“H-he said he had shit to do. I don’t know exactly where. Denver.”
“Another coke run?”
“Probably. I-I don’t know. H-he just said he had some shit to do in Denver. Am I really under arrest? I didn’t do anything.”
“Didn’t do anything? You just tipped off a suspect in an active investigation that we were coming for him!”
Marcs shrugged. “That’s aiding and abetting a fugitive, for starters.”
“What?” Riggs gaped at them.
“Aiding and abetting. Conspiracy to evade prosecution. Criminal stupidity.” Darius let that sink in for a moment, but he had to ask. “When did Watts leave?”
“About twenty minutes ago. I don’t know.”
If the bastard had left twenty minutes ago, he was probably still on Highway 36.
Darius climbed out of the car, waited for radio traffic to clear, then called that information into dispatch, giving them the year, color, and make of Watts’ vehicle.
Captain Skalbeck saw Darius and made his way over. “Did the shitweasel give you anything helpful?”
“Only that his buddy was on his way to Denver.”
Skalbeck nodded. “I heard the call go out. We found a small amount of powder that field-tested positive for cocaine. We’ve got a couple of computers and some flash drives. Where do you want us to take this shit?”
It was a good question. The assault on Sasha had happened in Forest County. The suspects lived in Boulder. And Darius worked for the City of Denver, while the victim lived in Scarlet Springs.
“Their phones are with DPD’s forensics lab, so that’s probably where the computers and flash drives should go. You can keep the coke.”
“Got it. What about the shitweasel?”
“Forest County issued the warrants.”
“He’s all yours. We’ll book him on drug charges later.”
Darius waited until SWAT cleared them to leave, signed for Riggs, and was crossing the street on his way back to Marcs’ service vehicle, when the sudden roar of an engine made him look. Watts’ truck was tearing down the road, heading straight for him.
Darius leaped back, drew his weapon, but he was too late.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Pain exploded against his chest, forcing the breath from his lungs, and driving him to his knees in the vehicle’s path.
“Officer down! Officer down!” Marcs’ called.
Someone dragged him out of the street, the world around him exploding in gunfire. As he fought to stay conscious, there was only one thought in Darius’ mind.
Sasha.
Chapter15
Sasha wasdesperate for fresh air, sunshine, and movement. She was used to lots of physical activity, and being sedentary for so long left her restless. So, after lunch, Sasha and Nicole went for a short walk with Mocha along the edge of the reservoir, throwing a rubber chew toy for Mocha to fetch.
It was warmer today than it had been, the snow beginning to melt, the high peaks still gleaming white. Sasha spotted a bald eagle soaring over the water, wings outstretched. She snapped a photo with her phone to share later on social media. Still, she couldn’t shake a sense of uneasiness.
It’s probably just a trauma reaction.
Esri had said that might happen.
