Page 88 of Rogue Wave

I had my gun on me, but I needed to be smart about this and get both exits covered.

I immediately backed away from the window and crept back down the porch steps. Knowing Dougie was in there with Hazel was the only reason I felt safe enough to step away.

I pulled up my group text thread with several deputies and Kim at dispatch, sending a quick text and giving them the basics.

Me:

Two suspects, both armed, B&E at house next to mine. Victim inside being held at gunpoint. Send all units.

I didn’t actually know if both of them were armed but I wasn’t taking any chances.

I crept back up the front porch as quietly as I could.

The voices picked up again, and I listened carefully, trying to assess the situation. From my position by the door, I could hear better, but I couldn’t see shit without revealing myself. I could move back to the window to see, but then it was harder to hear.

“I don’t give a shit about that. What did the packaging look like?” the man I assumed was Samson angrily asked.

I pulled my gun out of its holster and disengaged the safety.

Just then, it started to pour. The wind picked up and the rain battered the roof and everything around me, making it harder to hear what they were saying inside.

Moments later, the lights flickered and then went out.

This was actually helpful. While it wasn’t nighttime, it was now dark enough to make it harder to see without the lights, which would help give me a little more cover. Using that advantage, I moved back to the door, crouched low, and looked through the small opening.

I forced myself to stay calm, even though everything in me wanted to rush in and save her.

In an instant, I heard a scream, watched Hazel crash to the floor, and a few seconds later watched Samson aim his gun and fire at Carson.

My heart hammered against my ribs as I watched Samson turn the gun on Hazel. Everything around me froze. Time stood still as everything happened in slow motion, yet so quickly at the same time.

Before I could think about whether it was the smart move or not, I burst through the door, gun raised.

Adrenaline surged through me like a hot current as I pulled the trigger on my own gun and fired two shots.

Samson took two shots center mass and fell back, knocking into Hazel’s kitchen table and tumbling to the ground.

“Hazel, I want you to go get checked out at the hospital, please,” I begged, staring at her as she sat at her kitchen table.

“No,” she argued back. “Listen, Stubborn McBosspants I’m not going.”

This woman was going to give me a heart attack before I reached the age of forty.

“Hazel, I’ll send a deputy to go with you, or you can go with Dougie if you feel more comfortable,” I offered in case she was nervous about going by herself.

“Are you going?” she asked.

“No, but I’m not hurt.”

“Neither am I, so I’m staying put.” She crossed her arms defiantly, and I just rolled my eyes to the heavens.

“How about you both go get checked out, and I’ll handle it from here,” Deputy Kingston said. “I can get all the other info from Mr. Douglas.”

Dougie was standing by his side and nodded at me.

I didn’t want to leave, but I wanted her to get checked out more, so I was tempted to agree. Hazel, though, put a stop to that.

“I’m not leaving until someone fills me in on what the hell just happened.”