying topography to stay at the top of his game.” Vivienne’s eyes twinkled with her smile.

Karenna scrambled to standing, understanding the route choice would be her chance to see Ray right away. “Thank you.”

The terrain proved harder to go down than it was going up, as they zigzagged through the weeds and bushes, forging their own path to the closed-off road. Karenna had to keep her focus on her footing when she really wanted to be monitoring Ray’s progress.

The moment she reached flat ground, she looked up to find Ray already in front of her, beaming. He glanced at Vivienne. “Thank you.”

The dogs, Hank and Abby, examined each other but didn’t move away from their partners. They both displayed an exaggerated nod with a loud sniff. Karenna liked to think they were acknowledging and congratulating each other on a job well done, but she didn’t voice her thoughts aloud.

“See you back at the station,” Vivienne said and continued on toward the path that would weave around the hill and back to the playground, presumably to remove the signs she’d placed to keep park-goers away.

Karenna’s attention shifted to Ray. He appeared uninjured. Aside from some leaves in his hair, he looked wonderful. In fact, his cute dimple had returned.

“Your, uh...” He lifted the cap off her head. “I think we better get this wig off you.” He helped her remove the bobby pins and the fake bundle of hair. She understood why instantly. The braid was so full of twigs and weeds, she was probably at risk of poison ivy exposure.

“Apologize to your sister for me for ruining her wig.”

He laughed. “Are you kidding? She’s going to insist it’s proof the NYPD needs her services. She’ll be crowing about keeping you safe for weeks. I won’t hear the end of it.” He placed the wig and his rifle in the back of his SUV before turning back to face her.

She hesitated and finally, awkwardly, reached up to give him a hug, the binoculars around her neck bouncing against his gear. “Thank you,” she whispered.

They parted and she bent over to pet Abby. Her fur was soft but also needed a good grooming to get rid of the weeds she’d collected from the woods. “I hope you like baths.”

The dog instantly sat, rolled over and presented her belly. Karenna laughed and obliged with a belly rub.

“Hey, she never does that for anyone but me.”

“You told me once before I’m not just anyone,” she answered softly.

Ray offered his hand and Karenna accepted, the warmth rushing up her arms as he gently helped her return to stand in front of him. “That I did,” he said.

His phone buzzed. He frowned and picked it up. She didn’t mean to snoop but she could see the text from her vantage point.

“That’s a first.” He blinked rapidly. “I’m... I’m sorry. I need to go. You can either wait at the station or I can see if another officer is available to take you to the safe location—it’s a hotel.”

Her bones suddenly felt heavy. “I still need to be under protection?”

He moved to open the door for Abby, frowning. She jumped right inside and went straight for her water bowl. “Just until we confirm Marcus was the one who tainted the drugs and shot up your apartment. There’s plenty of evidence, so if it’s him, we’ll find out.”

“Yes, but—”

He closed the door. “I’m sorry, Karenna. It’s not what I want, either. Given the threat he made through his clients, we need to make sure you aren’t walking into an ambush. I’m trying to follow the wisest path instead of full-steam ahead.”

As much as she wanted to argue, she couldn’t. He really had changed. She could see it in his entire demeanor, like the weight on his shoulders had vanished. “I understand. But, given the shooting incident, these officers have enough to deal with right now. I don’t mind waiting awhile at the station. I’d like to stay with you.”

His eyebrows rose and he opened his mouth to say something before closing it and nodding with finality.

“Were you going to say something?”

He grimaced. “Not the right time.”

She practically stomped to her side of the vehicle. Just this morning she’d prayed for clear wisdom about a possible relationship with Ray. She’d wanted to pour out her feelings just now. If she made the first move when Ray had been the one who had broken up with her, wouldn’t she always question if she loved him more than he loved her?

He opened the door for her. She took a seat and forced a smile on her face. She was so thankful Marcus Willington had been caught. That should be enough. But she wanted an answer about Ray.

Wait wasn’t the response she’d prepared to get from the Lord. Wasn’t five years long enough to wait for a clear yes or no? But, if she wanted the Lord’s help, she needed to be prepared for the answer to be no. She’d have to say goodbye to Ray. Again.


The station was bustling with activity when he arrived. Gavin was still in full gear, his K-9, Tommy, by his side, having obviously arrived mere minutes before him. He was standing in the doorway of his office in heated discussion with Eden and another tech Ray didn’t recognize.

Henry slapped him on the back. “Sounds like you did good. No more Lone Ranger, eh?”

Ray bit back a snarky retort and instead nodded. “You’re looking at a team player.”

“Glad to hear it,” Gavin said, having approached from behind. “You’ve always been a good cop. About time you became a great one. Meeting room in five.”

After making sure Karenna was settled, waiting in the office cubicle he often used, he filled his cup of coffee. The team gradually returned, looking a bit ragged. But before Ray could hear each of their individual tales of the sting, Gavin sauntered in.

“Everyone okay and accounted for?”

Thumbs-up from all around, even from Noelle who, despite looking shaken, seemed eager to hear whatever Gavin had called them back for.

Gavin was the only one who didn’t take a seat. “Big day. Successful day.” He placed his hands on the back of his chair. “I’ve called this meeting because we’ve had news from the geneticist we’ve contracted.”

Ray leaned forward. In fact, the whole team seemed to be holding their breath.

“The DNA collected at the McGregor crime scene twenty years ago was degraded—”

Groans from half the team cut Gavin off. He held up his hands and continued. “But we had been prepared for that. The geneticist was able to work past that and found a match on CODIS.”

Detective Bradley McGregor leaned forward. “You found him?” His eagerness was understandable. The DNA was from whoever had likely murdered his parents.

Gavin watched him with concern. “No, but we found his family tree. Once we had a match, there was a warrant made to the corresponding DNA sequencing firm.” He grinned. “We’ve found the closest relative and...”

“Gavin, you’re killing us with suspense,” Nate protested.

Their sergeant beamed. “The relative lives in Brooklyn. We’ve officially got a solid lead.”

The whoops, hollers and claps echoed off the wall. You would’ve thought the New York Giants had won the Super Bowl. Gavin didn’t lose his smile but raised his hands for the team to quiet.

“The relative has an apartment in Dumbo.” He used the Brooklyn neighborhood nickname for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. “There’s just one small fly in the ointment. He’s currently undercover.”

“He’s a cop?” Bradley asked, his forehead in a frown.

“U.S. Deputy Marshal in fact,” Eden interjected. She glanced at Gavin and realized she was stealing his thunder, so took a step back.

“Yes. His name is Emmett Gage, and he is a deputy marshal. Belle, I’m assigning you to interview Deputy Gage as soon as it’s feasible given his undercover status. The Marshal’s office said they’ll have him contact you as soon as possible.”

Belle seemed to sit taller, a smile on her face. “Yes, sir.”

“Given the events of the day,” Gavin continued, “Penny will be calling Sal’s Pizza to give them fair warning that I’m treating the team to a late dinner. Dismissed!”

The group stood, the morale the highest Ray had seen in a while.

“Ray, a word,” Gavin said, a finger up in the air.

Bradley also seemed to hang back.

“I don’t want to get Penny’s hopes up,” Bradley was saying. “We found the family tree. It doesn’t mean we’ll find the murderer.”

Gavin placed a hand on his shoulder. “You’re right, but we need to celebrate the little victories, Bradley. Cling to hope. It’s what keeps us going on long days.”

Such a strong lead to the McGregors’ killer might also answer questions about last month’s double homicide of Lucy Emery’s parents. Perhaps the Brooklyn K-9 Unit would know once and for all if they were dealing with the same killer or a copycat.

The moment Bradley exited the room, Gavin took out his phone. “The protection order is lifted. The 68th Precinct took his fingerprints and finally got this Marcus guy’s real name—Brice Angelo. He’s a chemist fired by a pharmaceutical corporation for some illegal dealings in Florida. Gave the silent treatment until he heard we knew about the app and had a positive identification, the police shirt and gun you found in the Dumpster after the shooting. With so much evidence against him, he confessed to everything. Now that his drugs are off the market, no one will be looking for Karenna.”

“That’s great news.”

Gavin nodded. “Take the rest of the day off, Ray. That’s an order. And tomorrow, while you’re at it.”

Ray had never been so happy to follow orders. He rushed straight to the locker room to change into a pair of jeans and a shirt he kept there just in case. He had one last thing to do before he could relax.


Karenna fingered the family photo of Ray with his mom and sister with a smile. If she was going to have to say goodbye, at least she felt like she would have closure this time, even though the thought made her throat tighten with held-back tears.

Ray appeared at the cubicle in a navy polo and jeans. Once again, he looked like a million bucks while her hair, despite the thorough finger-styling, probably resembled tumbleweed.

He smiled. “Ready?”

They walked shoulder to shoulder next door to the training center and picked up Abby. On their way back to the SUV, he stopped at the bench underneath one of the trees. “I didn’t want to tell you in front of everyone else, but the threat is over.”

She gasped, her heart lifting. “What are you saying? Completely?”

“It’s done.” His smile took her breath away, and the tears she’d fought back for days finally won. He reached for her and pulled her close.

Karenna stepped back, wiping the moisture away from her eyes. “I’m just so happy.” She exhaled. “But why did you wait to tell me?”

His smile vanished. “I need to tell you something and I wanted you to know without a doubt that it has nothing to do with duty or dedication to my job. I’m off work now.” His hands dropped from her shoulders down to her elbows and his eyes searched hers. “More than ever, I’ve seen how much growing up I had to do to appreciate you. You don’t owe me anything, but I can’t say goodbye without telling you...” He pulled in a breath and looked at the trees. “Karenna, I love you and if there’s any chance—”

“Ray,” she said. His eyes met hers again. “You don’t need to convince me to give a statement. I’ll happily offer my confession. I love you, too.”

He dropped his hands to her waist and pulled her closer until their lips were only inches apart. “You really have kept watching those true crime shows, haven’t you? You’re speaking the lingo now?”

“Ten-four,” she whispered. He closed his eyes and gently pressed his lips on hers.