Page 37 of Every Which Way

The car engine revved.

“No, no, no!”

Maizie hit the gas, and the car lurched forward fast, but she didn’t turn the wheel. As Kenna jumped two at a time down the stairs, she could only watch while her car raced at the next row of vehicles and slammed into an SUV head-on.

Almost as soon as it had set off, it was stationary again.

The passenger’s door flung open, and Roxanne stumbled out, scrambling to stand before she took off in the direction the car had come. Away from Kenna.

Ramon said, “I’ll get her.” He raced by her and off the bottom of the stairs to sprint after Roxanne.

Kenna jumped down the last step.

Above them, the shotgun ratcheted and exploded. Kenna ducked her head and angled right, running under the level above so that the guy couldn’t aim at her. Ramon raced away, not caring one bit that the guy fired again. Buckshot sprayed out in his direction.

Fully focused on the woman who had just tried to abduct Maizie, Ramon didn’t even care that he could get shot.

Don’t get shot.

She ran to the far side of the SUV and along the driver’s side, keeping her head down. Above her, she could hear the two of them fighting. The front desk employee came out of the door, talking on a phone. Hopefully, calling 911.

Kenna got her front car door open, reached under the airbag, and shut the engine off. She eased Maizie back from the airbag and watched her blink.

“I don’t think you need to learn to drive just yet.”

Air puffed out from between Maizie’s lips.

Something clattered to the ground behind Kenna. She turned far enough to see the shotgun lying on the sidewalk. Above, on the balcony, the partly clothed guy and his stringy-haired girlfriend were making out, and he had her pinned against the wall, her legs wrapped around his waist.

Kenna could not even. “Gross.” She turned back to Maizie, her priority here. “Hi.” She touched the teen’s cheek. “You’re gonna have two black eyes, and tomorrow, you’re gonna feel like you got hit by a truck.”

“Hurts.”

“We’re gonna get you taken care of. Don’t worry.” She had a million questions, but all she needed to do was keep reassuring Maizie…and find her ID.

A black-and-white police car pulled into the parking lot, lights and sirens flashing. An ambulance followed it.

Kenna waved them over. The cop had her step aside and explain what’d happened. His partner went to the stairs to talk to the couple, and she stayed with him. Kenna glanced at the EMT, easing Maizie from the car so she could climb onto the wheeled chair they’d unfolded. After a brief assessment, they handed her an ice pack for her face.

The girl looked dazed and not entirely aware of what was going on.

So long as they took care of her, Kenna didn’t care about much else right now. She watched for Ramon with part of her attention.

The cop, a guy with blond hair and a soft voice, said, “I’m going to need her ID and yours.”

Kenna retrieved it from the car, noting Maizie’s laptop was still in there. She tugged the backpack closed over it and tried to figure out why on earth Roxanne would be here. Paying those people to distract Kenna and Ramon, all so she could slip into the car. And…what? Kidnap Maizie so she could coerce Kenna into doing whatever she wanted?

Whatever the reason, Maizie hadn’t let that happen.

She handed the driver’s license to the cop, holding the backpack close to her front.

“She’s over eighteen, then?”

Kenna nodded, assuming that’s what the ID said. She actually had no idea. Right now, she could barely even think, which didn’t bode well if he was going to ask a bunch of questions.

Another car pulled into the parking lot. One she was familiar with. Langford and Davis. All she wanted to do right now was keep Maizie safe. That took priority over everything, eclipsing even her need for justice in a way that surprised her.

She leaned against her car and spotted Ramon jogging back to them. He caught her gaze and shook his head.

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