Page 91 of In the Line of Ire

"Noway," I said. "I am not sitting this one out. We should definitelycall the police though."

"Maybeafter we capture the perp. Keep in mind I'm a man of color,entering a house that's not mine through an openwindow."

Ishuddered at his insinuation and wished I could argue with him butSolomon was right. "I'll call Jord. I think we’ll need backup tomake an arrest. He's a burglary detective and the least likely toshoot you."

"Alwaysa relief." I sent a text message to Jord telling him to meet us atthe house because a suspected burglary was in progress. Then Iadded another text that Solomon and I would be inside so please donot shoot either of us.

The reply came quickly:U O MeBabysitting. On way.

"We'regood to go," I said.

"Take mygun." Solomon pulled a gun from his ankle holster and handed it tome.

"Sincewhen do you wear an ankle holster?" I asked.

"Iwouldn't need one if you carried your gun more often."

"I'dcarry it more often if I knew stuff like this was planned well inadvance."

"Youwere unconscious earlier tonight."

"I neverexpected that to happen either. Plus, if you remember, they stolemy phone and keys. You want to give them my gun too?"

"Pointtaken. That said, you know stuff like this is neverplanned."

Wehopped out of the car and jogged across the road before goingaround the side of the house. I waited while Solomon shimmied upthe trellis and slipped headfirst through the window. Aftercounting to ten, I hoped I’d given him enough time to cross theattic when I returned to the front door. The flash of lightretreated to the back of the house. Testing the door handle, Ifound it locked so I inserted the key slowly and opened the door.When no one rushed me, I stepped inside and pushed it closed,blinking until my eyes adjusted to the dark interior. I edgedforwards, noting the living room in absolute disarray. Pillows wereslashed from the sofa and a vase was shattered on the floor. Allthe Morgan possessions were tossed around like trash. Something wasdefinitely happening here. I stepped past the living room doorwayand met Solomon at the base of the stairs.

"Allclear," he mouthed, putting a finger to his lips.

"Theback." I pointed in the direction of the kitchen. We creptforwards, Solomon leading me, and paused at the sound of glassbreaking. More smashing, accompanied by huffing and grunting, thensomething tearing and the most piercing, almighty smash, as if aredwood tree had just fallen in the kitchen. What the hell wasgoing on in there?

We creptforwards to the internal door, our weapons drawn, poised forwhatever we might find.

Solomonheld up his fingers: three, two, one. He stepped through the opendoor, flicked on the lights and yelled "Freeze!"

A secondlater, a lamp sailed past his ear and smashed against the doorframe, barely inches from my head. Solomon squeezed off tworounds.

"Don'tkill me!" screamed a man. "I didn't do anything wrong!"

"Whatabout breaking and entering?" said Solomon, his voice as deadly ashis weapon, which he pointed at the man. I stepped out from behindhim, my gun drawn, and saw a man kneeling on the floor, his handsclasped over his head, shaking.

"Pleasedon't hurt me," the man whimpered, bowing his headrespectfully.

Isquinted until my eyes adjusted to the bright lighting. "Larry?" Iasked. Having only met Natalie’s landlord once, I had no troublerecognizing him even if he were shaking on his knees and pleadingfor mercy.

Larrylooked up. "You're Natalie's friend," he said. "What are you doinghere? How did you get in? And who are you really?" He darted afearful glance at Solomon.

"I’llask the questions," I snapped, ignoring his inane queries. "What'sgoing on here?"

"I canexplain everything!"

Iglanced around the kitchen, noticing that one cabinet had been tornoff the wall and it, along with its contents, were smashed all overthe floor. Chairs were overturned, the crockery in fragments, aplant knocked out from its pot, and graffiti all across the walls.Yellow paint trickled downwards.

"Upstairs is the same scene," said Solomon. "Clothes andbedding thrown everywhere and everything else allsmashed."

"Startexplaining," I said to Larry.

"I didit. I admit it! Please, please don't shoot me."

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