The silence has been broken by muffled conversation, and suddenly a voice comes from the other side of the door.
“Come on out, Colt. You can’t stay in there all night.” It’s Buford. “Bring me my diamond and we’ll call it quits.” He’s lying, and he knows I know it because the words are followed with a throaty laugh. Tim is looking at me and I shake my head, ‘No’. I don’t have the diamond. I can see from his expression that he realizes we have a problem. I just haven’t explained the extent of it yet.
“This is Detective Timothy Ledger of the LVPD,” he announces loudly.“I am armed and prepared to use force against violence. Put down your weapons.”
Detective,I think. No wonder he wasn’t impressed by my show of ‘respect’.His request makes me want to laugh, however. Buford would never drop his weapons.
“Detective?” Buford says, but I can tell he’s not impressed. “Now what would bring you out here...all alone?”
Yup, Buford’s not standing down. He’s clearly scoped the street. He knows Tim’s here on unofficial business. Without backup. Tim knows he knows it, too. From the other side of the door, a metallic scrape tells us someone’s just cocked a gun.
“I’m here visiting a friend,” Tim responds. “Lady used to be my partner’s wife. Lot of men on the force got some good memories about this family. And I’m sure you know how that works…Sir.” He speaks smoothly and there’s muttering from outside.
“Well, that suits me fine,” says Buford. “See, I’m just here to collect what’s rightfully mine. And since you’re an officer of the law, I’m sure you’d me happy to help.”
Tim quirks an eyebrow at me, and I shrug. What can I say? I took the damn diamond. Then I gave it to some kid. It might as well be on the moon by now.
“Tell you what, Sir,” Tim answers Buford. “If you have a valid grievance, then it’s only fair that we take this to the station. Settle this legally.” He knows Buford will never go for it. He’s playing for time.
“Hmm,” Buford replies, his voice gravelly. I get a whiff of cigar smoke. “Let me think on that a while.” As he’s talking, I can hear boots shuffling, foliage rustling. His men may be tough and fearless, but they’re not light on their feet.
Tim is glancing around the interior of Arielle’s house, and I realize he’s doing a quick survey of our surroundings. Both of us are obviously aware of the movement outside.I take a moment to get my bearings too. We’re going to need to figure out where they’re planning to make their first move.
“Okay, take your time,” Tim says at last. “I’ll be right here, taking a statement from Mr...Colt.”
The sound of receding footsteps should have me heaving a sigh of relief, but I know it’s no reprieve. They’re looking for a way in. They’re looking for our weak spot. Having just checked the place out, I can see half a dozen already. Heck, all they have to do is storm the door. We’re sitting ducks.
Tim puts his arm across my chest and presses me back away from the entrance. I’d been carefully standing to the side anyway, but that door is not bulletproof. And neither am I.
“Did you do it?” Tim whispers as silence descends again. There’s no sense in denying it. I nod. “What did you take...how much?” he presses.
I shrug. “A diamond. Eye of Isis. This time,” I say. I doubt we have time for me to give him a full inventory.
Tim releases a low whistle. “Jesus Christ,” he mutters. “And what else? The other stuff too? The stuff I asked you about.” I nod again, and he rubs his eyes, shaking his head. I don’t know if it’s amazement or weariness. Maybe a bit of both.
“Do you have it?” he finally asks.
I shake my head. “Nope. Gave it to a kid. In the park.”
He stares at me, speechless for a moment, then finally says, “What the fuck is wrong with you, man?”
I wish I had an answer for him. I even open my mouth to start trying to reply. There’s the sound of shattering glass.
Then Arielle screams.
Chapter 6
Big Bad Wolf
Arielle Nygard
Asudden impact against Austin’s window sends shards of glass flying everywhere. And without thinking, I scream. There’s a man right outside. He’s used the butt of a gun to smash the glass.
A gun!
I open my mouth to scream again, but a movement below me draws my attention. It’s Austin, looking up at me, his fingertip over his lips, just like Atticus Colt in the poster. My child is shushing me. No…he’s calming me, in his own special way. I don’t know what makes my heart clench more – the looming danger in the gaping window, or the fact that my son is connecting with me.
In that way you hear of mother’s doing with their children in the face of danger, I scoop him into my arms, rise and bolt for the door with a strength I didn’t know I had in me. It swings open and I run…straight into Sam.
