getting killed wouldn’t help anyone. She didn’t normally worry about that, but in her line of work, she never kidded herself that it couldn’t happen. People got real testy when you took their kids away from them. And sometimes she had to go into areas it was best she didn’t go.
At least not without backup.
She glanced back at her car, then at her watch. Where was the officer? Scanning the area, she spotted a neighbor directly across from her. The woman caught her eye, then stepped back to close the door.
People around here minded their own business. It was safer that way.
She took another step up and held on to the rickety railing. Her nose twitched. The smell of ammonia hung in the air. A hose ran the length of the trailer to disappear into a cracked window.
She knocked again. “Jordan? Come on.”
A clanging sounded to her left. She jerked and turned, slow and easy. Had one of the neighbors dropped something? Kicked a metal can?
Nothing. No, wait.... A shadow? Was someone around the corner of the trailer?
Her gaze flitted from one trailer to the next, looking for any sign of life. Deserted was the word that came to mind. Or everyone was in hiding.
A bad feeling gathered in her midsection, and her pulse picked up speed as her adrenaline surged.
She glanced back toward the end of the trailer where she thought she’d seen the shadow. Was someone watching her?
Ever since Steven had been murdered four weeks ago, she’d felt watched. Spied on. And right now she definitely didn’t feel safe. She glanced back at her car, then swiveled to look at the trailer. But what if Jordan was in there and he needed her? What if he was hurt?
She called the Wrangler’s Corner dispatch. Tara answered. “I’m at the Prescott trailer. Where’s my backup, Tara?”
“He’s on the way. Should be pulling in any minute.”
“Tell him I’ll be waiting in my car.”
“Will do.”
She hung up.
A low wail from inside the trailer reached her ears. She gasped. A baby crying? Or at least a young child. Or was it some sort of animal?
Oh, Lord, please tell me what to do.
She lifted her chin. Only one thing to do when no one answered the door and she thought a kid might need help.
She twisted the knob and felt her heart sink.
The door was locked.
She’d spun to head back to her car to find out where her backup was when a loud crack sounded, followed by a thud near her left ear.
Sabrina froze for a split second. Had someone just shot at her?
* * *
Sheriff’s deputy Clay Starke wheeled to a stop in front of the beat-up trailer. He heard the sharp crack and saw the side of the trailer spit metal.
A shooter.
The woman on the porch careened down the steps and bolted toward him. Terror radiated from her, spiking his adrenaline. He shoved open the door to the passenger side. “Get in!”
Breathless, she landed in the passenger seat and slammed the door. Eyes wide, pupils dark black holes in the blue surrounding them, she lifted shaking hands to push her blond hair out of her eyes.
Clay got on his radio and reported shots fired at the Prescott trailer.
He glanced through the back of the squad car. If someone was shooting, they needed to be somewhere else. He cranked the car and started to back out of the drive.
She grabbed his arm. “No! We can’t leave!”
“What?” He stepped on the brakes. “Lady, if someone’s shooting, I’m getting you out of here.”
She whirled to look out the back, then whipped around to stare at the trailer. “But I think Jordan’s in there and I can’t leave without him.”
“Jordan?”
“A boy I work with. He called me for help. He sounded scared. I’m worried he might be hurt.”
Clay put the car back in Park. “Then stay down and let me check it out.”
She grabbed his arm. “But if you get out, he might shoot you.”
That would definitely ruin his day, but if a kid was in trouble...
He waited. No more shots. “Stay put. I think he might be gone.”
“Or waiting for one of us to get out of the car.”
True. He could feel her gaze on him, studying him, dissecting him. He frowned. “What is it?”
“You.”
He shot a glance behind them, then let his eyes rove the area until he’d gone in a full circle and was once again looking into her pretty face. “What about me?”
Red crept into her cheeks. “You look so much like Steven. Are you his brother?”
He stilled, focusing in on her. “I’m Clay Starke. You knew my brother?”
“Clay? I’m Sabrina Mayfield. Steven and I were good friends. He talked about you so often, I feel like I know you well.”
Sabrina Mayfield. Wow. “We’ll have to catch up later. Can you give me details about what’s going on here?”
“One of my clients called me. He doesn’t actually live here, but this is where he asked me to meet him.” She met his gaze. “I don’t know what he’s doing here, but he said he thought he knew who killed Steven and he needed me to come get him.”
Shock raced through Clay. Finally. After weeks with nothing, this could be the break he’d been looking for. “Then I want to know what he knows.”
“Well, we have to find him first.” She paused and looked out the window. “Without getting shot, preferably.”
Clay checked in with backup. “What’s your ETA?”
“Five minutes.”
Clay stiffened. “Why so long? I’ve got a possible shooter here!”
“Car wreck on I-40. Fatalities involved. All units responded. Now I’ve got two heading your way as fast as they can. More coming ASAP. Sit tight and don’t take any unnecessary risks.”
Right. He’d heard the car-wreck call but hadn’t thought about it, since he’d already had his assignment.
And there hadn’t been any reports of shots when he’d gotten it. Great. He had a possible shooter and was on his own with a woman and a possible kid
