He gave her a quick once-over. She did appear to be okay. Trembling, with Boo-Boo lying on the grass next to her, but okay.
His tension released in a rush. The urge to drag her into his arms and celebrate followed. But he couldn’t. Fake bomb or not, he had to keep vigilant. Fowler could’ve set a trap. Reid couldn’t risk them walking across the lot to the entrance or even to his vehicle. And they couldn’t stay in the median, out in the open. They had to take cover. Not only in the event it was a trap but in case the bomb wasn’t a fake and had failed to properly detonate.
“We need to move behind these vehicles for safety.” He pointed at cars parked near the median. “Stay low and move fast.”
She didn’t question him, but grabbed Boo-Boo—ever the mother, thinking of her child and keeping track of the bear even in such a scary situation—she scooted into position between the cars.
He joined her, keeping watch until he sank down next to her. “The bomb could be a decoy to lure us out into the open. Or it might not have properly detonated. Won’t know until we get a bomb squad out here. We’ll hunker down until patrol cars arrive and it’s safer to move. You have your phone?”
She nodded but her teeth were chattering.
“Call 911 to report the bomb, and I’ll update Russ.” Keeping his gun in one hand, Reid dug out his phone with the other and made the call.
As the phone rang, Bandit’s barking sounded louder from Reid’s SUV. Too bad he couldn’t calm the little fella, but Bandit would have to stay put and alone until everything got sorted out.
“You on your way?” Russ asked.
“We have an incident.” Reid relayed the details as he heard Megan’s breathless recounting of the event for the 911 dispatcher.
“I’m guessing it’s a warning from Fowler,” Reid said into his phone. “By coming to the hospital today, he’s shown he’s willing to take risks, so be prepared.”
“Got it,” Russ answered.
Good.He was now on high alert and both girls would be safe in his care.
“We’re waiting for the local PD to arrive, and then we’ll be up.” Reid disconnected.
Megan was staring at him, her body tense, her fingers clutching her phone with a death grip. “The operator said there’s a patrol car down the road. You think Fowler’s here? Right now? Those beady eyes on us?”
Reid didn’t know if her angst was from the fake bomb or the continued threat, but either way he didn’t want to scare her more. “He’s likely long gone, but we’ll still sit tight until the police arrive.”
As if the locals heard his comment, sirens sounded in the distance. An engine hummed nearby, and Reid glanced around the cars. A vehicle swung into their aisle. Tires rolled over pavement, coming closer. Reid pivoted. Megan rose up.
“Stay down.” He kept his eyes on the vehicle, but in his peripheral vision he saw her comply.
A large black pickup came out of the mist and whipped into a parking space. Could be Micha’s truck, but there were millions of black pickups out there and could be anyone. The driver’s door opened. A man jumped out and withdrew his gun from a belt holster.
Reid assumed a firing position and waited for the man to face them. He spun.
Micha.Reid let out a breath and lowered his weapon. He wanted to call out to Micha, but that would identify Micha as their associate. If Fowler was watching, it would make Micha a potential target. No way Reid would do that to a teammate. He waited for Micha to spot them and hoped they wouldn’t startle him into firing his weapon.
Micha cautiously moved forward, gun extended. Sirens wound closer. If Fowler was hanging out to enjoy the trauma he caused, with the police on-site, he wouldn’t be dumb enough to try anything else, would he?
Micha slipped between cars. His gaze locked with Reid’s. Recognition dawned. He hurried forward, his head on a swivel as he moved. “You two okay?”
“Fine. Bomb’s likely a fake.” Reid explained the situation.
Micha faced Megan. “Sounds like Fowler’s trying to mess with your head.”
She nodded. “What’d you discover on your visit to my parents’ house?”
“Sorry, Megan.” Micha squatted next to her. “Someone broke in. Jimmied the back door lock. No major damage, but they stripped the key holder clean.”
Reid figured as much, but if Fowler used the other keys to harm someone else, they could have an even bigger problem. He looked at Megan. “Any idea what the other keys they stored there are for?”
“Their car keys and mine.” Megan paused and raised her eyes as if thinking. “And they have a beach house in Seaside. That key would be there too.”
“Anyone staying at the beach house?” Reid asked. “Renting it, maybe?”
