He shook hands with a few of the volunteers and went to his truck. When he’d taken over as chief, he’d directed dispatch to give him immediate updates on criminal activity calls, however minor. Kids in a small town had a tendency to grow bored and get into mischief.
He fired up his truck and pulled away from the command center, grateful for the successful mission. Another life saved.
“Dispatch, this is Chief Walsh, over.”
“Sir, there’s been a 911 call reporting a wounded, possibly dead body, and the female witness says the killer is still on the premises, over.”
Adrenaline rushed through his bloodstream. “Address?”
“We’re looking it up, over.”
“The witness couldn’t tell you?” What kind of fruitcake didn’t know where she was?
“She had directions, but no address. She works for Echo Mountain Rentals, over.”
Nate’s blood ran cold. Cassie worked for Echo Mountain Rentals. Cassie, his best friend’s sister with the sparkling blue eyes and a contagious smile.
“Did the caller give you her name?”
“Cassie McBride.”
Nate gripped the radio so hard he thought it might crack in his hand.
“I need that address, over,” he said.
“One minute, over.”
He didn’t have a minute. A sweet, lighthearted young woman who looked at the world through a veil of optimism was in trouble. Cassie trusted too easily and believed in the goodness of all and the glory of God.
She hadn’t been tainted by life’s tragedies, and wouldn’t be able to cope with a crisis, much less a violent perp.
“The address?” Nate snapped, pulling onto Highway Two.
“5427 Reflection Pass Drive. We still have an open line to her phone, over.”
“Patch it through, over,” he said.
“Yes, sir, over.”
“Alert all available officers. Did you dispatch an ambulance, over?”
“Yes, sir, over.”
Nate gripped the steering wheel with his left hand and held on to the radio with his right. Coordinates indicated he was about five minutes out.
Hang on, Cassie. I’m coming.
What was she doing up there at this time of night? She should be relaxing in her apartment above the tea shop with a good book, not working. Then he remembered why she’d taken a second, part-time job with the rental company: to earn money for travel.
The thought of her traveling alone didn’t sit well with Nate or her big brother, Aiden. If she could stumble into trouble in her own hometown, Nate shuddered to think what could happen to her in a foreign country.
But she wasn’t gone, not yet. She was in danger right here in Echo Mountain. Nate pressed down on the accelerator and flipped the lights. It might get folks talking, but he didn’t care.
All he cared about was getting to Cassie. Making sure she was okay.
His phone rang, and he recognized Aiden’s number.
“Chief Walsh,” he answered.
“Sorry to bother you, but my little sister was supposed to stop by Mom’s and she’s late and hasn’t called.”
“I’m heading up to Reflection Pass now.”
“Reflection Pass? Why?”
“Cassie called 911,” Nate said.
“What’s wrong? Is she okay?”
“I’ll let you know as soon as I get to her. Just hang tight.”
“Where is she? I’m coming.”
Just then, sounds from Cassie’s phone echoed over the radio.
“I’ve gotta go.” Nate ended the call. He held his breath as he listened.
“Deep breathing, doggie,” Cassie’s gentle voice whispered through the radio.
Nate’s fingers wrapped tighter around the steering wheel.
“Just like REI,” she said.
He realized she was climbing down the mountain to get away from danger.
“Cassie, no,” he ground out. She didn’t have proper gear and wasn’t a seasoned climber.
A few seconds later, a soft shriek echoed through his car. His heart pounded against his chest. What happened? Did she fall?
“Where did you go?” a male voice called.
The perp was there? Stalking her? Nate slammed his palm against the steering wheel.
“Cassie McBride?” the man called.
How did he know her name? Nate grabbed the radio. “Dispatch, how close are the patrol cars to Reflection Pass Drive, over?”
“About a minute out, over.”
“Tell them to hit the sirens.”
“Copy that.”
A woman’s moan floated across the inside of his truck. He glanced at the radio, then back at the road. Two minutes; he had to be only two minutes out.
“Is that you down there?” a man said.
Nate flipped on his siren and floored it.
The next few minutes were a blur. It took all of Nate’s self-control to keep the panic from turning him into a raving lunatic. He reined in his temper. Locals had been worried about giving the chief’s position to a thirtysomething like Nate, from a big city. Folks didn’t think he had the patience for being chief of a small town.
He was determined to prove them wrong. Echo Mountain had become his home. He’d moved here three years ago to support his sister and her teenage son. He’d been absent from their lives far too long, playing protector for the rest of the world. He’d been pretty good at it, until he’d failed Dean.
He would not fail Cassie.
As he pulled onto Reflection Pass Drive, two patrol cars turned the corner up ahead. Nate sped toward the house, parking behind Cassie’s little red car. He whipped his door open and motioned to officers James “Red” Carrington and Ryan McBride. “Red, search the house. McBride, you’re with me.”
Nate hoped that seeing her cousin Ryan McBride might comfort Cassie. Red drew his weapon and entered the house.
Nate
