The sheriff arrived shortly after, and we caught him up to speed.
With a medevac inbound, I flew back to the station with Teagan in Tango One.
JD stayed behind to wrap up and pilot the Raptor home.
EMTs and paramedics waited on the tarmac at the station to triage Teagan for any injuries. They checked her out when we landed and asked if she wanted to go to the ER.
She declined.
I filled out a report and surrendered my duty weapon. I knew the sheriff would put me and JD on leave when he returned. It was standard protocol after an officer-involved shooting.
When all the paperwork was done, I collected Teagan and called for a rideshare.
“How are you holding up?”
She nodded. “I’m good.”
She’d been through the wringer. In a meek voice, she said, "I don't want to go back to my apartment. I don't feel safe there right now."
I nodded. "You can stay in the loft above Diver Down."
She looked up at me with those adorable eyes, "I'd rather stay with you."
Her voice was soft and smooth and irresistible.
"I have a houseguest at the moment. But you can stay in one of the below-deck staterooms.”
She frowned. "Oh, that's right. I almost forgot about her.” She sighed. "I guess I'll have to settle for the loft. I don’t want to impose.”
“Not an imposition. Hell, the night’s already over.”
“The loft is fine.”
"I don't think anybody else is going to come after you tonight. But I’ll give you a gun just in case."
"I had a bad feeling the minute I stepped off the elevator at my apartment. I got to my unit, and the door was unlocked. I always lock the deadbolt when I leave. Earl must have picked the lock. I was so focused on the door. He came out of the stairwell and tased me. That sucked.”
"I bet.” I paused. "I'm glad you're okay.”
"Thanks to you.”
"Maybe you should start listening to that voice in your head. You know, the one you don't want to listen to.”
She frowned and took a deep breath. "Maybe you're right.”
The sun crested the horizon as I stepped outside with Teagan. Hordes of media rushed in. Cameras flashed, and microphones hovered overhead.
Paris shouted, “Were you kidnapped by the Bay Strangler?”
“I don’t know who I was kidnapped by, and I don’t care. He’s locked up now.”
I declined to comment and escorted her to a rideshare as it pulled into the lot. We slipped inside the white sedan, and the media swarmed. They couldn’t get enough.
The driver navigated through the crowd and took us to Diver Down. He dropped us off at the entrance.
We hopped out, and I unlocked the door to the restaurant and escorted Teagan to the loft above. “Make yourself at home. Feel free to stay here as long as you’d like.“
“Thanks,” she said. “I’m so wound up, I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep.”
