He rushed to me, pulling Ginny along.
“Emma!” he yelled toward his house. “Call 911!”
His hands were on me now. Steady. Helping me sit upright.
“Dear God,” he said. “I’ll get help. Here. In case he comes back.”
He pressed Ginny’s collar into my hand and took off. I held her in one hand and cupped my broken nose with the other.
She sat by my side, chest heaving up and down, her massive body still shaking with adrenaline. Blood streaked her mouth and teeth.
When my arms wrapped around her massive chest, Ginny leaned into me, solid and warm.
Of course she could run if she wanted. My grip would not hold her. But she stayed, guarding and comforting me all at once.
“Thank you,” I cried into her silky fur. “Thank you, Ginny.”
I was overwhelmed with emotion.
Relief. Gratitude. Love.
For Ginny. The Doberman everyone hated. The dog that parents pulled their kids away from. The one the neighborhood called the beast.
This queen had my devotion forever. What a hero.
Then the truth settled in. Myers had tried to kill me. And there were witnesses. There was blood. DNA. Evidence. The AG couldn’t ignore this.
As crazy as it was, a smile split my bloody lips.
This night of horror was Lacey’s chance to prove her innocence.
It was her way out.
Chapter 32
Officer Nolan
When I pulled up in front of Nicole Kolter’s house, the street was the usual chaos of a nighttime crime scene. Blue and red lights reflected against siding and trees, turning a quiet neighborhood into something out of a TV show.
Police cars and EMT vans blocked the road. A few curious neighbors stood on their porches with messy hair.
What was unusual was the large crowd of officers and EMTs blocking the view of the Kolters’ house. Just standing there. Shoulder to shoulder. No movement.
When I received the call in the middle of the night from local police to come to Nicole Kolter’s home, I didn’t know what to make of it. But as I got out of the car and slowly approached the crime scene, things started to make sense.
In all the worst ways.
I walked up and tapped the first officer blocking my path.
“Let me through, please,” I said, keeping my voice steady.
He turned quickly. Late thirties. Tired eyes. Clean-shaven.
His gaze caught mine, then dropped to my badge as I held it up. He hesitated, then he stepped aside.
I had to repeat it a few more times. Over and over. An ocean of cops and EMTs slowly parting in front of me, like Moses with a badge instead of a staff.
I thought I was prepared for what I would find. By now, I knew anything involving Nicole Kolter meant a wild ride. That woman turned into a grizzly bear when it came to her kids.
