Page 69 of Secret Stalker

Even the thunder had stopped, and the rain had slowed to a gentle mist.

Max slowly lifted his head.

Deacon Caldwell lay in the mud twenty feet away, his sightless eyes staring up at the moon overhead. And behind him, standing with the aid of a cane, was his father. Holding a pistol. He stared a long moment at Max and Bex. Then his shoulders slumped and he slowly lowered the gun. Without a word, he dropped it in the mud and started hobbling back down the slope.

Bex pushed herself up on her elbows, her eyes wide and frightened. “What just happened?”

“Deacon’s father saved our lives. I have no idea why.”

She blinked as if she couldn’t comprehend what he was saying. And then she covered her face with her hands and collapsed against him, great gasping sobs making her entire body shake.

“Ah, honey.” Max scooped her up in his arms and rocked her against him.

The hillside erupted into chaos. Max’s SWAT team descended upon them, securing the scene. Thornton started barking out orders. And soon a team of EMTs was racing up the hill.

Max didn’t wait for them. He ran with his precious burden to a waiting ambulance.

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