Page 84 of Night Moves
“Got a look at him through a gap in the curtains.”
“Way to bury the lead.” Drake shook his head.
“We should move on him, now,” Erik said.
“Not happening.” Drake got out his phone. “We’re talking about a serial killer here. Not just some routine criminal we might apprehend and then call local law enforcement to pick up. We do this the right way to make certain the guy spends the rest of his life behind bars.”
Drake kept his gaze pinned to the house, but his thoughts wandered. He wished he could pace, but he couldn’t give away their location. So he sat. Quietly. Waiting for Londyn to arrive. Time ticked slowly past. Everything was playing out in slow motion. Gave him time to think. Lots of time.
About Natalie and the moment they just shared. A moment he wanted to experience again and again. He wanted to keep seeing her. Maybe he’d fallen half in love with her. Maybe all the way in love. The feelings were too new to classify, but it was different from anything he’d experienced. So, was it love?
If thinking about not seeing someone again put a huge ache in your heart, it probably was. He really needed to get someone else’s opinion. He couldn’t ask Erik about it. First off, Natalie was with them. But even if she weren’t, Erik hadn’t had any serious relationships since his high school sweetheart.
And his other brothers? They’d all recently gotten married or engaged. Yeah, maybe he could talk to them, but they’d probably razz him. Sierra was the best sibling to talk to. If she were there, he’d take her aside and tell her everything. She’d be shocked that he consulted her, but once she got over that, she’d give him good advice. That he knew for certain.
So his best move was to do nothing and let some time pass. Forget the blazing emotions that Natalie’s touch ignited and gain perspective. Certainly not make a decision sitting here at the beach with the memory of holding her fresh in his mind.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he grabbed it. “It’s Londyn.”
Natalie’s eyes widened, and he answered.
“I’m here with SWAT,” she said. “Parked near your vehicle. We’ll be breaching the house and need you to fall back to your vehicle.”
“Understood,” Drake said, though he wanted to be able to see the arrest.
“Move now.”
“Roger that. We’re on the move.” He hung up. “SWAT team is here. We need to fall back to our SUV. Erik first. Natalie next. I’ll take the rear.” He motioned for them to move ahead of him, and they crept through the gritty sand.
Drake used the time to pray for everyone’s safety. Even Gentry’s. Death would be too good for the guy. Drake wanted to see him prosecuted and serve the rest of his time behind bars.
They reached their vehicle and greeted Londyn with a wave and thumbs up. She signaled for the SWAT vehicle to move forward and followed with another plainclothes detective, both wearing a Kevlar vest.
Drake opened the passenger door and looked at Natalie. “I need you to wait in the SUV. It’s safer.”
He thought she might argue, but she slid in. He left the door open a crack so he could communicate with her if needed then watched the law enforcement advance through his NVGs. Envy crept over him. He had to swallow it down to keep from pacing. If God wanted Drake in on the action, he would be. Best Drake could do now was keep Natalie safe.
“You want to be part of the takedown as much as I do.” Erik stared down the road. “An arrest like this one will go down in history. I’d love to be part of it. And I wouldn’t mind releasing this adrenaline.”
“Yeah,” Drake said, the same jittery feeling inching over him. “I’m gonna get the binoculars to take a better look.”
He went to the back of the vehicle and ditched his NVGs to grab the night vision binoculars. He opened the driver’s door and climbed up to rest his arm on the roof and stare at the house.
“SWAT’s moving into place,” he told Natalie and Erik. “Surrounding the house.”
“I know half the guys on the team,” Erik said. “Always wanted to be one of them.”
“We did the right thing in forming the company for Aiden. But staying back is hard.”
“I can’t begin to understand you two,” Natalie said. “I’m glad to be here instead of in the thick of a potential shoot-out.”
“We have no reason to believe that Gentry has a gun,” Erik said.
“Gotta think he does, though.” Drake kept his binocs on the house watching the men dressed in tactical gear move into position. No sign of movement in the house. “A guy wanted for multiple counts of murder would likely want protection.”
“No matter,” Erik said. “They have to approach the house assuming he’s packing.”
Drake zoomed in on the officers at the front door. The front guy held a battering ram. He lifted it and slammed it into the door.
