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“The SUV Herman saw sounds like the one that ran us off the road,” she said, looking at Christian, who nodded.
“And,” she continued, “the basic description of his height, build, and dark hair sounds rather like our intruder today.”
“You get a good look at the intruder’s face?” Joel asked, a hopeful glimmer in his crisp blue eyes.
“I wish, but no,” Christian said.
“Nope.” Andi nodded, wishing she had.
“He ambushed Andi,” Christian said, “but she shot him.” He looked at her with a smile ... a proud one?
She hadn’t had anyone look at her like that in a long time, and it felt good. “I ... um, got him in the shoulder,” she said, managing to shift her attention off Christian and back on Joel.
A sideways smile curled on Joel’s lips. “Is that right?”
“It was a great shot,” Christian said.
She shrugged. It had been a solid shot. It was good to know she still had the skills. It’d been too long since she’d been to a gun range. “We chased him, but he got away.”
“So, you know you’re looking for a man probably five-eleven....” Christian looked down at her. When would she get used to him being a foot taller? She felt like a dwarf beside him at times. “Would you agree?” he asked.
“Yep.” She nodded. “And he had broad shoulders, which gave me a good target.”
“And dark hair,” Christian said. “It was hard to get a solid look, given the circumstances, but I think it was wavy.”
“Mind if I take a look where all this occurred?” Joel asked.
“Of course,” Christian said. He looked back at Andi. “You good coming?” he asked.
“Absolutely. Let’s go.”
“Much appreciated,” Joel said, before rolling a piece of gum in his mouth. The fresh scent of mint swirled in the air.
“Would either of you like a piece?” he asked.
“I’d like one,” Andi said, and Christian followed suit as they trekked across the backyard and started climbing the slope.
An hour and a half later, they returned to the driveway. Joel had collected casings. “I’ll need to clear the nine-millimeter casings from your two guns, then I can run his. See if we can pull any information from it. What kind of handgun make and model we’re dealing with. You said it was maybe a SIG Sauer?”
“I can’t be certain, but that would be my guess,” Christian said. “No idea on the make.”
“Certain SIG models take the .357 like I pulled from the tree,” Joel said, slipping his thumbs through his belt loop. “I’ll send this to the CSI lab in Santa Fe to run ballistics, and I’ll get someone up here to take a tire tread impression from where he was parked.”
“Thanks, Joel.” Christian clamped him on the shoulder.
“Oh. I almost forgot,” Joel said. “I’ve got that gala and heist footage for you in the patrol vehicle. I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll walk you to the car,” Christian said.
Joel turned to Andi and tipped his hat. “Ma’am.”
“Sheriff Brunswick.” She smiled. Normally, she detested the use ofma’amas she didn’t feel old enough for people to be calling her that yet, but in his western drawn-out drawl, it was endearing.
“I thought I told you to call me Joel,” he said, dipping his chin.
“Right.” She smiled. “Bye, Joel, and thank you.”
“Better, and you are most welcome.” He smiled, then turned heel and walked with Christian toward his SUV.
