Page 56 of Christmas Homecoming Secrets
“No,” Jade said, “I don’t think so. There aren’t any pictures of you in these. He just probably didn’t want to make you feel like you had to be suspicious of everyone you worked with.”
She shook her head. “Who knows what was going through his mind? Look, you two, I hate to cut this short, but I’ve got to go.”
Jade blinked, her thumb hovering over the last button that would put her through to her captain. “Where are you going?”
Heather sighed. “I’m meeting with the funeral director.”
“I thought Lisa was taking care of that,” Bryce said.
“She is, but we finally talked and I told her I wanted to be there. ’Til death do us part, right?” She grabbed her purse from the end of the sofa. “I’ll talk to you later. I want to know what you get out of Dylan. Lock the door when you leave, please?”
“Sure,” Jade said.
Heather left, and Jade let out a low breath. She cleared the phone screen and looked at Bryce. “What if the captain’s involved?”
“Then telling him about Dylan isn’t going to help much.”
“What about my captain’s boss? Commander Chris Nelson?”
“You trust him?”
She huffed a short laugh. “Before all of this, I would have trusted my captain and Dylan, but yes, I trust him. I think I’m going to have to. Not every cop in the department is dirty. We just have to make sure we find the ones that are.”
“Trial and error? Sounds dangerous.”
“Gut instinct, too. The commander is a good man.” She paused. “But then, so is the captain. Argh!”
“I think telling the commander is a good place to start.”
She nodded. “All right, then let’s do that.” Jade headed for the door, and Bryce fell in behind her. She opened the door and twisted the small knob to ensure the door was locked when Bryce pulled it shut behind him. The sun broke through the clouds, warming her face in spite of the chill of the day. She enjoyed the moment while Sasha bounded ahead toward the car.
A loud crack sounded. Wood splintered from the door frame, and Jade ducked. “Get down!” She hadn’t finished her yell when Bryce grabbed her hand and pulled her across the front lawn toward the SUV.
“Sasha, car!” At Bryce’s order, the dog bounced after them, making a beeline for the SUV.
Another pop, and a bullet plowed into the ground to Jade’s side. Bryce pushed behind the vehicle, lost his balance and toppled next to her. She grabbed his wrist and yanked. Between her pull and using his good leg for more momentum, he was finally with her, safe behind the cover of the vehicle.
The police officers scrambled to return fire. One drove in the direction of the shooter, his tires squealing on the concrete. Calls went out over the radio. Another bullet slammed into the side of her SUV. “I can’t believe this,” Jade gasped. “Where are the bullets coming from?”
“Hard to tell.”
A crack and the back window of the patrol car parked behind her ruptured. “There,” she said. “I’m going after the shooter. I’m really tired of getting shot at and people trying to blow me up or burn me alive.”
Hunkered against the wind and hopefully any more incoming bullets, Jade started to her feet.
Only to find herself on the ground again, pulled down by Bryce who hovered over her. “Stay down! Stay down!”
Jade froze for a split second at his harsh cries. “Bryce!”
“Incoming!”He lifted his hand as though he held a radio and not a cell phone.
“Sasha, in,” Jade said. The dog obeyed. “Down, girl.” She lay on the seat, taking up most of it. “Bryce, get in the car and keep your head down.” He moved, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Sasha nosed Bryce. Then licked his face. He shuddered, eyes still glazed, but aware. “Bryce, can I hug you?” Jade asked, knowing that sometimes a hug worked to help calm someone in the midst of a PTSD moment.
He glanced at her and nodded. She scooted closer and wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him as tight as she could. When she felt him relax, she slowly released her hold and lifted her eyes to his. He blinked and for a split second, horror registered. Then embarrassment and finally, shame. “It’s okay,” she said. “You had a PTSD moment. A flashback.”
“No. No, I didn’t.” But he leaned his head into Sasha’s massive shoulder and shuddered.
The denial shattered her heart, the pain so intense, she gasped. “Right.”
