Page 158 of The Grave Artist
Carmen waved back.
There was a beat of a moment.
And then Allison raised an Uzi machine pistol. She aimed toward the trio, pulling the trigger and sending a fusillade of bullets their way.
“Down!” Carmen cried as the others dropped to the asphalt. She went for her gun but saw that she could not get a bead on Allison, who was using the open door for cover.
Then Allison spotted another target, one she could hit without exposing herself to return fire from Carmen.
Mouse had just walked from the building and stood fifty feet away, frozen in place.
Allison aimed at her, as Carmen tried to acquire a clear-sight picture—but she had no workable shot.
Uzis have short barrels and fire a small-caliber bullet, but they’re accurate—and lethal enough at this range.
“Mouse!” she called out to her. “Down.”
The woman crouched but was still an easy target.
Just as Allison centered her weapon, another vehicle skidded to a stop inside the gate to the parking lot. It was a small SUV, a black Ford Edge. The door swung out and a towering mountain of a man wearing a black leather jacket stepped out fast, smoothly drawing a pistol as he sank into a tactical stance. Unlike Carmen, he had an unobstructed view of Allison Brock, and he fired three times. She grabbed her chest, dropped her gun and slumped to the ground.
Carmen shifted her Glock toward the unknown shooter, who lowered his gun and shouted, “I’m a friendly.”
“Weapon on the ground, step away.”
“Yes, Agent Sanchez.”
He knows me?
The man followed orders, placing the pistol at his feet and taking two steps back with his hands in the air, one of which held an open wallet.
As Heron called 9-1-1 and Mouse returned to the Garage to summon help, she approached and secured Allison’s gun and then examined the ID that the newcomer displayed. His name was DeLeon Blake, and he was a security consultant. His license to carry a firearm was in order.
Accompanied by Mouse, Liam Grange ran from the building, weapon in hand. Then slowed after assessing that the danger had been neutralized.
“Explain,” Carmen said to Blake.
“I work for your late father’s boss, Carl Overton. After Selina came to him asking about your father’s clients, he hired me to keep tabs on her. She told him a stalker was following her, and he was worried about her safety.” He grimaced. “Did the best I could but she gave me the slip.”
“What’s this about a stalker, Sel—?”
Carmen turned to her sister.
And gasped.
“Carmen ...” Selina’s voice was weak. She removed her hand from her chest, revealing the hole from one of Allison’s bullets. It was just above her heart.
“I think . . . maybe I should . . .”
Selina slumped to her knees.
Chapter 79
Jake and Sanchez sat side by side in identical orange chairs of the UCLA Medical Center emergency room.
They’d been here for a half hour but, to Jake, it seemed like forever.
He was aware of another visitor entering the area and walking their way, but he was visible only in silhouette.
