Page 57 of Chasing a Kidnapper

Trisha took several steps back, just in time to see West peeking around the door frame.

“Police! Drop the gun!”

West’s curt demand startled Gabriel into crying. She tried to soothe him as the masked intruder spun toward West, his weapon still in hand.

“Drop it!” West said again. When the perp simply lifted the gun higher, West shot twice, striking the guy in the center of his chest.

Gabriel wailed at the sharp retort of gunfire. She watched in horror as the force of the bullets sent the perp flailing backward until he landed on the floor with a sickening thud.

“Are you and Gabriel okay?” West asked.

“We’re not hurt.” She strained to see if the masked perp was still breathing. She doubted he’d survive since officers were trained to hit center mass. And West had been close enough that he wouldn’t have missed.

She knew West would have preferred to take this guy alive, to fully understand what in the world was going on, but had little choice but to use deadly force.

The masked perp had dropped the weapon when he fell. She continued to soothe Gabriel as West lunged forward, kicking the gun out of reach. She caught a glimpse of Peanut heading over to sit beside the gun and was glad to see the K-9 hadn’t been hurt.

West knelt beside the guy, then reached up to pull his mask off.

“I don’t recognize him.” West looked disappointed.

She grabbed a baby blanket from Gabriel’s crib and tossed it to him. “Use this to help stop the bleeding. I’ll call for an ambulance.”

“Hear those sirens? They’re already on the way.” West grabbed the blanket, then ran his hand over the guy’s chest. “He’s wearing a bullet-resistant vest!”

“Really?” Now that she looked more closely, there wasn’t any blood staining his black clothing. “Where did he get it?”

“No idea.” West ran his hands over the vest, then reached up to feel along the side of his neck. “He still has a pulse.”

“That’s good.” She turned to set Gabriel in his crib, then turned to help provide first aid to the masked perp.

“Owww,” the guy moaned.

“You’re under arrest for kidnapping and attempted murder of a police officer.” West slapped a pair of handcuffs around his wrists.

“He admitted to killing Bryan, so you’ll want to add murder one to those charges,” she told him.

“Done. Who are you?” West demanded. “Why do you want the key?”

“Go...” the man whispered. Then his body went slack.

“Who is this guy?” Trisha asked as West searched the guy’s pockets, pulling out a wallet.

“His name is Edward Watley.” He lifted his gaze to hers. “Does that ring a bell?”

“Edward Watley is one of the friends on Renee Mills’s social media page.” She frowned. “How did he know my ex-husband?”

“I’m not sure.” West glanced at the lamp. “Do you really think the elephant lamp is where the key is hidden?”

“Yes.” She stood and crossed over to lift the lamp. She nodded in satisfaction as she pulled the large swath of duct tape from the bottom, revealing a small key stuck in the adhesive.

“Glad you found it,” West said.

“This doesn’t look at all familiar.” Somehow she thought she might know what the key would open if she saw it. She held it out to West with a frown. “This is an oddly shaped key. Do you recognize it?”

“Yeah, it’s a key to a safety deposit box.” He grimaced. “Now we’ll just have to figure out what bank has the box that matches the key.”

PCPD officers came running inside. She moved out of the way as West met them at the door.

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