Page 237 of Rangers Last Promise

“Sorry.”

Her mouth twitches.

Then another sound comes from outside.

An engine.

Tires squeal.

Trigger shouts, “Black pickup heading east!”

I rise and pull Mara with me.

She reaches for her weapon.

I keep one arm around her waist.

“I can stand on my own.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you holding me?”

“Because I want to.”

She stops arguing.

That might be a first.

Sheriff Tate crosses the dark station with a flashlight in one hand and his radio in the other.

“Unit Two, cut him off at Mill Creek Road. Unit Five, cover the highway.”

Static answers him.

Wolf returns to the broken window.

“Shooter was across the street.”

“Roof?” I ask.

“Alley behind the pharmacy. Trigger and Blaze are checking it.”

“Did anyone get the plate?”

“Covered.”

“Of course it was.”

Mara crouches near the wall.

The bullet is buried in the old wooden doorframe behind the front desk.

I follow its path.

It came through the window at an angle.

Not aimed at Mara.