I strategically positioned the Malibu along the curb to face the shelter’s front door and parking lot. They were both in plain sight, and there was only one way in and out of the dead-end street. If Tammy showed up and we made a positive ID, we’d have a patrol unit there within seconds to block the exit.
I made another call to the shelter, and the voice that answered sounded like the woman I’d spoken to several hours earlier.
“Hello, this is Detective McCord. Are you the woman I spoke to this morning?”
“Yes, sir. It’s me, Rebecca.”
“Great. Have you heard anything from Coby’s owner yet?”
“I haven’t.”
“Okay. My partner and I are right outside, and we’ll be watching the entrance for her to show up. I’m not saying she will, so don’t worry about anything, but we’re here just in case.”
“Thank you, Detective McCord, and if she calls, I’ll let you know.”
I hung up, and it was a waiting game. We’d position ourselves in wait-and-see mode and hope for the best.
“You really think they’ll show?”
“Not sure, buddy, but as a dog owner myself, and from almost losing Bandit during that nightmare-from-hell camping trip, I know I’d never abandon my pet.”
“Yeah, guess you have to live it and love it to know how much a pet pulls on your heartstrings.”
“Exactly, so we may as well settle in for the long haul. We might be sitting here all day.”
Hours passed, and Frank and I hadn’t seen Tammy, Marie, or the car belonging to Brian Reynolds. I rearranged myself on the seat a dozen times and wished we were sitting in my roomy and comfortable truck instead. With forty pounds on me, and several inches taller, Frank was probably even more miserable.
“I need to stretch my legs before they cramp up. This is worse than being on an international flight in the middle seat in coach.”
I laughed. “Really? Wanna tell me when you’ve had that experience?”
Frank grumbled. “Okay, let me clarify that. I imagine it’s worse than being in the middle seat in coach on an international flight with people’s elbows pressed against my sides.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right, and with your knees jammed up to the dash like that, it can’t be comfortable. Go ahead and get out. Walk it off for a while but just stay behind the car so you aren’t noticed if Tammy pulls into the parking lot.”
“Okay, good idea.” Frank grunted, climbed out on the passenger side, and rubbed his knees before closing the door.
I watched through the rearview mirror as he walked to the back of the car. Seconds later, my phone rang, yet I didn’t recognize the number on the screen.
“McCord here.”
“Detective McCord, it’s Rebecca inside the shelter. Tammy Lincoln just walked in through the rear door of the building. She wants us to get Coby for her right away!”
“Damn it! Do whatever you can to stall her. We’ll be right in.” I tossed my phone in the cup holder and yelled out to Frank. “Get inside the building! Tammy just sneaked in through the rear door where the employees enter. I’m going to drive back there, block their exit, and call for patrol units.”
“On it.”
I twisted the key in the ignition and shifted into Drive. Through my side window, I saw Frank run to the main entrance. After pressing the gas pedal to the floor, I cranked the steering wheel, turned into the parking lot, and called for backup as I slowed down and searched for an idling Encore.
Where the hell is that car?
My head was on a swivel as I looked down the short alley behind the building. Marie had to be waiting outside, but where? I lowered my window and listened, then suddenly I saw a blue minivan speed away from the rear of the building. As it passed, I caught a glimpse of the driver—Marie was behind the wheel.
“Shit!” I gunned the Malibu and took off after the vehicle. I needed to update the patrol units that were en route since up to that point, they only knew to look for a silver Encore. After getting through to Dispatch, I said I was in pursuit of a blue minivan that had just turned left on the street that exited the animal shelter. I also told them what I was driving.
A block ahead, Marie gunned the van through the next intersection just as the light turned red. Her brazen move caused brakes to lock up and tires to squeal. Motorists swerved to get out of her way. I was stuck in the middle of the mess without a siren or a police radio, and as I held down my horn, I weaved around the crowd of cars. Once I made it through, I caught sight of the van as it turned right at the next set of lights. Powering on, I caught up and was thankful that the Malibu had more horsepower than the minivan. I needed to stop her and fast. Marie’s reckless behavior could cause an accident involving innocent drivers. A pit maneuver was the best way to put an end to the chase, especially since she was getting dangerously close to a freeway ramp. I had to disable her vehicle before she reached it.
I pressed the gas pedal deeper against the floorboard, and the car charged ahead. After lining up the front right side of my car to the back left quarter panel of the van, I jerked the steering wheel to the right and hit the vehicle. Instantly, I backed off so I wouldn’t get tangled up in the van skidding sideways down the street. Marie sideswiped a street sign, flew over the median, and took off in the opposite direction.
“Damn it!”
The Malibu caught air, and my head bounced off the headliner as I jumped the curb. I needed to get around her, but she wasn’t having it. Marie weaved from left to right and blocked every attempt I made. In a split second, the van came to an abrupt stop in the middle of the street. I slammed on my brakes but couldn’t stop in time. I smashed into the van and launched it into a light pole. The Malibu’s exploding airbag nearly knocked me senseless, but I quickly regained focus. I couldn’t believe the sounds I was hearing only seconds later—the all-too-familiar crack of gunshots. When my windshield exploded inward and safety glass rained all over me, I knew she was armed and approaching my vehicle.
“Shit!” I tried to reach my gun, but the seat belt and airbag slowed my efforts. I peeked out the driver’s-side window and saw her with a shotgun butted against her shoulder only thirty feet from my car. I crouched even lower and fought to get my service weapon out of the holster. Marie was closing in just feet away when I heard yelling and more gunfire. In seconds, everything went quiet, then the welcome voices of officers called out my name. I sat up and looked out. Marie was lying on the street with the shotgun at her side. Officer Lewis ran to my aid, and Fields checked Marie’s condition and then secured the weapon.
“Detective McCord, are you okay?”
“I am now. Damn it, I owe you guys my life.” I took in a deep breath as Lewis helped me out of the car.
“She’s down.” Fields pushed off his knee and stood. “Those were the final shots she’ll ever take.”
I looked at Marie, lying on the street and obviously dead. “We need to close off this area to traffic and get an ambulance out here right away.”
“Copy that, sir.”
I reached in the car and felt for my phone. Luckily, it was still in the cup holder. I tapped Frank’s name in my contact list and sucked in a calming breath. “Hey, partner. Tell me you have Tammy in custody.”
“Does having her hands cuffed behind her back count?”
“Hell yeah.” I groaned out what had just happened. “Marie tried to flee, and I was in close pursuit until I crashed into the back of her vehicle. I was taking on gunfire and unable to get to my weapon, but thank God the patrol units arrived just in time and took her out before she shot me dead.”
“Damn it, Jesse. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, but the Malibu has seen better days. I don’t have wheels, and you don’t either. I’m only about three miles west of the shelter. Get someone on the horn and have a unit head your way. They need to pick up you and Tammy so you can get her secured in a cell. I’ll take care of getting a ride back to the station later. For now, I’ll stay here until the scene is under control.”
“Copy that, and I’ll let Lutz know what’s going on.”
I pocketed my phone and waited for support to arrive as the patrol units blocked off the street with their cars.