On Her Father's Grave (Rogue River #1)(27)

He stood up in a crouch and peered over the vehicles. The barn was a good fifty yards behind the home and to the west. The property was surrounded on three sides by forest.

What if Ted took off into the forest?

He’d have to call county and get their K-9 unit out here.

A curtain moved in the front window and a face peeked out. Not Loretta.

“What’s the kid’s name?” he asked Carter, who looked up from pressing on Kenny’s gut. With the smeared blood on his face, the half-dressed cop looked like he’d stepped out of a zombie movie.

“Russ.”

“Any chance Ted went back in the house?”

Carter’s eyes widened. “Christ. I didn’t think of that. I guess he could have gone in while I was taking care of Kenny.” He panted hard. Zane felt the terror coming off the young cop.

The face in the window was still watching him. Zane waved and the boy waved back. Zane gestured for him to stay put and the boy nodded.

How do you sign “Is your dad in the house?”

Zane pointed at himself and then indicated that he was coming in the house. Russ nodded and vanished.

Did he go to warn his dad?

“Do you think Russ is scared of his dad?” he asked Carter.

Carter looked confused. “I don’t know.”

“He’s terrified of his dad,” Kenny added from between clenched teeth. “I saw the look on his face when I was out here yesterday. He thought his dad was going to brain him with that bat.”

Tires crunched on the driveway behind him, and Stevie’s car pulled in. She parked tight to their position and crept out of her car toward the three of them. “Kenny?” she asked.

“Stevie,” Kenny answered. “Fucking hurts.” His tears ran bloody streaks down his face.

She squeezed his shoulder and looked at Zane. She seemed calm and cool-headed, not panicking like Carter.

“Ambulance will be here soon,” said Zane. “You and I are going to the house. We think Ted is in the barn.”

“Think?” she repeated.

“He was running that way when he shot Kenny. There is the possibility he doubled back into the house. I saw Russ a minute ago and let him know we’re coming in.”

“What’s Ted armed with?” she asked.

“Rifle. I didn’t see anything else,” Carter said.

Stevie had her AR-15 slung over her shoulder in addition to the usual pistol at her waist. Knowing she would be at his back gave Zane confidence.

Stevie scanned the area, taking in the buildings, and nodded. “Let’s go.”

He led, dashing toward the front door, hunched over with his hand above his gun, while Stevie covered him from behind. He jogged up the wood steps as Russ cracked the door and peered at him. The small teen looked alarmed but relief showed on his face. He opened the door and Zane stepped in. The house smelled like cats and cigarette smoke.

“Is your dad in the house?”

Russ shook his head. “I think he’s in the barn. Is that cop dead? The one he shot?”

“No. Where’s your mom?” Zane covered Stevie as she made the short dash to the porch. An ambulance siren announced it wasn’t far off, and Zane sent up a silent prayer that Kenny would be all right.

“In the kitchen.” Anger flushed the boy’s face. “Ted hit her. I think he’s high or drunk again.”

“Any weapons in the house?” Stevie asked as her gaze darted around the room, her firearm ready.

“No. Ted has his rifle with him. That’s all he owns.”

“We’re gonna check the house real quick, Russ. Go wait by your mom.” Stevie shut the front door and followed Zane through a rapid check of two bedrooms and a bathroom. Closets, the spaces under beds, shower. All clear. They joined Loretta and Russ in the kitchen, where Loretta sat with an ice pack on her cheek. A cigarette trembled in one hand.

Stevie peeked out the glass slider to a tiny side porch that gave a view of the Warners’ barn. “Have you seen him leave that barn?” she asked Loretta.

Loretta moved her ice pack to the other cheek, and Zane saw that her left eye was already starting to swell closed. Anger rolled over him.

“No. But I ain’t been watching.” She inhaled the soothing smoke. “You gonna lock him up a little longer this time?” she asked Zane.

“Damn right. He’s shot a cop too. He won’t be bothering you again.”

“You can’t promise that!” Russ whirled on Zane. “We’ve been told that before!”

The teen’s anger made Zane take a step back. “This time will be different.”

“All you cops lie!” Russ shouted.

“Russ, shut up!” Loretta yelled back.

Stevie stepped forward and put a hand on Russ. “Ted has stepped over a big line this time. He can’t undo what he just did to your mom and Kenny. No lawyer is going to convince a judge he should be a free man, and he’s not going to hurt you guys anymore. I’ll give you my word on that.” Her brown eyes looked deep into Russ’s gaze. The teen wanted to believe her.

Zane believed her.

“What’s in the barn? Is there another entrance?” Zane asked Loretta.

She shook her head. “One window at the back. There’s nothing in there but a four-wheeler, a riding lawn mower, and a lot of junk. He’s got a workbench and a bunch of tools. He’ll putter out there for hours, but there’s no guns.”