Page 31 of Summer Heatwave
Kam leaned over into the bushes in front of her home and threw up.Still holding her phone, she could hear Mike yelling her name.When she was sure her stomach was completely empty of all the coffee and the excuse for supper Jeremy had grabbed from the pizzeria down the street, Kam ignored her training and trudged into her kitchen.Her throat was so dry and raw.She grabbed two bottles of water and hoped that would be enough to quench her thirst.
Once back on her porch, she plopped down in the same spot where she’d been sitting previously.
“Kam, I’m on my way over.Talk to me.Kam, are you all right?”
After chugging half a bottle of water, Kam felt saturated enough to speak.“They were here.Waiting for me.”She knew her voice shook but damn it, she was talking to Mike.She felt as though it was okay not to be the strong, tough cop who’d seen it all.
Now, she’d done it all.“I killed them.”Her throat constricted around the words.
“Fuck.”The single word was drawn out.Kam knew exactly how Mike felt.“Have you called the cops yet?”
“Yeah, they’re on their way.”She heard sirens in the distance.She wasn’t sure if her ears were still messed up or if they’d sent more than one patrol car.Then she realized that they’d send homicide detectives and eventually the medical examiner.She sent up a silent prayer to heaven that the ME would be her friend, Audra.
“Kam, I want you to stay on the phone with me until I arrive.I’m only a few minutes away.”Just the cadence of his voice was helping her breathe slower.“Did I hear you get sick?”
“Yeah,” she hated to confess, but it was Mike.After everything they’d talked about, she felt as though she could tell the man anything and he wouldn’t condemn her.“I threw up in the bushes out front.At least I didn’t damage the crime scene.”Although she had walked back in for the water, something she’d have to tell the detectives.
“You have any idea who they were?What they wanted?”Kam heard Mike’s truck start with a rumble and tires squeal.
“Oh, yes.”Admitting it out loud was cathartic.“Asshole number two spray-painted a message for me over my bed.‘Stop or die.’With the initials B.D.underneath.I’m quite sure B.D.doesn’t stand for bastard dickhead but the title fits.”She giggled, most likely from adrenalin.“You know what this means, though—I’m getting close.”
“I know.”Mike didn’t sound happy about it.“I’m almost there.And so is the cop in front of me.”
Blue lights flashing, a patrol car pulled into the middle of her parking lot and an officer stepped out, shielded by the car door.“Ma’am, are you still armed?”
Without hanging up the phone on Mike, she held up her pistol by the butt and yelled, “Yes.”
Slowly, she took a few steps forward, laid the gun on the sidewalk, then returned to her position on the stoop.“That’s the gun I used.”She didn’t finish the sentence because several people in the neighborhood had come out to watch the excitement.
A second police officer jumped out of the car with a large inside-out baggie.Without directly touching the weapon, he picked it up using the bag itself and sealed it inside.
Kam pulled out her gold federal badge and waved it in the air.“I’m a federal officer.This is my home.”She couldn’t ignore the whispers from her neighbors.
She stood and called over her shoulder.“Please return to your homes.Officers will be by to ask you questions shortly.”At that pronouncement, people scurried back into their houses.The clicks of locks and deadbolts echoed.
A second patrol car with lights flashing pulled into the parking lot.Right behind him was a black SUV that Kam knew well.She wanted to run and throw herself into Mike’s arms, but she knew if she stepped off the porch, there was a damn good chance she’d be shot.Mike pulled into an empty slot and sprinted across the lot, ignoring the policeman.
He leapt onto the porch and pulled her into his arms.“Oh, Kam, I’m here for you.”
Her arms automatically went around his neck and she buried her face in his shoulder.“Thank you for coming.”
She felt his lips on her temple before he said, “I’ll always come for you.”
“Sir, we have to ask you to leave the crime scene,” a policewoman said from the sidewalk.
Kam recognized that voice.She whipped out of Mike’s arms and stood between him and the approaching police officers.“He’s with me, and he’s not leaving.”
Emilee’s jaw dropped.“Kam.I had no idea this was your house.Are you all right?”
After glancing over her shoulder at Mike, Kam nodded to her friend.“Getting better by the minute.”
“Since you were a cop, you know this is going to take a while.”Emilee approached casually.“Until we’re ready for you, why don’t you just have a seat out here?”She then smiled at Mike and held out her hand.“I’m Sergeant Emilee Zarate, a friend of Kam’s.”
Mike stepped forward and shook her hand.“Nice to meet you.I’m Commander Mike Gallagher.”He gave Kam a side-eyed glance.“I’m also a friend of Kam’s.”When he slid his arm around her shoulder and kissed her temple, he staked his claim for anyone watching, including her friend.
Emilee sniffed then glared at Mike.“Did you get sick?”
“Not hardly.”He jerked his thumb over his shoulder.“I haven’t seen what happened inside, but I can assure you, I’ve seen a hundred times worse.”He gave Kam a one-armed hug.“The first time is the hardest.”
