Page 72 of Risk Assessment
“Affirmative,” Gabe nodded.
Josh was yelling again. Raleigh didn’t have much longer because this clearly wasn’t going the way Josh had planned.
“Things are deteriorating. Local LEOs are still too far out.” The sirens were audible, but he’d guess they were still a good five to seven minutes from being on the scene and able to react.
“We go on your word,” Gabe said.
Dylan listened for the sirens again but it was no good. He was going to have to intervene. He knew in his heart that he was over what happened to Georgie. It was not his fault. He would have no problem kicking down doors again. “I’m going in.”
Josh’s broken rantings were audible through the wooden door. Raleigh’s time was up. He just prayed she’d be okay.
Staying low, Dylan left the shelter of the cabin’s wall and ran across the path and through the scrub. He moved down until he was opposite the cabin Raleigh and Josh were in. He dashed across the open ground and came quietly up the far side of the porch. He did a quick peek in the window.
Josh was against the back wall with one arm banded around Raleigh’s shoulders while the other hand pressed a wicked serrated knife to her throat.
Dylan took a deep breath and moved to the door. He slowly pushed it open with his left hand and tightened his grip on the gun in his right.
Josh ducked his head down behind Raleigh’s and put the knife right against Raleigh’s skin. “Drop your gun or I’ll kill her. I mean it! Drop your weapon!”
“I can’t do that, Josh. Not while you’re holding that knife.” Dylan spoke calmly, in an even tone.
“Put itdown!” Josh yelled again.
“Raleigh, are you okay?” Dylan asked. Their gazes locked.
Raleigh’s panic filled eyes speared at his heart. He would not let her down. She tried to speak but Josh dug the knife in against her skin. A thin line of blood appeared on her vulnerable skin. She bit her bottom lip and nodded.
“Josh, I know you don’t want to kill Raleigh. I bet you love her. That’s what the flowers and notes were all about.”
“What do I care if she lives or dies?” he snarled. “She lied to me. She keeps making stupid mistakes that cause problems. This whole mess is her fault!”
“I hear you. Women are like that. They make a mess of things. That’s why they need us to take care of things. Clean up their messes.”
Dylan noted Raleigh’s frown. She had to know he was just trying to appease Josh. He locked gazes with her again and tried to send her the message.Just hang in there.
Her skin was alabaster, her pupils were abnormally large, and her wrists were restrained in front of her waist. Her feet were splayed at an unnatural angle, as if she had no muscle control. Was there something wrong with her? Could she move her limbs? What the hell had Josh given her?
He tried again. “You wanted to help Raleigh, didn’t you? You wanted to help her be the best that she could be. She was going to help you too, wasn’t she?” He moved sideways out of the doorway.
“Yes! It was going to be perfect! Why did she have to ruin it?”
“Josh, women are just a pain in the butt. They tell you they want one thing, but really, they want something else entirely. I mean, who can figure them out?”Sorry, Raleigh.
Josh’s head peeked out from behind Raleigh’s a bit.
“I think you were just going along, doing your thing, and Raleigh here tripped you up. It’s her fault you’re in this mess, right? You’re a smart guy. You had it all figured out. You were helping Calvin get elected. You’re his right-hand man.”
Josh’s head came up a little bit more. “I’m going to be his Deputy Mayor once he gets elected.”
“Clark’s been singing your praises the entire weekend.”
“Ha! You lie!” Josh’s head disappeared behind Raleigh’s. “Now drop the gun or I’ll kill her!”
“Okay, Josh,” Dylan put both hands out. “I’ll put my gun down. No need to hurt Raleigh.” He didn’t think it was possible, but Raleigh’s eyes got bigger and her skin turned paper white.
Dylan bent down slowly, keeping his hands in plain sight, holding the butt of the gun. Gabe and Connor were on either side of the door on the porch and Jaxon was by the window. If Josh moved to hurt Raleigh, Dylan knew his team would take the shot if they had it. He hated that scenario, but the end goal was to make sure Raleigh was fine, whatever that took. He had to put his gun down. He placed it on the floor.
“Kick it over here.”
