The way Noah watched the parking lot, sweeping his gaze over the area, made Maddy nervous.

Surely he didn’t think they’d be ambushed here? No, it was more likely that he was just being a cop.

The minutes ticked by with excruciating slowness, but then a large black K-9 SUV pulled into the parking lot, the twin headlights bright amid the dusky shadows.

Maddy headed for the door. Noah moved lightning-fast, grasping her arm, halting her progress.

“Hold on a minute, Maddy.” He pushed her behind him. “I’m going first, just in case.”

She didn’t want Noah in harm’s way, but he was wearing the vest that had saved his life once before. She grasped the back of his utility belt, determined to follow close on his heels.

Outside, her gaze centered on the black SUV she could see parked in a spot that was facing the bowling alley. The driver-side door opened and a man climbed out. Her brother turned and the moment she saw his face, the missing puzzle pieces clicked into place.

She let go of Noah and rushed around him in a hurry to reach her brother.

“Get down!” Noah shouted just before the boom of a gun echoed through the parking lot.