A smoky trail circled his head. "Krystal, I can't. Please, baby, you must understand, if it was my choice, I’d have you by my side in the OR." He took another drag of his cigarette. "Baby, Dufour's kid has a hot appendix. I'm waiting on the labs. He asked for me. Maybe he'll throw me a bone if everything turns out well." The tip of the cigarette flamed orange. "I'll try to hurry. Go to sleep, I’ll be home late. We can do something when I wake up. We’ll spend the whole day together." The finished butt crushed under the weight of his foot. "Mmm, I like that idea. Fast as I can. Keep the bed warm."
When he looked up, an angry Martin was standing in front of him.
"Can I help you, buddy?"
"I'm not your buddy. My brother is that guy shot to smithereens."
"Whoa. No offense meant. That was my girlfriend. She’s mad and needy—hates when my work interferes with her life. Gets jealous. Look he's alive, and his surgeon, she's smart. A real looker too. Mmm-mmm. Don't need a cat fight. Can you understand my position? Man to man." Knox gave him a lecherous smile.
Martin observed him from head to toe. Right away, he knew he was lying. The Elizabeth he remembered would never date a man like him. Ah, hell, she married Lewis James.
Asecond Chase jet landed in Silverton. The head of the DC branch, Tate, carried a duffle over one shoulder leading Bravo team, a level-three protection team, Chase Medical’s chief operations executive, and some of the original founders of Chase Security. The remaining founders were en route from all over the country.
Tighe "Tiger" Cummings, Bravo team’s co-leader, an investigative specialist and charged as the lead on Austin's shooting, assessed the dedicated platoon of men and women. Bravo team’s co-leader Troy "Greece" Bremen stood beside him.
"There are two priorities. First is to find out what the Baileys need. Ford will keep an eye on Martin. The rest of the family must be secure from gawkers and press. Not that I want to, but we need to design a potential funeral plan as well. Next, we need to figure out what happened here. All to be accomplished while making nice with the locals."
Tate stepped forward. "Folks, even though this is a small town, media will be relentless. Remain professional as always. Refer anyone to me at my secondary number. I'll deal with all requests for information until Mike arrives. Thank you all." The sound of closing car doors confirmed the orders were received and being followed.
The location of the shooting was a long irrigation ditch running beside a two-lane road. Silverton Police had blocked the road in both directions. Tighe headed toward two men standing just inside the east barricade with his badge in his left hand and his right hand extended. "Tighe Cummings, Homeland. How are you gentlemen doing tonight?"
Both men directed their disdain in Tighe's direction. "Brian Riggs and Wilbur Blake. We were told to hold the scene for you. Don't expect you to uncover anything more than we did. Ambulance found Austin about eight hundred feet that way."
"Well, we would like to take a peek around. Austin's brother is our boss. Don't want to upset him more. Appease the family."
That seemed to relax them. "Sure thing. Danny Logan is in charge; he and Paul Young are at the hospital. Now that you boys are here, we want to head over there." Riggs and Blake walked them down the culvert. "This is where Austin was discovered." Bravo team members began shooting still pictures and videotaping the scene. Others started a grid search of the area.
"Where was the child found?" one member asked.
Wilbur Blake paused in his tracks. "Who told you about that?"
Tighe turned on his heel to face the detective. "Hear me now, we’re not interested in playing games. Let's work together toward a common goal, but if our inquiry is stonewalled at every question, I have zero issues leaving your department in the dust and seizing complete control of this investigation. Where was the child found? Austin requested an ambulance for an injured man. Did you find any sign of him?"
Riggs pointed. "The child was discovered another four hundred yards that way. There was no evidence of another injured party."
"Were there any brass casings left behind? Take soil samples?" Janice asked.
"Little lady, we got a shot cop," Blake said.
Tighe gave Janice a discreet hand signal to stand down. "Did Austin draw his gun?"
Blake answered, "I'm not sure.”
"Where's his weapon?" Caleb asked.
"I assume it was secured," Riggs said.
"Detective, I would appreciate it if you would share the information about the original crime and what you found here with Investigators Paulsen and Fitz before you leave." Tighe's pitch was clipped and formal.
"We'll leave you to your work. C'mon, boys." Caleb arched his brow, and he and Janice followed.
Caleb punched her shoulder. "Little lady, after you."
"Enough, everyone," Tighe's tone warned. "Obtain pictures and samples of dirt. Another victim here should've left blood."
With the detectives gone, the team, flashlights arcing the path, walked down the road. Areas to collect samples from were flagged. Two more of Bravo team’s investigators knelt beside the area where the girl was found, heads lowered, contemplating the blood-soaked ground. "What happened to her?" One scooped up some of the dirt into an evidence bag.
"Not going to guess. Let's wait on what SPD gives us. Walk the field for potential evidence and check the roadway for tire tracks. Maintain the road closure," Tighe said, "Tomorrow, we come back with Zach at first light and do it again."
