Page 60 of Her Elusive Cowboy Billionaire
Chapter13
The doorbell sounded.
Meri jumped, jostling the wine in her glass.
“I’ll get it.”Chase stood.“You stay here.”
“No, I’m coming, too.”Meri stood and followed him to the foyer.
He looked through the peephole and then opened the door.“Officers.”
A blond-haired man, who was about half a foot shorter than Chase.He was wearing a black suit, a white shirt and black tie.
The brunette woman with him stood in the doorway.She was the same height as Meri, but was about thirty pounds heavier.She also wore a black pants suit with a white shirt and black tie.
The man held up his gold shield.“I’m Detective William Monroe and this,” he pointed at the woman, “is Detective Rosemary Brady.”He looked at Marco’s body sprawled on the floor.“You called about a shooting.”
“Yes.I’m Chase Harper, Harper Security.”He put out his right hand and shook hands with Detective Monroe and then Detective Brady.Chase nodded at Marco’s body.“Yes, this man posed as an officer and forced his way in, holding a small girl in front of him.He aimed his gun at me.Meri was still in the kitchen.”
Meri nodded and wrapped her arms around her stomach.“But I heard everything.When I came out, he cursed, aimed at Chase’s head and then I shot him.”
Chase nodded and put an arm around her waist.“He’s the man who has been trying to kill her for several weeks.He already shot her once.This is Meridith Anderson.”
Meri shook Detective Monroe’s hand and then Detective Brady’s.“I wasn’t about to let that happen again or let him kill Chase just because we saw him at the scene of a murder.”
“I can understand that.”Detective Brady took a notepad and pen from her pocket and wrote furiously.“Do you know the man?”
“Yes.”Chase pulled Meri closer.“His name is Marco Cabrel.I believe he is also responsible for the murder of Paige Thompson three years ago.”
Detective Monroe looked down at the body again.“Marco Cabrel, huh?We’ve been after him for a while.He always slipped away, though.We’ve only gotten a look at him once or twice.”
Chase nodded.“Same.Until he came here, that is.He shot Ms.Anderson while we were at the ice show a few weeks ago.”
Detective Monroe’s eyebrows furrowed, and he looked at Meri.“You’re the one who was shot?I was with my wife and kids at that show.It was a madhouse when someone shouted gun and then the stampede for the exits began.I wasn’t sure I could get my family out before I was called back to the scene.”
Meri leaned into Chase’s side.“So you investigated?Did you find anything?”
The detective took a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and dabbed at his neck.“One shell casing.I guess in the shot’s aftermath, he didn’t have time to pick it up.We didn’t find the gun.So either someone else picked it up and got out with it or he kept it.”
“You’re right, it was bedlam.I barely got us out of there and got Meri medical attention.”
Detective Brady turned her gaze from her notebook to Meri.“I’m glad to see you have recovered, Ms.Anderson.”
“Thank you.I’m fine now.”
“I know what you went through,” said Detective Monroe.“I’ve been shot before, too.It is definitely not fun.”
She laughed.“That’s putting it mildly.”
“I think we have all we need.You can reach me here.”Detective Monroe handed Chase a business card.“Where can I reach you if I have more questions?
Chase handed him his own business card.“We are going to my ranch in Montana, but we can be back here in a few hours, if you need us.You can reach me any time at that number.”
Detective Monroe accepted the card.“That is not acceptable.I can’t let either of you leave town until the coroner has completed his inquest.The coroner and CSI unit are on their way.I think they got stuck in traffic.”
“Oh.”Meri lifted her hand to her mouth.“I’d forgotten about the traffic.And it’s got to feel worse driving that big van the coroner uses.”
“They get around pretty good in it.Don’t worry about them.They’ll be here shortly.You can sit at the table, if you like, until they’re done.I’ll wait by the body at the door.”
