Like Kendrick, Isaiah was a former LAPD officer. They’d both handled their share of roadside assistance requests when on the Force.
That was the part the TV shows rarely showed. Being a cop wasn’t all chases and shootouts. In fact, it was rarely those things. Thankfully. Many officers never had to draw their guns in the line of duty.
Sometimes, it was helping change a tire. Or pushing a stalled car out of the roadway so it didn’t impede traffic and create an unsafe situation for commuters.
Kendrick had every reason to suspect this was one of those calls—only taken by the Guard instead of police dispatch. The fact that two tires were flat would prove a little more challenging. But they could easily take care of it. Probably just call a wrecker, get it to a shop, and get new tires put on. Hopefully the wheels were in okay shape and the rims hadn’t been bent.
But upon arriving to the scene—at the intersection of Crescent Heights and Sawyer—Kendrick found an unpleasant surprise waiting for them.
Zach Snodgrass.
The name sounded ordinary. But Zach had a rap sheet a mile long.
His specialty included posing as a casting agent to prey upon young women. Kendrick knew because he’d busted him for that very thing multiple times.
Technically, it wasn’t illegal to lie and say you were a casting agent. It was, however, illegal to coerce women into taking “headshots”—often nude—and then blackmailing them with said photos.
And it was highly illegal to hold them against their will; trapping them inside your house, and telling them they couldn’t leave until they posed for some pics.
That was called kidnapping.
Kendrick didn’t know why the asshole was out of jail. But as he saw the slimy man pretending to help the stranded motorist, his blood began to simmer.
As he pulled the Guard’s van against the curb, from the front passenger seat, Isaiah said, “Is that…” His words trailed off as if he couldn’t quite believe it.
“Snodgrass?”
“Yeah.”
“Sure is,” Kendrick confirmed. He shook his head. “Damn. What are the odds?”
Isaiah chuckled. “Oh, he’s going to love seeing us.”
Something felt familiar to Kendrick as he stepped out of the vehicle. Almost like he was back on the force. He’d nearly reached down to unfasten the strap that held his Glock pistol securely in its holster.
Only he didn’t have a holster. Nor a gun.
He didn’t need one against Zach Snodgrass. The guy was as tiny as he was slimy. Of course, even little guys could still pose a threat. Guns and knives were the great equalizers. But Kendrick knew he and Isaiah could handle it.
What mattered was keeping the Little safe.
His mind raced as he tried to recall her name.
Lucy.
Walking toward her and Zach, he could hear the conversation now as Zach spoke excitedly.
“You’ve really never been in a movie? I could have sworn I’ve seen you in something.”
The young woman giggled. “Never.”
“Not even a TV show?” Zach studied her and snapped is fingers two times. “The Rookie! You did an episode ofThe Rookie. Or was itHigh Potential? It was one of the cop shows over at ABC.”
Lucy laughed again, this time a little longer and louder. “I haven’t been in anything.”
“That’s crazy. I could have sworn I’ve seen you.” The sleazebag stepped closer. “You just have that look. You know? Like a star. Are you interested? I’m a casting director. The studios hit me up all the time.”
Kendrick rolled his eyes. Zach was still trying the same old lines. He just prayed they hadn’t worked on any women since whenever it was Zach got released from prison. The thought of there being more victims of this monster made Kendrick’s blood go from simmering to boiling.
