She gave him a sardonic look. “Youthink?”
They sat on the couch, Joaquin glancing compulsively at his watch. “Darcangelo said the officer ought to be here in ten to fifteenminutes.”
It seemed like an eternity with Mia’s life potentially on theline.
While Mia ran upstairs to use the restroom, Joaquin checked his pistol again, tempted to keep it in hand. Using what he’d learned at the gun range with Hunter and Darcangelo, he found himself evaluating her condo in terms of security. Sliding glass door. Lots of windows. Open floor plan. Poorcover.
Yeah, notideal.
He glanced at his watch again, saw that fifteen minutes had already passed. Where was thiscop?
Mia hurried down the stairs. “The police car just pulled into the parkinglot.”
“We’ll stay inside until he comes to thedoor.”
“Right. Okay.” Mia sat, her gaze moving over thewindows.
A few seconds passed andthen…
Red, blue, white. Red, blue,white.
The colors of police overheads flashed against her drawncurtains.
They got to their feet, Mia heading for thedoor.
Joaquin drew her back. “Wait. He’llknock.”
“Okay. Have it your way, Mr.Protective.”
“Damnstraight.”
Footsteps on the stairs. The chatter of a police packset.
The doorbellrang.
Pistol in hand, Joaquin looked out the peep hole and recognized Petersen. “Oh, hey, we’re going to have a nice little reunion. RememberPetersen?”
“How could I forget the cop who patted me down, cuffed me, and shoved me in the back of his car?” She picked up her duffel, slung it over hershoulder.
Joaquin opened the door. “Hey,Petersen.”
“Ramirez. You two ready togo?”
Joaquin turned to pick up hisbag.
It happened all at once. Gunshots. Mia’s scream. The stunned look in Petersen’s eyes as he toppled down thestairs.
Joaquin raised his pistol just as something hit him hard in center mass. His legs seemed to disappear beneath him, the world fading aroundhim.
He’d beenshot.
Mia.
She grabbed him, tried to pull him out of the doorway just as a man in a black hoodie stepped out from behind hercar.
Meyer.
Vision fading, Joaquin pushed Mia away. “Run.”