Page 60 of Wild Sentinel

I couldn't disagree.

George fiddled with a pack of cigarettes, pulled out a stogie, then lit it. The cherry glowed, and he breathed a deep inhale, relishing the moment of a freshly lit cigarette.

"Those things will kill you," I snarked.

"Yeah, well. Something is going to get us all,” he said dryly. “And I’m going to be the one to kill you.”

I used the distraction to hurl a scoop of dirt in Sharon's face while Jack lunged for George.

With dirt in her eyes, I charged Sharon. She fired Lenny's pistol blindly. The bullets snapped past me, so close I felt the breeze on my skin. I grabbed the gun and tackled her to the ground while Jack struggled with George.

The gun went off a few more times, bullets flying into the sky.

SNAP!

SNAP!

SNAP!

We tussled, and I managed to strip the weapon from her with ease. She was half my size.

I rolled away and took aim.

Sharon reached for her sidearm.

I had no choice but to put two into her. The suppressed rounds hit with a wet slap, sending her tumbling back to the dirt. Crimson blossomed her shirt.

I swung the barrel toward George as he struggled with Jack. When I got a clear shot, I took it.

Bullets rocketed through the air and pelted George—one in the chest, one in the neck.

Blood spewed.

George spun away and tumbled to the ground, sucking air and gurgling.

The neck wound spurted, and he bled out in a matter of seconds.

The moment of chaos was over.

It was quiet, except for the sound of light traffic on the streets above.

My heart still thumped, pulsing my ears.

I checked Sharon’s vitals, but she was gone.

We’d gotten ourselves out of one sticky situation and into another.

"How the hell are we gonna handle this?” JD asked.

We had just killed two cops. Dirty cops. But I didn't think anyone in West Beverly would believe our story.

35

My phone buzzed with a call from someone I didn’t expect. Autumn‘s voice crackled through the speaker on the phone. Full of fear, she said, “Deputy Wild? I’m sorry to bother so late, but I think someone’s been following me all day. I’m scared.”

"Do you have any idea who?"

"No. And I don't want to know. I don't want to get involved in any of this.”