Protection Detail

“You might want to think on it some more. This neighborhood is safe, but that doesn’t mean young kids can’t get into trouble.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” She tried to keep the sarcasm out of her voice, but she wasn’t sure she was successful. She’d spent the past three years proving that she could do her job and do it well. Harland had always believed in her, but there were plenty of other people who’d doubted. There were plenty of people who still doubted. Based on Officer Anderson’s comment, she’d say he was one of them.

“You want some help with it, I can give you a hand. I have a friend in the security business. He’ll put it in for free. Just cost a weekly fee for the security monitoring.”

His offer stole away some of her frustration. He might be going about things in the wrong way, but his heart was in the right place. That was what counted. That was one of the things Ms. Alice had taught her. To look at the heart, to judge according to motive rather than outcome. Everyone messes up, she’d always say when Cassie found herself in trouble again. But, if the heart is right, mistakes can be fixed.

She took a deep breath, tried to smile. “I appreciate that, Officer Anderson. Once Harland recovers, I’ll ask what he thinks. I usually run things by him before I make any changes to the house.”

“The way I hear it, the congressman is doing well, but he might not be out the hospital for a couple of days. I’m not sure you want to wait that long.”

“I—”

“Cassie.” David appeared in the kitchen doorway. “My coat isn’t in the closet.”

“You’re sure?” She’d hung it there after their trip to the doctor’s office. She was certain of it. With eight kids to take care of, she couldn’t afford to waste time searching for things like coats or shoes.

“I looked about sixteen times,” he responded.

She wasn’t sure he’d looked that many, but he was young and it was easy to miss things. “Destiny, would you mind—”

She never finished.

The window exploded, glass flying across the kitchen, kids screaming. Officer Anderson dropped to the ground, blood spurting from his shoulder or his chest. Cassie didn’t know which, didn’t have time to think about it. She yelled for the kids to run, then darted forward to grab Officer Anderson by the arms. Another shot, this one whizzing past Cassie’s head.

She dragged Officer Anderson out of the kitchen and into the hall, the kids’ screams ringing in her ears.

“Everyone up the stairs,” she shouted, her heart thundering as she dragged Officer Anderson further away from the kitchen.

He groaned but didn’t open his eyes.

Something slammed into the back door.

Once. Twice. Again.

Please, God, let the kids be hiding. Please keep them safe.

“I called the police. They’re on the way!” Virginia pressed in beside her, grabbing at Officer Anderson, frantic sobs coming from her throat as she helped drag him back.

The banging continued, the sound reverberating through the house. They made it to the stairs before the back door crashed open with so much force the entire house seemed to shake. Or maybe it was Cassie who was shaking, fear stealing her breath and making her heart skip frantically. She met Virginia’s eyes.

“Go get the kids. Hide them until the police arrive,” Cassie whispered as she pressed the hem of her sweater to a wound in Officer Anderson’s right shoulder. His eyes were still closed, his body slack.

“I can’t leave you here,” Virginia cried, tears streaming down her face.

“You can’t stay!” Cassie hissed. “Someone has got to protect the kids.”

“But—”

“Go!” she mouthed.

Virginia took off running, up the stairs, out of sight.

And it was just Cassie and Officer Anderson.

And whoever had broken through the back door.

FOUR (#ue6c2a313-e382-5dbd-b235-0f3eb92a6709)

Gavin crept around the side of the house, Glory moving silently beside him. Chase was close. Maybe a quarter mile back in the woods, running toward the house and the gunshots they’d heard. There wasn’t time to wait for him.

The back door of the house had been kicked in and hung listlessly from the top hinge. He motioned for Glory to heel, then eased into the room. Glass on the floor near the sink. Pool of blood nearby. More blood in a swath that led from the sink into the hallway. His jacket lying near the table.

Glory stood facing the hall, her scruff standing on end, every muscle in her body taut. She didn’t make a sound, though, and Gavin listened. No movement in the hallway. No sounds from upstairs.

Gavin unhooked Glory’s lead and gave her the hand signal. She took off, nearly flying through the open doorway and into the hallway. Gavin followed, gun drawn, adrenaline pumping. A man stood near the front door. Tall. Broad. Strong. Those were Gavin’s first impressions. A dark ski mask covered the guy’s face, and he glared out from it, eyes icy blue as he held Cassie with one arm locked around her arms and chest, a handgun pressed to the underside of her chin. A few feet away, Paul lay on the ground, blood spreading in a crimson stain under his back. If he lost much more, he’d die.

“You come any closer, cop,” the perp said, “and I’ll kill her.” He jabbed the gun against Cassie’s jaw to emphasize the point. She didn’t flinch. Didn’t panic. There were no tears, no wide-eyed pleas for help. In all the years he’d worked as a DC cop and all the years he’d been part of the Capitol K-9 team, Gavin had never seen her kind of calmness in a civilian.

“Put the gun down,” Gavin responded, not moving closer, but not stepping back. He’d had training with hostage negotiation teams. Not enough to be an expert, but enough to know that he needed to make himself as unthreatening as possible.

“I don’t think so,” the man snarled, jabbing Cassie with the gun again. “Call off your attack dog.”

Glory wasn’t on the attack.

If she had been, the gun would have already been out of his hand. Gavin could have signaled for Glory to take the guy down, but the gun was too close to Cassie, the risk was too high.

“Let the woman go,” he said instead. “Walk out the door. Leave now before things get worse for you.”

“I’m not the one who needs to worry about things getting worse,” the guy mocked. He was confident, and that was going to play in Gavin’s favor. He’d make a mistake. Overestimated his chance at success. Gavin was ready to take advantage of that. Glory was ready, too, a constant low-level growl emanating from deep in her throat.

“You wait much longer to leave, and you’ll be trapped. I’ve got backup coming.”

The guy shrugged, but he was edging closer to the door, his gaze on Glory. “They’re not going to do any more than you are. No cop wants a civilian killed.” He jabbed Cassie again.

She didn’t flinch.

Didn’t meet Gavin’s eyes.

Was she in shock?

“And no criminal wants to die. You kill her, and that’s what’s going to happen.”

“Right,” the guy said, but the words had gotten to him. Gavin could tell by his tension, the quick darting of his gaze from Glory to the hallway beyond.

“Just let her go and—”

“Shut up and let me think! I’m the one in charge!” the man shouted. “I have her life in my hands, and you’re too much of an idiot to know it!”