Hidden in the Shadows Read Free

up.”
    He shot her a perturbed glance. “I didn’t think you would. I just don’t want you to get upset if things turn out badly.” Having reached the house, Wyatt parked next to Ethan’s unmarked car. Deputy Jason Hudson stood guard on the front porch, nearly hidden in the darkness. He stepped forward as they approached the house.
    “Sheriff, Maria. Ethan’s inside with Lori and her mother.”
    Maria glanced at Wyatt. “I’ll head on in, then.” As Jason held open the door for her, she took a deep breath and said a silent prayer for guidance, wisdom, and strength. She had the feeling she was going to need all three.
     
    ~ * * * ~
     
     
    As Wyatt stood on the porch with Jason and watched Maria disappear into the house, he thought about what she’d said, about how she knew Lori Sterling. Finding out Maria was involved in a volunteer program had surprised him, but he couldn’t say why, exactly. Maybe because she was so young – Wyatt pictured women who volunteered as bored socialites or retirees. Before he could follow her inside, his phone rang. The screen showed it to be his second detective, Stacy Kirchner.
    “Stacy. Talk to me. What’s going on?”
    “I’m at the Patch, Sheriff. We’ve got Sterling cornered at his brother’s trailer, and SWAT is on the way.”
    “The little girl?”
    “We think she’s inside with him.”
    His heart sank. “Okay. I’m just now getting to Lori’s. I’ll head that way in a couple minutes, after I talk to her. Where exactly are you setting up?”
    She didn’t answer. The reason why quickly became apparent. Over the phone, he heard the sound of an engine revving, then gunshots accompanied by shouting and panicked yells for someone to stop. The staccato pops of gunfire seemed to go on forever, only stopping after a loud crash of metal grating on metal. Next came a droning car horn, and the radio Jason wore on his uniform erupted into chaos.
    Wyatt dashed to his vehicle. “Update Ethan. I’m heading over there. Stay here, no matter what!”
    He pointed the SUV back down the driveway, flipped on the light bar and siren, and pushed the pedal to the floor as soon as he reached the paved highway. Heart pounding, he kept trying to get through the radio chaos that had erupted along with the gunfire. Shots fired during a hostage situation were never a good sign, and knowing how badly it could all turn out, Wyatt said a prayer.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    Inside the living room, Maria heard an engine start. She watched Ethan’s face go neutral, and he excused himself and went outside.
    Lori’s mother, Janie, sat on the corner of the sofa, sobbing and moaning in turns. Every so often, she would mutter something under her breath about how she had predicted “something like this” would happen. Her behavior was a sharp contrast to her daughter’s deathly pale face and rigid posture. Tuning out the overset woman, Maria focused on pulling the video up on the screen.
    Lori moved to stand beside her. “Did you find it?”
    “I did. I just have to cue it up to the appropriate timestamp.” When Janie moaned again, Maria saw Lori’s fists clench. Lori was obviously nearing her breaking point, stress causing the thick ridges of scar tissue that covered one side of her face and neck to stand out in sharp contrast to the undamaged side of her face. Cautiously, Maria reached out and touched one of Lori’s fists with her fingertips. When Lori looked down at her, Maria removed her fingers and gently shook her head.
    “Try to let it go. We have more important things to do here than feed her ego.” Though the words seemed harsh once out of her mouth, Maria knew that her friend would understand. They’d commiserated about their mothers on more than one occasion. Before Maria could pull up the footage, the front door opened, admitting Ethan and Jason.
    Ethan went straight to Lori, stopping a few feet away from her. “We have Leah. She’s fine. A few scratches, and