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Amanda approached the assistant’s desk holding up her badge. “Detective Steele, and I’m here with my partner, Detective Stenson, and officers from the Metro PD.”
The young woman’s face flicked over Amanda’s shoulders, and she swallowed roughly, her eyes bulging.
“We’re here for Ian Moss, but you’re not to alert him we’re coming.”
The assistant nodded and held Amanda’s gaze. It felt like there was something she wanted to say, but she remained silent.
In that stillness, Amanda heard voices from Ian’s office. She turned to the assistant. “Is someone in there with him?”
“Uh-huh. Melody Schmitt.”
Amanda’s shoulders sagged as she faced Trent and the officers. “We can’t risk going in hot. Let me—” She held up a hand and stopped talking.
Ian was looking through the window in his door—directly at her and everyone else. He shuffled out of sight and returned with Melody, his hands gripped around her arm.
“Never mind. Let’s move.”
They all forged ahead and entered the room. The office was a massive space that included a living room and bar area, a meeting table and chairs.
“Mr. Moss, you need to let go of Ms. Schmitt and come with us,” Amanda said calmly. No one had their guns out yet, but all it would take was the slightest provocation.
“I’m not doing that!” he roared.
Trent and the officers raised their guns. Amanda resisted, deciding to play Good Cop, hoping to deescalate the situation.
“Let me go!” Melody tried to pull away, but Ian yanked her closer to him and practically dragged her across the room toward his desk.
“You need to stop moving right now,” Amanda told him, a hand up, palm toward him. “We just need to talk. That’s all.”
“Pft. You must think I’m pretty stupid.” He tugged on Melody and used her as a shield, proving his intelligence.
Amanda approached slowly, holding up both hands now. “Let her go, Ian. She doesn’t need to be caught up in this.”
Melody was sobbing, and her shoulders were heaving.
“Melody,” Amanda said softly, earning her gaze. “It’s going to be all right, okay? Just breathe. Take slow, deep breaths.” As she spoke to her, she was hypervigilant about what Moss was doing. He hadn’t stopped moving and continued to creep with Melody ever closer to his desk.
Amanda drew her weapon. “You need to stand still, Mr. Moss. Immediately.”
He didn’t comply, but in a fluid movement, Ian opened the top drawer of his desk and pulled out a gun.
Melody screamed and started shaking violently.
“Come on, Ian, let her go,” Amanda petitioned again. “No one else needs to get hurt.”
“She should have left it alone. Let me alone,” he snarled. It was clear he was referring to Felicity Kelley.
“Please, Ian. It’s over.”
“It’s over when I say it’s over!” Ian lifted his gun to the ceiling and pulled the trigger.
Overhead, something groaned and hissed. Sparks rained down. His bullet must have hit electrical wiring.
Melody tugged, trying again to get away, but he fastened his hold on her and held the gun to her cheek. She screamed—the muzzle would be burning her flesh. Amanda cringed for her.
“We have to go, Ian. Now.”
“I’m not going anywhere! You just leave!”
