Page 67 of Protecting the White Bear

No.

Same old thing. Okay, go for it.

Wearing the delivery guy's hat, Andy carried the hot pizzas up the sidewalk as slowly as possible, hoping Roger and some others would be there soon. Though they would probably all get some grief over this operation. It wasn't something they were assigned to do.

The sidewalk wasn't clear, so he had trouble reaching the doorway, just like when they were trekking through the woods to the cabin.

He realized he should have told Roger not to run lights or sirens to alert the house occupants. It was too late to warn him, but hopefully, he would realize the danger to him and Monica if he did so.

Thankfully, the house had no security cameras, and he didn't see a doorbell camera either. He finally reached the snow-covered porch and rang the doorbell. He couldn't hear it ring, so he thought it might not work. He knocked on the door. Again, no answer.

He hoped that didn't mean that Eloise had looked out the window, recognized him, and was rapidly getting her friends together to escape. But then she finally said through the door, "I paid for the pizza! Just leave it on the doorstep like usual."

He swore she sounded like she'd been drinking. This wasn't exactly what he had planned to happen. He set the pizzas on the snow. He didn't want to return to the van. He wanted to grab her and take her into custody as soon as she opened the door.

What if she was watching to ensure he left and returned to his van before she opened the door? She might be paranoid about the cops coming to get her. She was smart if she was.

He turned and headed back to the van, texting Monica:Eloise sounds like she's drunk. She didn't open the door to me, so I had to leave the pizzas. I'm returning to the van.

Roger pulled in front of Andy’s SUV so fast that his patrol car slipped on ice and nearly rammed it. Andy realized he'd beenholding his breath, expecting a collision. Talk about it being a failed mission if that had happened.

Andy moved to the driver's side of the van and gave the driver his hat back. "Okay, we're going to start heading that way. Slowly, as if you were afraid of slipping on ice."

"To hide you."

"Yes. Just think of this as your heroic duty."

"I didn't want to get involved."

"You are just doing your civic duty." Andy backed up while the delivery guy moved his van toward Roger’s car.

As soon as the van was out of view of Eloise's house, the pizza guy hightailed it out of there and Andy joined Roger.

"We've got a slew of officers headed this way." Roger sounded tense and excited simultaneously. "You know someone will say this isn't our job."

"Yeah, but we got the intel, and we're backing up the FBI agent on the case."

"Isn't she on leave for her injuries?"

"Slight technicality. There aren't any other agents in the area."

"Speaking of which, where is she?" Roger asked.

"Behind the house in case they start to escape." Andy and Roger hid in some shrubs while watching the front door.

Finally, the door opened, and Eloise, dressed in pajamas and slippers, leaned down to get the pizzas, dropped one, and tried again, cursing all the while.

Then she slammed the door shut, knocking icicles off the roof's edge.

They waited until four more patrol vehicles showed up and parked out of view of the house, but on the other side of the driveway. Again, Andy hoped no one would see the police force and alert Eloise.

Suddenly, the garage door began to open. They were making a run for it, at least Andy assumed.

Out back, he heard, "Stop! FBI!"

Hell, he needed to protect Monica. "Stop whoever is leaving in the car!" Andy told Roger.

He raced around the side of the house to find Lionel running through the deep snow with Monica in hot pursuit. At least it was just a case of one-on-one, and she wasn't outnumbered. But then Teague ran out the house's back door after Lionel and Monica.

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