Zimmermans are ready to leave. We’ll stay put until you call back.” His grip on the cell tightened. That gut feeling he’d had earlier clamored against his skull, demanding to be heard.
Chloe watched him as he slipped his phone back into his pocket and evened out his expression. Although she wasn’t as easy to read as in the past, it was clear when concern invaded her eyes.
He moved closer to her and whispered, “The driver didn’t answer. I’m going out to the parking lot to see what has happened. You stay here and guard the Zimmermans. I’ll call you and let you know what’s going on. Lock the door after I leave.”
He started to turn away, but she grasped his arm. “I won’t open that door unless you tell me it looks like it’s going to rain. Okay?”
“Yes.”
She didn’t release her grip. “Be careful. I don’t have a good feeling about this.”
Just like I don’t. Which only reinforced the suspicion something was wrong.
Nodding, he strode toward the exit, ushering the two organizers out of the room in front of him. The sound of the lock clicking into place didn’t quiet the alarms going off in his mind. He could think of a hundred reasons the driver hadn’t answered the call—most of them bad.
He left the church through the back door, his gaze sweeping the area around him before he stepped out into the cold February day. A brisk wind blew from the west, slamming against his torso as he headed around the side of the church where the driver was supposed to have parked the limousine. Fifteen yards away, he spied the car where it should be.
The windows were darkened, so when T.J. stared into the vehicle, he couldn’t see the driver. Anywhere, inside or out.
Then T.J. noticed the tire nearest him had been slashed. From where he stood he could see the back one, too. Flat. His stomach clenched. Adrenaline pumped through his body as he pulled his gun from his holster. While he scanned the parking lot, he made his way to the limo. His heartbeat picked up speed as adrenaline flooded his system.
He circled the limo quickly. Two more flat tires. No one hiding behind the car. When he returned to the driver’s side, he yanked open the passenger door. No one hiding there, either. Then he turned his attention to the front. When T.J. opened the door, there was no sign of the driver or where he might be.
T.J. pushed a button on the side panel, then hurried to the back of the limo. When he lifted the trunk, his breath bottled in his lungs. He’d found the driver.
TWO
Chloe paced in the room above the auditorium. She should have heard from T.J. by now. This didn’t bode well. Tension held her tighter with each minute that ticked away until she felt like a walking statue. When her cell rang, she came to a halt. It was T.J.’s phone calling.
“Yes?” she said with wariness. Please let him be okay.
“The driver was knocked out and locked in the trunk of the limousine. All the tires have been slashed. I’m coming into the church now with the driver. I wanted you to know what happened before I call the police.” A slight breathlessness to his words indicated he was hurrying to get back to the room.
“I’ll call. I know some people on the police force.” She disconnected and immediately placed a call to a detective who was a friend and filled him in on where they were and what had happened, then she called for an ambulance.
A knock cut through the sudden silence in the room as Mary and Paul listened to Chloe’s conversation with Detective Rob Matthews. Paul started for the door.
“Don’t! Let me.” Sliding her phone into her pocket, then drawing her gun, Chloe hurried to cut him off. He stopped, his eyes huge as he looked from her to Mary.
“There was a problem at the limo. Someone knocked out the driver and slashed the tires.” Chloe clasped the handle and motioned for Paul and Mary to stand in the corner, out of the line of fire. When they had moved, she asked, “Who is it?”
“T.J. here. It looks like it’s going to rain.” His deep, husky voice penetrated the barrier of wood between them.
The smooth sound of his words sent relief through her—and something else, a flutter deep in her stomach. She dismissed the reaction, chalking it up to being glad he was all right. She couldn’t afford to fall for T.J. again. She unlocked the door and swung it open while keeping her gun ready at her side.
T.J. helped the stunned driver into the room as Chloe shut the door and threw the lock—not that it would stop someone really determined to get inside. In fact, she could probably pick the lock in under a minute.
Mary rushed from the corner with Paul right behind her. When she reached the driver, she waved her hand toward the nearest chair. “I’ve had some first-aid training. Let me check him.”
The Zimmermans tended to the man, who responded to Mary’s questions about how he felt as she looked into his eyes, then examined the back of his head. When she probed with her fingertips, the young man winced.
“How long until the police and paramedics arrive?” T.J. asked Chloe, drawing her attention to him.
“I called a friend, Rob Matthews, who is on duty and will send some patrol officers. He’s on his way, too, but they’ll get here first. Maybe ten minutes out. Does the driver know what happened?”
“He was groggy. I wanted to get in here before questioning him. I kept thinking it might have been a diversion.”
“It’s been quiet.”
Mary crossed the room to the counter where there was a sink and wetted some paper towels. As she made her way back to the driver, Paul walked over to them, his color pale.
“What’s going on?” His voice wavered.
“Not sure. At best, another harassment.” T.J. started for the driver and Mary.
“And the worst?” Paul followed.
“The attacker is out there waiting to do something else, most likely to you and your wife.”
T.J.’s declaration caused Paul to falter.
Chloe grasped his arm and steadied him. “That’s why we’re here. To protect you and Mary.” She looked toward T.J. and was comforted he was her partner. He exuded a self-assurance that would keep the Zimmermans as composed as possible under the circumstances. She’d discovered that was important when events turned bad.
“What should we do?” Paul asked Chloe.
“Pray. The police are on the way. They’ll check the surrounding area and the church. Right now it’s best if we stay in here until we’re given the all-clear sign from them.” She schooled her voice into a calm, even tone.
“How are we getting back to the house?”
“I’ll ask my detective friend to take us. The driver needs to be checked out by a doctor. The paramedics coming will take care of him. From the looks of it, he might have a concussion.”
As
