Marina del Rey, California
Thomas watched in horror as a television news helicopter whipped in, level with the penthouse. It happened so fast there was nothing anyone could do. It was as if it appeared out of nowhere. A loud crash sounded.
“Shots fired. Shots fired!” Thomas heard the shouts from multiple men over the commander’s walkie-talkie. “Talk to me. What’s happening up there?”
“There’s a struggle.”
“Does anyone have a shot?” the commander asked.
“Negative.”
“If anyone gets a clear shot, take it, dammit. Am I clear?” the commander barked.
“Crystal.”
All was quiet as they awaited news from the SWAT team. Thomas’s nerves were on edge.
“Would someone tell me what the hell is happening?” the commander finally shouted.
“The women are rolling all over the ground. Shit.”
“What?” Thomas yelled.
“They’re going to roll right out the window!” the same man said.
“Another shot fired!” someone else shouted.
“Rocko, breach that perimeter. Now!”
“Ten-four.”
Ronnie crawled off Shadowhawk and sat back on her knees. “Jesus, look what you made me do.” Ronnie placed her hands on Shadowhawk’s stomach. “Dammit, don’t you die on me.”
That’s when Shadowhawk realized it was her blood on her hand. She’d been shot. Funny, but the cuts in her back hurt worse. Ronnie was screaming and yelling at her, but she couldn’t understand a damn thing she was saying. She’d grabbed some fabric from somewhere and was pressing it on her, but the blood wouldn’t stop.
Before she died, there was something Shadowhawk needed to know. “Why–”
“I didn’t mean to shoot you,” Ronnie interrupted her.
Shadowhawk rolled her head from side to side slowly. “Why kill the Schiffs?”
Ronnie’s eyes widened. “That old couple?”
Already weak, Shadowhawk dipped her chin once for a nod.
“I couldn’t get your attention any other way. I thought if I made it a game, you’d appreciate my cunning and intelligence.”
“By…” She was so cold. “Killing innocent people?”
“Oh, please, they were already on death’s doorstep. I just gave them a little nudge.”
There was so much Shadowhawk wanted to say, but the words wouldn’t come.
“You’re not mad, are–” Without warning, Ronnie’s head exploded and a pink mist covered Shadowhawk’s face. That was the last image she saw before her eyelids became too heavy to hold up. Through the fog she heard, “Go, go, go,” then the sound of stampeding elephants.
Shadowhawk awoke to the sound of a rhythmic beeping. Thomas slept in a chair across the room. She had a giant clip attached to her index finger, wires coming from her chest over the top of a hospital gown, and an IV needle embedded in her hand. The room was filled with more flowers than a funeral.
“Hey.” Her voice cracked. She cleared her throat and tried again. “Thomas.”
Her partner’s eyes opened and he smiled. “Welcome back.” He came over to the bed.
Her mouth was drier than the Sahara. “Water?”
“Be right back.” Thomas ran out of the room. She closed her eyes while she awaited his return. Before long she felt a touch on her arm and found him standing over her with a cup. “I’m just going to bring your bed up so you don’t choke.”
The bed whirred while she rose to a sitting position. “Is that okay? It doesn’t hurt, does it?” She shook her head. He brought a spoon up toward her mouth. “They gave me ice chips with strict instructions to give you only one spoonful.”
Shadowhawk dissolved the ice in her mouth and swallowed. The relief was instant. “How long was I out?”
He glanced at his watch. “Not counting the surgery, just over twelve hours. I was worried, but the doctor said after what you’d been through, you needed it.”
“I thought I was a goner, being gut shot and all,” she replied.
“It was a clean shot, through and through, missing all vital organs. You lost a lot of blood. If you had lain there much longer, you would have bled out. The doctor said you should make a full recovery.”
“And Ronnie?”
“She’s quite dead.”
“Good. That sick fuck told me she killed the Schiffs out of sport. She actually thought I’d admire her for it.”
“That explains the hairs and prints she left. That was pretty sloppy. Whether subconscious or not, she wanted you to know it was her. Thanks to you, we have her full confession on tape.”
“Is it enough to get Robert Kent for accessory to murder?”
“I think it’s enough to get a search warrant for his home and cars. We know the actual vehicle used was stolen. I got an email while you were asleep. Forensics has gone over it, but it was clean.
“So if we can’t find any evidence tying him to the crime, we won’t be able to charge him. She didn’t specifically say he helped her with the robbery and murder, only that he had been her partner in crime for years. His lawyer will argue it’s just a saying,” Thomas said.
“But we still have him on the other charges, right?”
“Yes, but I wouldn’t count on him doing any time with the lawyer he has.”
“Son of a bitch.” That really pissed her off. “I hate it when criminals walk.”
“The good news here is that Ronnie Tallman won’t be bothering you or anyone else anymore.”
“Ding dong, the bitch is dead.”
He smiled. “Oh, and Meagan was here most of the night, but she had an early class this morning. She’ll be back later.”
“She doesn’t have to do that, I’m sure she’s got better things to do with her time.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. If she didn’t have to take a test, she would have blown off the class entirely.”
“Where the hell did all these flowers come from?”
His brows knit. “You’re well loved, didn’t you know that?”
She had nothing to say to that.
“This hospital is filled with law enforcement, and not just from Orange County. Every man and woman at the scene showed up.”
“Seriously?” Her eyes filled with tears.
“Seriously.” He stroked her head. “Your entire family is here as well. There has to be at least thirty in all because everyone brought their kids. I had no idea you had such an extensive family.”
“Yeah.” She wiped her wet cheeks. “We’re pretty dysfunctional, but when one of us is in trouble we rally around.”
“Which reminds me, your mother made me promise to get her the moment you woke up.” He put his hand on her arm. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Thanks. By the way, you were right.”
He made a face. “About what?”
“You said my drinking would get me into trouble one day. If I hadn’t gotten so drunk that I blacked out, this never would have happened.”
“I don’t know about that. Ronnie Tallman was obsessed with you from the moment she laid eyes on you.”
“Yeah, but if I hadn’t been under the influence, I might have seen how batshit crazy she was and nipped it in the bud.”
“Maybe. I guess we’ll never know.”
“Guess not. Anyway, I’m sticking strictly to beer from now on. No more tequila chasers.”
“Wise choice. Oh, before I leave I have to warn you, Maria’s here.”
“No, shit?”
“Yeah, someone contacted her about you being shot. Do you want me to send her away?”
Shadowhawk stared at her partner as a whirlwind of emotions flooded her. Was she here because she still loved her, or as a concerned friend? Would Shadowhawk take her back if she asked? Or should she protect her heart. She glanced up at Thomas as she waffled. “Send her away.”