Lutz, Frank, Gaines, and Phelps rushed through the front door when they heard that the scene was under control.
“Where are they?” Lutz asked.
Dan rounded the corner from the kitchen and met up with them in the living room. His team, still in the bedroom, kept Josh under wraps.
“They’re here in the kitchen, guys. Jesse and Hanna are banged up and badly dehydrated, but they’re alive and will be okay after a few days of hospital care.”
Dan had already removed the tape from their mouths, freed their hands, and given them both water.
The commander and his detectives entered the kitchen, where Jesse and Hanna, badly beaten and looking exhausted, sat on the floor against the cabinets. Jesse comforted Hanna as she cried against his shoulder.
Jesse looked up. “You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
Lutz knelt at their sides. “We’ve got ambulances on their way.” He jerked his head at Phelps. “Call the emergency dispatch and tell them the scene is clear. They can pull the ambulances up to the house.”
“Yep, on it.”
Jesse winced as he tried to stand. “I think my ribs are broken.”
“Let me help you, buddy,” Frank said. “Put your arm over my shoulder and lean on me.”
Gaines and Phelps helped Hanna to her feet.
“Where’s Josh?” Jesse asked.
Dan spoke up. “Being restrained in the master bedroom. He took a bullet to the shoulder, and there’s a good chance his eardrums have popped. Might have a hard time seeing right now, but he’ll recover.”
“That’s too bad. I need a word with that son of a bitch.”
Lutz shook his head. “Let it go, Jesse. He’s done enough harm to both of you. You don’t need to see his face or hear his trash talk again.”
“No way. I deserve this. That son of a bitch is going to know that justice wins in the end and being a lowlife scum like him is a surefire way to spend the rest of his life in prison.”
Lutz nodded to Dan, who disappeared down the hall. After the sounds of scuffling and cursing, Jesse saw Josh being dragged into the living room. With Frank’s help, Jesse approached his nemesis.
“Hey, asshole. Remember a few days ago when you said you were smarter than law enforcement? How’d that work out for you?” Jesse pressed his hand against Josh’s gunshot wound. “Hurts like hell, doesn’t it? Listen, and listen good, you piece of shit. You didn’t kill me twelve years ago, and you didn’t kill me now. I recall you saying that I was hard to kill, and then you laughed and said, ‘Practice makes perfect.’ Well, you failed again because you’re nothing but a criminal who deserves to be in prison for the rest of your miserable life, and I’ll make damn sure that’s where you stay.”
The sound of sirens got closer.
Jesse leaned in against Josh’s ear. “You can be sure I’ll enjoy testifying at your trial again, but you? You can enjoy being locked up until the day you take your last breath.” When the EMTs entered, Jesse jerked his head toward the front door. “Get this piece of trash out of my sight.”