She Can Hide (She Can #4)(58)

Ethan’s blood chilled. He made sure Abby was completely behind him, but now what? Without taking his eyes off Smith, Ethan spoke to Abby. “Call 911.”

“If she moves, I’ll shoot.” Smith’s eyes sharpened. “At this range, the buckshot will definitely get you, but I might get lucky. Some of it might hit her too.”

A load of buckshot at this range would blow a hole in Ethan the size of a potato. Since his body armor was in the house with his weapon, using his body to shield Abby was the only strategy that came to mind. It wasn’t much of a plan, but he couldn’t risk any shot getting past him to hurt Abby.

Something big and tan moved in Ethan’s peripheral vision. With a short bark, Zeus barreled at Smith. The gun swung toward the dog. Ethan lunged forward, grabbing the barrel and shoving it toward the ground. He ripped the weapon from Smith’s hands just as Zeus’s bulk hit the old man dead center and took him to the ground.

Smith rolled onto his belly and covered his head with his hands. “Get him off me!”

Standing on the man’s back, Zeus growled. The dog’s inch-long fangs were millimeters from the back of his neck. A string of saliva dripped from the dog’s curled lips and landed on Smith’s jacket collar.

“Easy, Zeus.” Ethan moved forward, unsure of the dog’s intent.

Abby was beside him. “Good boy. Come here.”

Except for a flicker of his ear, Zeus ignored her. Under the huge canine, Smith whimpered. If Ethan was sure the dog wouldn’t break the guy’s neck, he would enjoy the sight of Smith getting some animal payback.

“Zeus.” Abby deepened her tone. “Come!”

The dog eased off Smith’s body with a reluctant sigh, but his eyes kept focus on the prone man even as Abby took hold of his collar and tugged him farther away.

“Don’t move, Mr. Smith,” Ethan said. He had no doubt if Smith so much as blinked, Zeus would be on him, and there wasn’t a thing Abby would be able to do to stop him.

Ethan moved in. In a few deft movements, he had Smith’s arms behind his back. Abby called 911.

“I didn’t see that coming.” Ethan used his knee to pin the man to the ground. “My handcuffs are in the house. Could you grab them for me?”

Abby put Zeus in the house before the on-duty police officer came to collect Smith. Back outside, she handed Ethan the cuffs with shaking hands.

Ethan secured Smith’s hands behind his back with a metallic snap. “Are you all right?”

She nodded. “We can’t seem to catch a break.”

“No, we can’t. I’m sorry. I never considered that I could put you in danger.” Ethan stood. Nausea rolled through him. Fear for his own life didn’t even come close to the panic at the thought of Abby taking a load of buckshot.

“It’s not your fault. I know better than anyone that life doesn’t come with any guarantees.”

They waited in silence for the approach of sirens in the quiet winter morning, and Ethan struggled to process the fact that his job had nearly gotten Abby killed.




Krista opened the basement door. The harsh chemical smell that assaulted her nose told her she was right about where Joe got his meth. He was making it in her house. If she wasn’t a total waste of space, she’d have noticed.

“Joe?” She gripped the banister. Her balance was off, and her fingers felt even weaker than her knees. The wooden basement steps creaked under her socks. She finally caught a couple hours of sleep this morning after spending the night wide-eyed and twitching.

Still, she couldn’t wait until Joe came back so she could do it again. The first time he’d made her. The second she’d gone to him. Like she was doing now. Nothing had ever chased away her sadness before, made her feel like her problems had flown away. The downside was that it didn’t last.

Had he left any down here?

She flipped on the light switch. The cellar was messy. Piled randomly on top of one another, boxes and discarded furniture cluttered the slab. She stepped off the stairs. The concrete was ice-cold and unyielding under her feet.

The far corner had been cleaned of debris, and Joe had covered the windows with towels. A scale, a hot plate, and rubber gloves sat on a low table. A nearby box contained a strange mix of household chemicals. Empty cold medicine boxes littered the floor.

She didn’t know anything about making meth, only that it was dangerous, but right now she didn’t care. The sadness was coming back, the ache that turned her inside out and made her think about doing something to end it for good.

Wait.

What was that?

She stepped closer. Panic skidded through her belly.

“Krista?” Joe’s boots thudded on the steps. “What are you doing?”

“I-I was looking for some more.” She jerked her eyes off what she instinctively knew she shouldn’t have seen.

“You have to wait until I give it to you.” His voice sharpened. He tilted his head.

Krista’s heart went trapped-rabbit.

Joe’s gaze traveled behind her. “You shouldn’t have come down here, Krista.”

Nausea rose in her throat. Her stomach heaved, and last night’s alcohol bubbled sour into her mouth. Joe came closer. He raised a hand and backhanded her across the face. Pain exploded through her cheek. Her legs folded, and she crumpled to the cement.