Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
“And your other weapons.”
“That’s all I have,” Jill said.
Abbott’s chin lowered. “Don’t make me shoot you.”
“That’s really all she has.” Qaletaga reached into his boot for his Glock 43 and lobbed it over.
“Nice,” Abbott said.
Qaletaga looked toward the tree line and still couldn’t see anybody. “Who are you working with?”
“Nobody you know.” Abbott winked.
Jill cleared her throat. “I’m sorry about Haylee Johnson. I know you were close.”
“We were engaged,” Jason said congenially. “She was a means to an end. I’m not surprised.”
Qaletaga scooted closer to Jill. “So you know that Haylee’s dead?”
“Yeppers,” Abbott said. “It’s already hit The Killing Hour. Rachel Raprenzi reported on it ten minutes ago.”
So Jason had been in a vehicle just ten minutes ago, which meant that whatever vehicle he had now behind that tree line was close to the road. Were there roads out there? There had to be. Qaletaga made several notes in his head. They were going to find this asshole.
“Did you kill her?” Jill asked.
Abbott studied them for a moment. “Did I? All right, who has the handcuffs?” Neither moved. “Come on. You both have handcuffs. Right now, pull them out.”
Qaletaga pulled his cuffs from the back of his waist as Jill did the same. Hope filled Qaletaga. Maybe Abbott didn’t want to kill them. The guy probably didn’t want the FBI and the Washington State Police all descending into Genesis Valley at once.
“This way.” Abbott motioned them toward the vehicle, where he had Jill secure Qaletaga to the back passenger-side door handle with the cuffs. Abbott then did the same to Jill before he leaned in and fired his weapon several times.
Jill jumped. Qaletaga looked over his shoulder to see the demolished radio.
“I imagine somebody will be along eventually,” Abbott said cheerfully. “I hope you don’t freeze to death in the meantime.”
With that, he turned and strode toward the locker, easily lifted it, and then continued his way into the woods. Qaletaga watched him go, squinting to see better between the trees. Several shots rang out, hitting the front tire and then the back.
Jill jumped. “Holy shit.”
Qaletaga glared. “The sniper is a decent shot.”
The wind whistled toward them, blowing snow. He looked up and down the road and then fought against the restraints, trying to break the handle. A truck sounded in the distance as Abbott must’ve reached his vehicle, which sounded like it wasn’t that far away.
Sighing, Qaletaga studied Jill. “Are you okay?”
She looked at him, her cheeks red from the cold and fire in her eyes. “Yeah, but I’m really wishing we had tried to at least read a couple of those journals, even though they were frozen.”
Shots rang out from the trees, and pain exploded in Qaletaga’s leg. Darkness swam around his vision, but he focused long enough to see Jason Abbott, his face partially shrouded by darkness, as he fired a handgun at them.
Jill screamed.
* * *
Huck burst through the doors of the hospital, sliding on the wet floor as he caught sight of Laurel and Monty sitting in chairs in the waiting room. They were both too pale. “How are they?”
Laurel stood and moved toward him. “Officer Tso is out of surgery and breathing on his own, while Officer Jordan is still in surgery.” She took his hand and led him over to the seating area. “They were both shot in the legs, and Officer Jordan in the chest.”
Huck sat, fury roaring through his veins. “The evidence box?”
“Gone,” Monty said wearily. “I should’ve taken it. Not had those two kids do it.” His hands shook as he rubbed them down his face.
A white-haired doctor in blue scrubs emerged through the swinging doors. “Officer Tso wants to speak with a Captain Buckley.”
Monty stood. “I’ll be right back.”
Huck’s legs bunched.
Monty planted a hand on his shoulder. “You’re off this case, remember? Stay here.” He hitched across the waiting area and through the doors, appearing years older than he had yesterday.
Huck leaned his head back against the wall. “What do we know?”
Laurel shook her head. “Nothing. A passerby saw both officers cuffed to the door and bleeding. He called it in.” She plucked at a string on her coat, her voice soft. “The man’s name is Jorge Lewiston, and he checks out. We have CCTV of him leaving the Center Diner and then calling in the shooting, completely panicked.”
Huck swallowed. “We know who did this.”
“We’re not making assumptions,” she said, her blue-and-green eyes sparking.
Fair enough.
Monty soon emerged, his chin up. “Qaletaga identified Jason Abbott as the shooter. He had an accomplice who acted as a sharpshooter during the robbery but didn’t hit anybody.”
“An accomplice?” Huck looked down at Laurel’s flushed face. “Who would want those journals as much as Jason Abbott?”
Laurel rubbed her right temple. “Abigail isn’t that reckless. Is she?”
Huck couldn’t figure out who else it could be. Jason Abbott didn’t have money to hire anybody. “Is Abigail that crazy?” Was it possible? If so, she was probably dead right now as well. “How’s Tso?”