Page 77 of Crosshairs

Trilling twisted in his seat. He almost shouted, “Look, on the second floor! Looks like a community balcony.”

I followed his line of sight and saw that the narrow balcony had some plants. Then I saw something move. I only got aglimpse, but it did look like a man with a rifle. And from the front of the balcony, he was aiming directly down on our fake office.

Just as I grabbed the radio from the console of the surveillance car, someone rapped on the driver’s-side window. It was enough to make me jump. When I turned, I almost said,What the hell,out loud.

Leaning down, looking into the car, was our suspect, Joseph Tavarez.

CHAPTER 97

I STARED AT Joe Tavarez with my mouth open. I had to blink my eyes a couple times, wondering if I was dreaming.What the hell?It really was Joe Tavarez standing on the driver’s side of our car.

I turned quickly to Rob Trilling. “Keep watching the balcony. See if you can confirm what the man has with him. It may not be a rifle.”

Tavarez signaled for me to lower my window.

I held up my hand and reached for the handheld radio we’d been using on surveillance. “Hold, hold.” I gave it a moment for everyone to focus on their radios. Then I said, “Terri, can you confirm what the man on the balcony is holding?”

Terri Hernandez came on the radio. “Stand by.”

Joe Tavarez crouched down so his head was even with mine. I finally said, “Tavarez, what the hell are you doing here?”

“I came to help. Not as a sniper, just as a cop.”

I could only continue staring at him in disbelief. A thousand thoughts rushed through my brain.

Tavarez said, “I saw the memo. Then I saw the Emergency Service memo about detailing some ESU members to this operation. I figured out exactly what you were up to. When I saw you sitting in the car, I knew I was right. I know what you’re doing.”

“Right about what?”

“You’re trying to catch the sniper.”

The radio crackled and I held up a hand to Tavarez again.

Terri Hernandez came on the air. “I have a male in a dark hoodie. He’s crouched low and some plants are blocking his face. He’s definitely looking toward our off-site building.”

“But you don’t see a rifle?”

“Not at the moment. I saw what I was pretty sure was a rifle a few moments ago.”

“Keep a sharp eye. Everyone else, hold your positions until we verify a few things.”

I turned my head to face Tavarez outside the driver’s-side window. “I still don’t understand what you’re doing here, Joe.”

“You think the sniper is someone in law enforcement, don’t you? I knew this would need to be kept quiet and you couldn’t use many cops. I’m not officially on duty until 4 p.m. Consider me just an extra set of eyes.”

Now, from my right side, Trilling said, “I see him clearly at the near end of the balcony. He’s scanning the area.”

I barked at Tavarez, “Get down!” I didn’t want him to give away our position.

After a moment, Trilling said, “Now he’s changed positions and I can’t see him.”

Tavarez came level with the window again. He said without prompting, “You don’t understand what it’s like to be sidelined.”

Trilling chimed in, “I do.”

I said, “I can appreciate that, Joe, but you didn’t think this through.”

Terri Hernandez came on the radio. “I see him. Suspect is holding a scoped rifle. No question.”