Page 58 of Chasing a Kidnapper

“This is Edward Watley.” West gestured to the man lying on the floor. “He held Officer Trisha McCord and her son, Gabriel, hostage at gunpoint demanding this key. He whirled on me with the gun in his hand. Then he pointed the weapon at me when I told him to drop it. I shot twice, hitting him in a bullet-resistant vest. He needs a bus—the impact knocked him out.”

“Wow, a perp wearing a vest?” Officer Skinner whistled. “That’s unusual.”

Trisha could tell that West looked relieved. And she understood. As cops they were trained to hit center mass if their life or other innocent lives were at stake. But no officer wanted to use deadly force.

“Watley also admitted to killing my ex-husband, Bryan Little,” she added. “He kidnapped us and threatened to kill Gabriel if I didn’t help him find the key.”

“Good to know. Get the paramedics in here,” Skinner called.

Trisha leaned over the crib to pick up Gabriel, who had quieted down. Then she edged out of the room, knowing the paramedics would need to get Watley out of there.

“Good girl, Pea,” West said. “Come.”

The beagle rose and trotted toward West, her tail wagging happily at a job well done. It made Trisha smile to realize Peanut had found the gun the perp had dropped, even though it hadn’t been missing.

In the main living room, West pulled the ducky from his pocket. Peanut caught it in the air and pranced around as if she was the queen of the world.

“What do you think is in the safety deposit box?” she asked, setting Gabriel into his car seat.

“I don’t know.” He stared at her for a moment, then abruptly stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” he whispered.

She hugged him back, burrowing close. “I knew the fire was a trap, but I was too afraid to stay inside,” she confessed. “I was hoping Peanut would find you.”

“She met me here at your house.” His arms tightened, and she relaxed against him.

“Peanut came all this way? She followed us in the car?” She glanced at the amazing K-9, then leaned back to look into his eyes. “I knew you’d find me.”

“I’m so sorry I didn’t answer your phone call.” Regret filled his eyes. “I wish I had gone straight to the safe house rather than going in to interview perps with Dan Slater.”

“Don’t say that, West,” she chided gently. “You had a job to do.”

“I almost lost you,” he said. Then lowered his mouth to kiss her.

She hugged him tight, cherishing their embrace. She kissed him back, wishing he cared about her as much as she had come to love him.

Their embrace was interrupted by the arrival of Captain Ross. West let her go, and she ducked her head, hoping their boss hadn’t noticed what he’d walked in on.

“We found the key, Captain,” West said. “I believe it’s to a safety deposit box.”

“Do you know which bank?” Ross asked.

“I don’t know for sure,” she said, moving forward. “However, Bryan and I used the Waterville Bank just a few blocks from here during our brief marriage. He closed his account after our divorce.” She shrugged. “It’s worth a try.”

“Go check it out,” Ross demanded. “I’d like to know what this guy killed for.”

She reached for Gabriel’s car seat. West took it from her hand, then gestured for her to head outside. “We’ll try the Waterville Bank, first. If Little has a box there, we’ll get a warrant.”

“Sounds good to me.” She wasn’t about to argue. She wanted to know what her ex-husband had stolen. What he’d done that had put her and Gabriel in danger.

The trip to the bank took five minutes. She carried Gabriel inside, accompanied by West and Peanut. West asked to speak with a manager, and they were led to a small corner office.

“I’m Detective West Cole and this is Patrol Officer Trisha McCord.” West set the key on the man’s desk. “We need to know if Bryan Little, who is now deceased, has a safety deposit box here. If so, I’ll obtain a warrant to compel you to provide us access to the box.”

“One moment please.” The manager tapped keys on the computer, then looked up in surprise. “Mr. Little does have a box here, and he added Ms. Trisha McCord to have access to the box if he was deceased.”

Trisha was shocked by that news.

“Let’s see the box, then,” West said.

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