Page 36 of Target Acquired
“All right, everyone,” Commander Hill said. “If no one has anything else, that’s it for now. Stay safe out there.”
He left and the others filed out, leaving Kenzie and Cole behind. Cole looked at her. “Ready?”
“Ready.”
THANKFULLY, the trip to the Martins’ home was uneventful, and Cole pulled to the curb. Micah’s trailer was almost all the way in the back of the mobile home park, and while the structure itself looked sad and run-down, the little yard to its right bloomed with flowers he had no name for.
They’d made a stop at the local sporting goods store to purchase a new basketball, then a trip to the grocery store for a few staples. Cole pointed to a small fenced area. “Guess that’s the basketball court.”
“Yikes. That looks dangerous.” Trash, broken cement, glass, and drug paraphernalia littered the area that was supposed to be a fun space for kids. The bare hoop needed a new net.
Cole shook his head. “How hard is it to keep something like that clean and safe for the children who want to play on it?”
“You have to care,” Kenzie said, her voice low.
“Yeah. Yeah, I guess you do.”
Still dressed in full gear, he led the way up the rickety wooden steps to the small porch. Kenzie waited at the bottom. He raised a brow at her and she shook her head. “I’m not sure that wood will hold both of us.”
He shifted and the porch groaned. She could be right.
“How much did you collect?” she asked him.
“Three hundred bucks.” He knocked, then turned to look at her. “Everyone always puts something in.” He smiled. “Even Butler.”
She nodded. “I know it’s not really that much, but for this family, it’ll help.”
“Yeah.” He knocked again, even while he noted Kenzie’s gaze roaming the area. She was definitely on high alert.
Good. They needed to be.
The deadbolt clicked and the door creaked open. A little girl about four years old with stringy blond hair and big blue eyes looked up at him. “Hi.”
Cole set the groceries on the deck, then squatted, one knee popping and his gear creaking. “Hi. I’m Cole.”
“I’m Randa.” She brushed the hair out of her eyes with a gesture that looked automatic. “What you want?”
“Is Micah home?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Good. What about your mama?”
“Yep.” She continued to study him.
“You want to tell her we’re here? We have something we want to give her.”
“Okay. Be right back.” She shut the door and he could hear her little footsteps on the linoleum floor.
He turned to Kenzie once more. “That’s a little unnerving. Not sure it’s a good idea for that baby to be opening the door around here.”
“Agreed.”
“She did have it locked, though.”
“And we have our uniforms on, so maybe she’s not been taught to be leery of the police yet.”
“Good point.”