Page 63 of Temptation
Chapter Fifteen
The red Honda appeared unassuming—far too normal—as it sat in the parking lot behind the ambulance hub. The company that owned the hub—and the parking lot—provided ambulance services county-wide. Debra had informed them that the company employed over fifty responders, and one of those responders was the owner of the Honda Accord. A Honda Accord with a white, mountain-shaped decal on the right, rear window.
“We found a shovel in the trunk,” Debra revealed as they stood about fifteen feet away from the Honda.
Preston watched as a tech carefully examined the interior of the vehicle. A silent Sloane was at his side.
“There was fresh dirt on the bottom edge of the shovel. No one inside the office here…” A wave of her hand toward the long building nearby. “They can’t remember seeing the vehicle’s owner in the last few hours.”
The vehicle’s owner—that would be Bridget Russell. Debra had told them that news, too, back when they’d been at his house. He’d insisted on coming to this scene, along with Sloane. Sloane’s watchful gaze seemed to take in everything around them.
“Jada Taylor is the office manager here.” Debra’s hand waved again toward the building. “She remembered seeing Bridget head out of the hub after her shift—they do twelve-hour rotations here. Jada thought she’d left and gone home. Didn’t even realize Bridget’s car was in the lot until the deputies and I arrived.”
“The car did leave.” Sloane’s certain voice. “That is the vehicle I saw at the sheriff’s office. That’s the decal. It was there, but then it was brought back here.”
Yeah, he thought the same thing. Exact car. Exact positioning of the decal. So Preston had to ask, “How do we know…” The tech in the car was now easing back. Frowning at the driver’s side door. “How do we know that Bridget is a potential victim? What makes you think she’s not the perp?”
“She’s too small,” Sloane replied.
Debra grunted.
“She was in the ambulance with us,” Sloane added. “The EMT with the tats on her hands who treated you while Adam East worked on me.”
He remembered the woman. His focus had kept returning to Sloane as the EMT tried to check him out. He’d kept telling the EMT that he was fine. She’d kept telling him that she had to do her job.
Late twenties, short hair. Quick smile. Professional. Just doing her job.
“I remember seeing her ID badge. That’s how I recognized her name when Debra came to your house. She was petite, about four inches shorter than me. Maybe ten to fifteen pounds lighter.” Sloane raked her gaze over Preston. “There’s no way she could drag you into the grave.”
Not on her own.
“I saw a man attack you, Preston. A man. Big, with wide shoulders.”
“Maybe he was working with her,” Debra tossed out. “Maybe they’re a team. Maybe I was wrong about her being a vic.”
The tech called for Debra. She hurried for the car.
“I don’t think so,” Sloane said softly.
Preston started to follow Debra, but Sloane touched his arm. “He was trying to catch our attention.”
He frowned at her. “What are you talking about?”
“The bullets at the station weren’t aimed at us, specifically. You were right out front. As you pointed out before, if he’d wanted to shoot you, he could have. He could have shot you in the head or the chest. Instead, he sprayed the area because I think he wanted us to see him. Like a big flag waving.” Her gaze darted toward the Honda Accord. “I think he wanted us to see the car. To know what he’d done.”
“We’ve got blood!” Debra yelled. “Liam just found blood on the driver’s door!”
Preston rushed to her side. Sloane chased after him.
Liam—the tech—had what looked like a Q-tip in his hand. The tip of the Q-tip had turned a darkish pink.
“Found blood along the top of the driver’s side door,” Liam said. “Didn’t see it at first. Think someone tried to wipe it away.” He inclined his head toward Debra. “We have to get this vehicle to a secure facility. Check the whole thing. Every inch.”
Blood on the driver’s side door. A shovel in the trunk. And a missing EMT.
Fuck, fuck, and fuck.
“We need to find her.” Sloane’s shoulder brushed against Preston. “And we need to find her fast.”
