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“I know we will.” Her smile was strained.
His phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket, surprised to see the call had the first three numbers of the police station. “Kingsley.”
“This is Josie from dispatch. I just got a call from Eloise Malaki.” It took him a moment to place the name of Kyle’s widow. “She thinks there’s a man outside her house.”
A shiver snaked down his spine. “Patch me through to her.”
“Will do.” The dispatcher spoke to Eloise, then dropped off the call.
“Is this Joe?” Eloise’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“Yes. Do you recognize the man outside your house? What does he look like?” Joe asked.
“He’s wearing a long coat, but he’s too far away for me to see him clearly.” Eloise’s whisper was full of fear. “Please, Joe. I don’t want to die.”
“Go into the bathroom and lock the door. Take a weapon with you if you have one.” He wanted to assure her that everything would be fine, but he couldn’t. “We’ll be there as soon as possible, okay?”
“Hurry.” She abruptly disconnected from the line.
“What’s going on?” Elly gripped the armrest as he hit the gas, taking a sharp right toward Greenland where he knew Kyle and Eloise lived.
“Eloise saw a man outside her house.” He thrust the phone into her hand. “Call dispatch back, tell them we need all units to respond to her address.” He gave her the house number and street information.
Elly did as he’d asked, speaking in a calm tone despite the seriousness of the situation. When that call was finished, she went ahead and called Steele and Grayson too.
“The shooter was last seen at Kyle and Eloise’s house,” she said. “We’re heading there now. Joe needs backup.”
He concentrated on driving, desperately wishing he could drop Elly someplace safe. Taking her on a call like this wasn’t smart. But he couldn’t bear the thought of letting this guy slip away either.
And why would the shooter show up at Eloise’s home anyway? Because Kyle had been the true target all along? They’d felt certain the two ice skaters had been killed first. But maybe that had been done to clear the area for a better angle to eliminate Kyle.
It was a possibility that hadn’t occurred to him until now.
“Steele and Grayson are meeting us there,” Elly said. “What did Eloise say?”
“She saw a man in a long coat.” Even as he said the words, he frowned. “Seems odd that he’d still have that long coat on. Too noticeable.”
“Rhy claims criminals aren’t always smart.” Her voice wavered a bit, betraying her fear.
“He’s right about that.” He pressed harder on the accelerator, taking the shortest route to Eloise’s home.
While praying with all his heart that they wouldn’t get there too late.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
Elly’s heart thundered in her chest as Joe navigated the suburban neighborhood that wasn’t far from the precinct. She wanted to believe they would find and arrest the shooter, but despite Rhy’s wise words, she couldn’t imagine this guy would allow himself to be caught so easily.
He’d avoided detection so far, hadn’t he?
The houses in this area were closer together than where they lived in Brookland. She frowned, wondering if the shooter lived in the neighborhood too. The same way Eloise and Kyle had.
But if that was the case, why hadn’t anyone turned him in to the authorities? Neighbors would obviously know each other. Or at least see them coming and going on occasion. It was inconceivable that anyone would secretly harbor a cold-blooded killer.
“You’re still wearing your vest?” Joe glanced at her as if to see for himself.
“Yes.” She was glad that Joe and the other guys were equally outfitted. Not that a vest would save them from a shooter aiming for their heads. She swallowed hard and pressed a hand to her stomach.
Rhy had once mentioned that head shots were difficult to make because the target was so small. And that cops were trained to aim for center mass, chest and abdomen. She hoped and prayed this shooter would do the same.
