Page 41 of Barron

She nodded. “I do.”

“Good.” He climbed out of the patrol car. Her heart beating against her chest, Yoanni watched as Billings, his service weapon racked and ready, slowly advanced along the bushes lining the side of her driveway. His approach avoided a direct hit from anyone who might be inside her house. He waited a few more minutes. Still maintaining his position low and to the side, Billings stepped onto her little porch, reached her door, and called out a warning to whoever might be inside the house.

No response came back.

The wail of police sirens came closer and grew louder. Yoanni relaxed enough to stop chewing her thumbnail, the only fingernail upon which she poured her anxiety and fear. The first patrol car slid up next to hers. Officer Cragg jumped out, asking, “Are you all right, ma’am?”

“I’m fine.” She pointed to the house’s open door. “Billings is in there.”

He nodded and went after Billings.

Captain Weaver came in next. He parked just ahead of thesecond patrol car and stepped out. Frowning, he walked over quickly and opened her door.

“I was on my way home when the call came. Are you okay, Miss Sanz?”

“Yes. I’m fine. I don’t know what’s going on. We were on our way in when I noticed the front door open. Officer Billings told me to stay here. He’s up there with Officer Cragg.”

He slapped the edge of her door. “Fine. You stay put until we tell you.” He turned from her, his service gun in hand. As the captain walked toward the house, she noticed Billings and Cragg were no longer at the door. Yoanni guessed they’d gone inside. Her thumbnail went back into her mouth. She was down to the quick. Soon, she’d draw blood.

She didn’t have to wait long. When Captain Weaver holstered his gun, she knew the danger had passed. Billings and Cragg came out of the house, helping Barron walk out.

Yoanni bolted out of the car, and without thinking much about Barron’s condition or anything else, she threw herself into his solid chest. “Oh God. I was so frightened,” she sobbed, releasing the fear she’d been suppressing since she saw the open door.

“I’m okay, baby girl,” he said, wrapping his arm around her. A glorious elation and an unspeakable relief swept her from top to bottom. “Got banged on the head, but I’m a tough nut to crack.”

She glanced up and gasped. A trickle of blood ran down the side of his face. “You’re hurt!”

“EMTs are on the way. They’ll check him,” Billings said.

“I’m fine. I’ve had a lot worse, believe me,” Barron protested. “One day’s rest, and I’ll be good as new.”

“Please don’t argue. Let them take a look at you. You’re bleeding.”

Barron touched the side of his face. With obvious surprise, he stared at his fingers. “Huh? That’s something.”

“What happened, Priestley?” Captain Weaver asked.

Yoanni startled. She wasn’t used to hearing Barron’s last name out loud.

But he took it in stride. “I came to wait for Yoanni. The place…” Barron stopped.

Its siren wailing, the emergency vehicle pulled in. One paramedic jumped out and rushed over to them. He had to weave through a slowly growing crowd of interested neighbors. The commotion had brought out those residents with nothing important to do on a Saturday afternoon. Even Mrs. Miller and her husband rushed from the cul-de-sac on the sidewalk. They’d be upon Yoanni with their well-intentioned support in minutes.

Yikes.

“We should put you on a gurney,” the paramedic said.

Barron frowned. “No, you’re not putting me anywhere. I’ll let you check me here because my girl’s worried. I got hit on the head, but it wasn’t that bad. I’m probably concussed. I know what to do.”

“Okay, sir. If you insist. Follow me.” The paramedic, clearly frustrated with Barron’s attitude, strode to his vehicle.

As their little group walked to the emergency vehicle, Captain Weaver insisted again, “You were saying, Priestly?”

“Oh, right.” Barron sighed. “I found the kitchen door open. Someone had ransacked the place.” Barron glanced down at her. “Sorry, princess. Your home is upside down. So I went in. Someone in dark clothes ran past me. I chased the intruder, and you know what? This guy is small and slender.” He shrugged. “Anyway, less bulky than I expected. Slower too. I jumped the intruder, grabbed his pants, and we fell. I tried to pull his hood off, but the bastard was also wearing a ski mask. We fought, and I got hit in the head from behind. And here we are. They left a couple of nasty signs on the walls, babe.”

“I’m going inside. I want to see.”

“You’re going nowhere. We’ll come another time and paint the walls.”

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