Page 20 of Charmed Forces

“The EMTs just rolled out a gurney and loaded it into the ambulance. They’re taking off now,” he said as the wail of a siren sounded.

“That’s great,” I said, then I stopped, my eyes wide. I thought the man who grasped my wrist had died in front of me, but what if this patient was he? What if he were the only one who survived? And I’d left him there all alone!

“What?” mouthed Solomon and I gave him an appalled face. “Hold,” he said into the phone before moving it to his side.

“I thought he was dead,” I whispered.

“He isn’t so this is better,” said Solomon. “There’s a witness besides Daniel.”

“He saw me,” I said. “He knows I was there, in the house after he got shot. He might identify me.”

“We’ll deal with that if it happens,” said Solomon. He raised the phone again. “Any other movement?”

“Garrett is raising a stink but they still won’t let him inside. They’re rolling police tape around the house and uniforms are heading to all the neighboring houses. I’ll call back in fifteen.”

“Good work,” said Solomon and they hung up.

“Sounds like a large police presence already.”

“Three people dead in what sounds like a witness protection case? You bet they’re going to go big. This could have far-reaching implications.”

“They can’t testify now,” I said, thinking forward those extra steps. “They must have been super important witnesses. Or, at least, one of them was.”

“And the case is big enough to send a killer after them who was confident in taking out their police guard.”

“Jeez, Solomon, who did they want put away?” I asked, outraged, even though I knew he didn’t have an answer.

“Whoever it is they must have both power and money. This is no ordinary hit.”

“Is Daniel in any danger?” I wondered aloud, watching him through the open doorway. He remained at the kitchen island, sipping water and holding his head. “I know he doesn’t remember anything now but they don’t know that. He might have given chase and seen something that could identify them.”

“There’re two witnesses,” Solomon reminded me. “And two separate locations. That’s good.”

“That ambulance could become a target,” I said, my heart beating faster. “We need to tell someone.”

“We can’t. We should be nowhere near this.”

I pointed at Daniel. “We aren’t ‘nowhere near this.’ We are veryonthis.” I stopped, my fear washing over me as another thought popped into my head. “What if the killer followed him here?”

“They would have attacked already,” said Solomon with a confidence I didn’t feel. “I didn’t say weshouldn’tbe involved. Only that we shouldn’tappearto be involved. I can tell Delgado to get a message to Garrett saying that Daniel is safe, and maybe get a line on who was inside the ambulance.”

“Wait... you think it could be one of the couple? They looked pretty dead to me.”

“Could be. Did you take their pulses?”

“No, on account of the bullet holes I saw between their eyes.”

“We don’t know it was the man who was still alive when you were there. It could even be a ruse from the PD.”

“Shouldn’t they have given them an escort regardless of who’s inside?” I asked. “They could all be targets.”

“True. I’ll call Delgado to clarify.”

“I’ll talk to Daniel.”

Solomon nodded, already calling, so I returned to the kitchen. “How’s the head?” I asked.

“Fuzzy,” said Daniel. “I feel like I’m drunk.”