The knot in her stomach loosened. “I will.”
“Thank you. Now, let’s see. Did you ever hear about the time Brandon tried to arrest a raccoon?”
“No, I don’t think I’ve heard that one.” She appreciated him attempting to distract her.
Thirty minutes later, Jennie disconnected the call and placed her phone on the nightstand. David’s voice had eased her panic, but now that he wasn’t in her ear, the sense of dread fell over her like a cloak. The sensation of being watched returned. Her throat tightened and her pulse raced. She gulped for air.
Clutching her blanket to her chin, she visually searched the room.
Nothing out of place. She had to get a grip. But what had triggered her panic?
Chapter 10
Tuesday 1:00 p.m.
The odd pizza delivery yesterday and Jennie’s anxiety last night had him mulling over reasons for both. As hard as he tried, nothing seemed to take hold as an answer. A slap on the back from his partner shifted David’s thoughts to the task at hand—serving a warrant to the creep who targeted Zoey.
He focused on the sidewalk edging the street. A couple ambled toward them laughing as their dog pranced around, getting tangled in its leash.
He clicked the mic on his shoulder. “Hanes. Take care of our visitors down the street.”
“Ten-four, detective.”
The search warrant came last night, and he and Brandon spent the morning strategizing and bringing the team up to date on thelatest intel. With everyone in place, the last thing they needed was unwanted civilians in danger.
The weight of his Kevlar vest trapped the heat of the hot July sun. Sweat trickled down his back and dotted his forehead. He patted his tactical pants confirming his extra clip was in place.
He nudged his partner. “Ready?”
Brandon scanned the area and turned to face him. A look of boredom crossed his partner’s face. “Yup. Let’s go get the bad guy.”
David pursed his lips to hide a smile. Leave it to Brandon to be relaxed about walking into a dangerous situation. He wished he had the same ability to compartmentalize, but past experience had taken that away.
Taking a deep breath, he released it through parted lips. His heartrate lowered. His hands grew steady. He was ready to take down the guy who’d brought fear into Zoey’s life.
He engaged his mic. “Okay, boys and girls, stay alert.” He nodded to the man with the battering ram to take his place at the bottom of the porch steps.
He and Brandon slipped in position on either side of the front door. He rolled his neck then pounded on the wooden frame. “Police! Search warrant! Open up!”
Silence met his command. No scuffling. Nothing. He narrowed a questioning gaze at Brandon.
His partner shrugged.
“Eddie Winters! Open up!”
Still nothing.
“All right, take it down.”
Five seconds later, the door hung at an awkward angle and his team swarmed inside. Shouts of “Search warrant” echoed throughout the house.
“Whitman! I got a body.”
The light smell of decomp met his nose. He wound his way to the back of the house and stepped into the kitchen.
Officer Carlson crouched just beyond the pool of blood under the lifeless form of Eddie Winters.
“Not how I wanted this to go down,” he muttered.
