Page 32 of Deputies Under Fire
“Yes. Get the bomb squad out here now,” Rory ordered, “and block off the road in both directions.”
“Will do,” the dispatcher said before ending the call.
Again, that was going to be a long shot to accomplish the roadblock. Things like that took precious time, and anyone who did respond to block it off could be walking straight into an ambush.
“I don’t see a timer or detonator on the IED,” Rory muttered.
“Neither do I,” Eden acknowledged. “So maybe it’s like the one at the barn. If we step on it, it goes off.”
He made a sound of agreement and looked her in the eyes again. “If we have to get out, jump over the IED that’s on your side of the cruiser, but watch where you step. There could be other devices.”
She got another rush of adrenaline, and Eden had to try to stop the worst-case scenarios from playing out in her head. If she and Rory were both killed, Tyler would be an orphan. He could lose both of his parents in a blink.
And for what?
So a killer could throw chaos into the murder investigation? Or was this more personal than that?
She thought of their names being on Ike’s hit list. A list that Brenda might have composed simply to set up Ike. But what if she hadn’t done that? What if the killer had been the one to set her up?
If so, the list could be real.
With Rory and her the targets.
That thought was flashing through her head, but Eden forced herself to focus on a backup plan. Rory was clearly doing the same.
“If someone starts shooting at us,” he said, “don’t try to return fire. Shut your door and get down. Because a bullet could set off the IED.”
Definitely not something she wanted to happen.
As close as the IEDs were to them, the cruiser would be blown up. Maybe they would be, too. But at least there was a chance the cruiser would protect them enough so they could stay alive.
“If you hear an approaching vehicle,” he went on, “try to get out and dive to the side of the road.”
Again, not something she wanted to happen. Not with the threat of a shooter or more IEDs.
The seconds crawled by, and when her lungs started to ache, Eden had to remind herself to breathe. Had to try to settle her heartbeat, too, because it was thudding in her ears, blocking out too many sounds.
But she did hear one sound.
A welcome one.
It was a police siren, and it was coming from the direction of town. Seconds later, they got a call from Livvy.
“Are you two all right?” Livvy asked the moment Rory took the call on speaker.
“Been a whole lot better,” Rory replied. “Are you solo?”
“No. Bennie’s with me. We’re about three minutes out. What will we be up against when we get to you?”
Rory huffed. “Not sure, but for certain there are two IEDs and two spike strips. Slow down well before you get to Dead Man’s Bend.”
Livvy muttered some profanity. “We’re working on the roadblock,” she explained. “But it’s not in place yet.”
Which meant the worst-case scenario could kick in.
“No sign of who did all this?” Bennie asked.
“None,” Rory replied. “And I can’t see a vehicle on either of the two trails that are visible from where we’re stuck.” He paused. “It’s too risky for you to come close to us. You’ll have to wait for the bomb squad.”
