Chapter Five
Gage
Some nights last forever. Like tonight. I’m dog tired, and there’s nothing going on in the city of Ames, Iowa. Hell, no one is even speeding. I guess that’s due to the fact that it’s the middle of the week and it’s after three in the morning. No matter, it’s my job to patrol whatever part of town they assign me.
Deciding to pull into a convenience store to grab another cup of coffee, I park the car near the front entrance, unbuckle my belt, and am about to step out of my cruiser when my personal cell phone rings. Reaching over, I pick it up from the passenger seat. I don’t recognize the caller. Hitting the green dot, I say, “Golden.”
“Um,” a soft voice says, “Officer Golden?” I can barely hear her, she’s whispering so softly.
“Yes. This is Officer Golden.”
“Um… it’s Daisy. Daisy Buchanan from—”
“What is it, Daisy? Are you okay?”
“S-Someone’s inside Kara’s apartment.”
I buckle my belt and start my cruiser. “They’re trying to break into her place?”
“Yeah. Well, I think so.”
“Okay. Make sure your door’s locked. I’m three minutes away.”
“Thank you.”
I hang up and call it in. “10-66. 1320 Coconino Road, number 2-1-3. Backup needed.”
I wait for a response from dispatch. “10-4. 10-66. 1320 Coconino Road, number 2-1-3. Officer requests backup.”
I listen for a beat more until she says, “ETA five minutes.”
I flip on my cherries but leave the sirens off. I’d prefer whoever’s trying to break into Kara Becker’s place to not hear me coming. As soon as I get within sight of the complex, I turn off the flashing lights before I pull in.
I know I should wait for backup, but if I don’t get up there, the suspect could be gone. I jump out of my car and head toward the entrance. Pulling my weapon from my holster, I open the door and press my back to the wall next to it. Peeking inside, I see no one. I do the same both entering and exiting the stairwell. As quietly as possible, I make my way down the hallway toward number 213. When I get close enough, I notice the police tape has been pulled down and her door is ajar. “Gotcha,” I mutter to myself.
At Kara’s door, I lean back against the wall and listen. I hear someone inside. How could I miss it? They’re so loud with what sounds like doors opening and closing and drawers slamming shut. Whoever’s inside isn’t worried about getting caught.
Just then, I catch movement to my left. Glancing that way, I see my backup has arrived. Officer Finch is back—hurray—and he’s not alone. He’s with his training partner, Sergeant Jane Montgomery. At least one of them knows what they’re doing.
With a wave, they both turn and place their backs against the wall. Using my fingers, I count to three. On three, I move quickly, kicking the door open and entering Kara’s apartment with my gun drawn. When I see our perp, I recognize him immediately. Dylan Forrester.
“Stop. Police,” I shout. When he turns, I yell, “Put your hands above your head.”
But the idiot just stands there like a deer in headlights.
“Now,” I say in my most commanding voice. When the guy finally does it, I sigh in relief but only for myself. “Don’t move. Keep your hands above your head.”
That’s when the rookie swoops in, grabs one of Forrester’s hands, and brings it behind his back to cuff him.
“Are you aware that this is a crime scene?” I ask with gritted teeth.
He nods. “I n-needed something.”
“What? What did you need?” This kind of shit makes me crazy. Respect the police tape, asshole.
He shakes his head. “Nothin’.”
I’m not going to bother asking him anything else right now, so I read him his Miranda rights and watch as Finch and Montgomery take him to the stairs to their car. Then they’ll take the guy down to the station for questioning. I’ll need to follow them down there soon so I can ask him some questions of my own. Namely what was Tayler Sorenson’s ex-boyfriend doing in Kara Becker’s apartment?
