Finally, footsteps approached again. Addy and Mack both went for their weapons.
The door opened. A pretty young girl with ebony hair that fell in waves below her shoulders stood in jeans and a T-shirt. Her hair was perfectly combed, so she likely was already dressed when they knocked and was giving Zamora a chance to escape.
“You Mariana Morales?” Addy asked.
She nodded.
“We know Dante Zamora is in the house. We have a warrant for his arrest. Please step aside so we can arrest him.”
“This is my place and you’re not coming in.” She took a defensive stance.
Mack handed her the search warrant. “We have a warrant to search the premises. I need you to stand aside.”
“Male fitting Zamora’s description is exiting the back,” Sean said over the comms unit. “Moving in to take him down.”
Addy made sure not to show her excitement over the possible arrest and waited for Mariana to move out of the way. When she did, Addy bolted past her to go after Zamora.
“Addy, wait,” Mack called out.
She felt bad. She’d left him in a precarious position. He needed to remain with Mariana to arrest her for refusing to let them in and watch the front door when Addy knew he wanted her to be out of danger. But she had to go. Had to take this creep down if she could. Make him pay. Her mother deserved that.Shedeserved that.
“Coming out after him,” she said into her mic as she reached the back door.
To her surprise, Zamora stopped, then turned and raced in her direction. He wasn’t armed. He was barely dressed. Just sweatpants. No shoes. No shirt.
“Police! Stop!” she shouted.
He lowered his head like a charging bull and came straight for her. At the last moment, she dodged him, and he went barreling into the house, slamming headfirst into a wall.
She pivoted and got her gun on him. When he rolled, he looked like he was going to try to get up and run.
She stood over him with her gun and glared at him. “Don’t add resisting arrest to your charges.”
“Behind you,” Kiley said, and Addy heard two sets of footsteps enter the house.
“Good collar,” Sean said. “Mack will want to be in on this. I’ll go spell him.”
Sean brushed past her.
“Cover me, Kiley.” Addy holstered her weapon and returned Zamora’s glare. “On your belly. Now.”
Zamora tightened his eyes and lay lifeless.
“Really?” she asked. “You really want to argue when there are four federal agents here?”
Mack charged into the room and gave Zamora a look that would make Addy quake in her shoes.
Zamora groaned and rolled over.
She grabbed his hands and slapped on the cuffs.
“I didn’t do nothing wrong,” he muttered.
“That will be up to a DA and jury to decide.” Addy stood and looked down at him, satisfaction curling through her body. She couldn’t wait for the day when this guy stood before a judge and she got justice for the terror inflicted on her mother and Nancy.
Chapter 18
MACK TOOK ASEAT IN THE CHAIRacross from Zamora in the Multnomah County Detention Center. The man glared at Mack and crossed beefy arms over a powerful chest. He was a big guy with bushy black eyebrows that drew together when he frowned. Wavy hair cascaded down to his shoulders, and his dark eyes looked combative.
