Page 51 of Constant Risk
The guy wasn’t expecting the move from Tanner, obviously betting on the fact that Tanner wouldn’t shoot and never considering Tanner wouldn’t just get out of the way.
The bigger they are the harder they fall was a saying for a reason, and this guy hitting the ground hard just further proved it.
Penelope had asked him not to shoot the perp, and Tanner didn’t. But that didn’t stop him from clocking the guy in the jaw with his elbow when he tried to stand back up and get away again.
“You have the right to remain silent. You’re under arrest, you son of a bitch.”
The guy grunted and threw a punch at Tanner. He saw stars as the guy’s meaty fist caught him on the jaw.
Tanner returned the favor with a blow of his own, flipping the guy over while he was dazed. “You have the right to remain silent, although I personally hope you’ll sing like a canary.”
Tanner didn’t even care that he was making a mockery of the Miranda rights. Somebody was going to have to reread them to him when they arrested him for real. Tanner was basically babysitting until then. Babysitting a six-foot-two, two-hundred-pound baby struggling to get away from him, but babysitting nonetheless.
It was only a few more seconds before some members of the SWAT team burst through the door and ran up to Tanner, taking over the arrest process. Tanner was more than happy to let them do it.
Whitaker came rushing around the corner, weapon drawn. He holstered it when he saw the SWAT team had the situation well under control.
Whitaker brought his walkie-talkie closer to his mouth. “Penelope, we’ve got the suspect in custody.”
“Good,” the woman responded. “We’ve got the victim. She’s alive and still out of danger with the water. We’ve got it turned off, but evidently this guy didn’t know we were coming like Elliot did.”
Tanner brought up his own walkie-talkie. “Penelope, I’ve got to go. I have reason to think Bree might be in danger.” He looked over at Whitaker.
The man shook his head. “The officers should’ve already been in contact with her and reported back. I haven’t heard anything.”
The walkie-talkie clicked back on. “You two go. There’s nothing you can do now anyway. I think we caught this guy before he could contact the others, so we definitely need to find Bree to figure out our next move.”
Tanner and Whitaker were running for the car before she even finished the sentence. As soon as they got inside, they were both on the phone—Tanner trying Bree’s cell again and Whitaker calling the officers who should have found her already.
Tanner once again got no response and whatever Whitaker heard had him cursing.
“Well, did you talk to any of the employees and ask if they’d seen her?”
Whitaker didn’t like whatever the officer answered and Tanner could feel his heart begin to hammer.
“We’ll be there in less than five minutes. Make sure you’ve checked every possible spot in that café that she could be. Bathrooms. Storage room. Bree can sometimes want to have privacy, so check the places that might seem unusual to you.”
What Whitaker was saying was right, but why would Bree be hiding when it had been such a short time? Why would she leave the safety of the coffeehouse at all?
She wouldn’t. She’d be working.
It was all Tanner could do not to yell at Whitaker to drive faster. The man was driving as fast as he could. Instead, Tanner redialed Greg’s number.
Greg didn’t waste time when he answered. “Tanner. I’m still working on it. The last thing I heard was that Jeter was sent to Parkland Hospital. I’ve sent one of my people over there to confirm. But the word is still that none of the prisoners escaped. Is Bree okay?”
“We can’t get ahold of her and she’s not where she’s supposed to be.”
Greg let out a curse. “As soon as my guy arrives at the hospital I’ll give you a call back.”
“Thanks.” Tanner disconnected the call as they pulled up in front of the coffeehouse and he rushed inside. The uniformedofficers were talking to the staff behind the counter. Tanner and Whitaker double-checked all the possible rooms where Bree could be.
She wasn’t there.
Fear emptied into him like an icy downpour.
He pulled a picture from his phone and held it up in front of the manager. “Her. Was she in here? Did she leave with anyone?”
“Yeah, I remember her,” the manager said. “She was mad because the internet hasn’t been working right today.”
