“Me, too,” said River.
The screech of tires outside on the street reached his ears a second before the front window shattered. He got a glimpse of the tan SUV racing by. His hand went over Lydia’s back as he pulled her to the ground. Another shot was fired.
“They found us.”
More shots came through the back window. There were two shooters.
“Get to the garage. Get in the car. Take Frankie.”
Lydia crawled on all fours as more shots were fired through the back and front windows.
River reached up to grab his gun and his keys. He still had his phone in his hand. He dialed the Ridge Police Department as he made his way toward the open door that led to the garage. “This is Officer Jameson. I’m being shot at in my home.”
A quick glance out the front window revealed that the tan SUV was not parked outside, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t be coming back for another drive-by.
He heard the window in Lydia’s bedroom shatter. One of the shooters must have moved in even closer. He hurried into the garage and got behind the wheel of his patrol vehicle. Lydia held the garage door remote.
“Tell me when to open it.”
Frankie was in the back seat in her kennel. With his heart pounding, River fixed his gaze on the rearview mirror. “Now.” After starting the engine, he shifted into Reverse.
The garage door rose. The street looked clear. He floored it and made a tight turn, shifting into Drive.
“He’s coming back up the street.” Fear permeated Lydia’s words.
River sped up the street. In the distance, he heard sirens.
“He turned,” said Lydia.
“He’s not getting away.” River flipped a U-turn and pulled his radio. “Requesting backup. This is Officer Jameson. I am in pursuit of a tan SUV close to where I live.”
He didn’t like that Lydia might be in danger but catching this guy might end the nightmare she’d been living in. He raced up and down side streets, catching a glimpse of the tail end of a tan vehicle. When he turned onto a new street, the car he’d been following had parked in a driveway. A mother and child got out of the car. He’d followed the wrong vehicle.
The sirens wailed through the streets. The Ridge Police Department must have sent most of their force. Maybe they would be able to track down the elusive SUV.
“You okay?”
She nodded. “Still waiting for my heart to slow down. This isn’t anything you ever get used to, is it?”
“No.” He let out a breath. “Let’s get you to the police station. That’s the safest place for you for now.”
He drove slower across town. He reached over and patted her leg, hoping to calm her.
His phone, which he’d placed on the console, rang.
“It’s Eva.” Lydia’s voice held a note of tension.
“Put her on speakerphone so we can both hear it.”
Lydia pressed a button.
He leaned toward the phone. “Eva, what you got for me?”
“You’re not going to believe where that phone call from Sheryl Caldwell came from.”
SIXTEEN
Lydia pressed her arms against her side, laced her fingers together and bit her lower lip. What had Eva discovered?
