The door slowly rose. The car began to inch forward. Suddenly, Dakota began to bark as if she’d just spotted something deadly.

  Daniel slammed the SUV into Reverse and floored the accelerator. Tires squealed on asphalt. The vehicle fishtailed and straightened facing the opposite direction.

  Shouting, “Down!” he gave Aurora’s shoulder a push. In the rear, Dakota continued to sound off.

  Even if she’d been paying closer attention, which she had not, Aurora doubted she’d know what was going on.

  Something pinged against a side window, shattering the glass into spidery cracks that nevertheless stayed in place, although she assumed further shots might penetrate it in spite of its defensive characteristics.

  She stayed low, watching sideways as Daniel reported, “Shots fired,” and drew his weapon.

  Stunned that he was actually getting out to personally face their attackers, she made a grab for him and missed. “Don’t.”

  He ignored her. Crouching behind the open SUV door, he took aim, paused, then slammed it shut with her inside.

  Never had she felt so helpless. So useless. A remote command raised the hatchback for Dakota’s exit, then closed it again. In moments, both the officer and his K-9 were gone.

  They had left her. Just like that. And not only was she unarmed, she was as exposed to the threat as they were.

  The urge to flee was almost strong enough to make Aurora bolt from the car. Almost but not quite. Her survival instinct overrode all others and she hunkered down to wait. There was a chance that whoever had shot at them didn’t know she was with Daniel so showing herself would be foolish. There was an even greater chance that he and Dakota would locate and overpower their assailant or assailants quickly.

  That was her most fervent prayer, right after, Father, take care of all of us.

  * * *

  Dakota led the way past the side of the house. That was enough to assure Daniel the shooter was outside, not in the garage, which was comforting. At least his home defenses hadn’t been breached. Plus, the cameras should show enough recorded data to tell him how and when the property had been accessed.

  Gun at the ready, he pressed his back against an outer wall and prepared to release Dakota. First, he shouted, “Police. Come out with your hands up or I’ll send the dog.”

  No one responded.

  At Daniel’s side, his K-9 was fidgeting. She was technically seated, as he’d commanded, but her hindquarters quivered and her front paws danced in place.

  “Last chance,” Daniel called. “Give yourself up.” He began to count aloud. “One. Two. Three. Four,” and on five he unsnapped Dakota’s leash.

  The K-9 was off like a shot with Daniel following. Her trajectory drew his attention to a hedge near the iron gate. Shadows. At least two.

  “Stop or I’ll shoot,” Daniel shouted at them.

  They didn’t and he didn’t. Dropping fleeing suspects was against policy for good reason. He might have been in danger once but their running away changed everything—until one of the figures stopped, turned and fired.

  The bright red muzzle flash told Daniel exactly where the antagonist was and he returned fire. Once. Successfully.

  The shooter screamed and dropped as his partner scaled the gate. Dakota closed in and clamped her jaw around the first man’s wrist to keep him from shooting again. She held him in spite of his screeching and squirming until Daniel caught up, disarmed him and gave the command to release.

  The other assailant had disappeared into the dim evening light but Daniel had stopped one of them. He radioed in the location and circumstances to update his original report, leashed his K-9 and administered first aid while he waited for backup and an ambulance and thanked God Aurora was safe in his fortified car.

  * * *

  Aurora had not intended to sound miffed when Daniel finally returned to her but she’d had plenty of time to work up a snit and some of it spilled out.

  “You left me!”

  “Dakota and I caught the bad guy.”

  “Wonderful.” Straightening as she left the SUV, she dusted herself off as if she’d been crouched in dirt. “Suppose there’d been more than one?”

  “Actually, there were two. But they stuck together so it all worked out.”

  “Terrific. It never occurred to you that there might be more than that?”

  “It did. I made a judgment call. You were far safer locked in the car.”

  “I suppose I should be thankful you were right.” She pulled a face.

  It didn’t help her mood when he started to smile and said, “You’re welcome.”

  “I didn’t mean it as a compliment.”

  “You’re still welcome.” He gestured at the house. “Let’s go inside and let these officers do their jobs.”

  Still trembling in spite of knowing the danger had passed, Aurora glanced at the damaged car. “The slug has to be inside.”

  “Why?” He’d moved closer to her so she began to edge toward the rear door.

  “Because it didn’t exit on this side.”

  “Logical.” Daniel started toward the area where they’d first been accosted. “Unless it’s out here, on the ground.”

  “Is that possible?” She strongly doubted that any safety glass would repel the actual projectile.

  “Not likely, no,” he answered. “They’ll probably need a magnet to find it if it was flattened or fractured on impact.”

  Aurora folded her arms to draw the front of her coat closer to her body. “Then let’s let them do the looking. I’m starting to get chilled again.”

  “Some of that shaking is probably from the surge of adrenaline you got when we arrived. Come on inside. I’ll fix you something to warm you up. Catherine usually leaves a pot of coffee waiting when she knows I’ll be home soon.”

  “She’s gone, remember? You’re going to have to take care of yourself for a change.”

  “You don’t cook?”

  “Ha! Not if I can help it,” Aurora said. “If you want toast, I can probably handle it. Anything more is iffy. As long as I can afford takeout or DoorDash, I don’t starve and my kitchen stays clean all the time. Win-win.”

  Chuckling, he led the way with Dakota at his side. “There’s a certain perverse logic to your rationale.”

  “Thanks, I think.”

  He held the lower level door for her, then paused to remove Dakota’s official gear before tending to his own needs.

  While she waited, Aurora took in the command center monitors again. “You know,” she said, “this is the perfect place to sleep. We can watch your whole place.”

  “I was planning for us to sleep down here anyway,” Daniel said. “I’d rather we stayed together under the circumstances.”

  “Works for me.” Aurora smiled and pointed at an overstuffed, comfy-looking recliner. “Dibs on that.”

  Daniel began to chuckle. “Can’t, it’s taken.”

  “You can crash on the sofa instead.”

  “Nope. Sorry,” he said, still clearly amused. “Dakota claimed that chair the first time I brought her home. She doesn’t like to share.”

  “You’re going to let a dog have first choice?” Aurora wasn’t nearly as surprised as she was pretending to be. She fisted both hands on her hips and rolled her eyes at him to add humor. There was something appealing about silly repartee coming on the heels of a life-threatening experience and she wanted to continue to enjoy it.

  She could tell Daniel was fighting the urge to laugh more because his lips were twitching and those greenish eyes of his glinted with suppressed mirth as he said, “Special Officer Dakota Slater is my partner, on and off the job. She will always get preference over anyone else.”

  “Then she’s very fortunate,” Aurora replied, also feigning self-control. “I suppose if one of us has to sleep on this floor, it’s only right that it be one of us. I’m sure I’ll find the couch comfortable.”

  “I’ll run upstairs and check to make sure there are no problems while I grab some pillows and blankets.”

  She had taken off her coat and sat to remove her boots herself. “Okay. Shall I go try to find us something to eat?”

  He paused in the doorway and leaned back in, smiling. “Sure. Bread’s in the fridge and the toaster’s on the counter by the coffeepot.”

  Chuckling softly to herself, Aurora was certain she heard her host actually laughing as he climbed the stairs to the main level. It was a welcome, heartwarming sound, almost enough to make her forget she was there, in his home, because someone kept trying to kill them.

  TWELVE

  To Daniel’s surprise, Dakota deferred to Aurora about occupying the recliner. Instead of standing there staring at the interloper, the dog seemed to know that the woman needed her favorite sleeping spot and took up a place on the floor next to the sofa. As soon as Daniel had completed a final safety check, he stretched out on the couch, pulled up a light blanket and tucked a pillow under his head. All he had to do from that position was open his eyes and he could see Aurora. She’d pulled a quilt up to her chin and fallen asleep almost immediately, which relieved him enough to allow him to do the same.

  Morning came with a start when Dakota barked. If her tone had been deep and menacing, Daniel would have reached for his gun. He opened his eyes and saw her prancing around and wagging her tail. “What? It can’t be morning.” But it was.

  Across the room, Aurora stretched and yawned. “Um. I think it is. I’m starving.”

  “Do you know how to make coffee?”

  “It’s not that much harder than toast,” she cracked back, smiling. “I think I can handle it.”

  “Okay.” He threw off his blanket and reached for his boots. She too arose but stayed in her stocking feet. “Meet you in the kitchen.”

  He was picking up his gear and phone after donning a jacket. Dakota beat him to the exit and continued to fidget. She was through the door and galloping over the lawn the instant he released her.

  As he waited for his K-9 to be ready to go back inside, he strolled across the driveway to his SUV, taking in the damage and keeping his eyes open for clues. The CSIs last night must have done a good job, he concluded, because there were no signs of the bullet or shell casing.

  Dakota was loping along the fence line, showing little interest, so Daniel relaxed. Curious, he phoned his office to see if the shooter had admitted anything.

  Jack Donadio fielded his call. “Morning, Daniel. Sleep well?”

  “Everything was peaceful, thankfully. Anything new on the perps?”

  “Not that I know of. Your latest contribution to the Plains City jail has the same lawyer the first one does.”

  “That figures.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought too.”

  “We’re…” Jack stopped talking. In the background, Daniel could hear a radio dispatch. All available units to the Courthouse.

  His first thought was for Maddie. “Talk to me, Jack. What’s going on?”

  “Shots fired at the courthouse,” Jack replied.

  “Details?”

  “Not yet. Will you be responding?”

  “Yes, as soon as I can get all my ducks in a row here. I can’t run off and leave a witness.”

  “Got it. I’ll see what else I can find out and get back to you ASAP.”

  Daniel was already heading for the house. He whistled for Dakota and she came at a run. They went through the door together and Daniel took the stairs two at a time.

  He burst into the kitchen.

  Startled, Aurora fumbled a coffee cup and almost dropped it. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m not sure. What time does your cousin usually go to work?”

  “It depends on the day and her schedule. Why?”

  “Just put your boots on and grab your jacket. We’re heading for town.”

  “Okay, okay. Why won’t you tell me what’s happened?”

  “I’m not sure. All I know is there were shots fired at the courthouse. I don’t have any other details.”

  Looking stunned, all Aurora said was, “Maddie,” before she ran toward the lower level. Watching her go, Daniel hoped their instincts were both wrong but given the previous threats and the scheduled trial today, he was afraid they might actually be right. Maddie was going to be there and had been targeted before, or so they thought. If it had happened again and Aurora wasn’t anywhere nearby, then their earlier conclusions stood.

  His team and Aurora weren’t the only ones with targets on their backs. The assistant DA had officially joined their group.

  * * *

  Aurora settled for loosely tying her shoelaces and grabbing her jacket. She cared less about being properly dressed than she did about getting to town and making sure her cousin was all right.

  Seated in Daniel’s SUV, she put up her hood and clasped her arms over her jacket to ward off the cold air whooshing through his partially broken side window. It was making a whistling, moaning sound that lent a foreboding soundtrack to their mission. “Did they say if anyone was hit?” she asked.

  Daniel shook his head. “No. Jack just got the dispatch. I told him we were responding from home.”

  Home? The word stuck in her mind. What was home anyway, other than a place to sleep and eat? It had meant more to her as a child of course, but events of late had tarnished those sweet memories and left her feeling as if she had no real home. There was her apartment, which had been violated, as had Maddie’s. And there was the home she’d once shared with her parents, now empty of the love she remembered because her mother was gone.

  In that respect, she did envy Daniel and his small family. At least they had each other. And she had—nobody—except the cousin whose life might be in danger at that very moment. She closed her eyes and her heart turned heavenward to plead for Maddie and anyone else who might be involved in this latest shooting. While she was at it, she also asked for clarity. Unless and until they figured out exactly what was happening and why, they might as well be wearing blindfolds and swinging wildly at invisible enemies.

  She opened her eyes in response to a new radio dispatch.

  “All units, suspect is believed to be driving a white older model car with a missing front bumper. He was last seen heading east on Fowler Street, crossing Main. Approach with caution. Suspect is armed.”

  Aurora leaned to peer out her window. “Fowler is up ahead.”

  “I know.” She noted his hands fisted tightly on the wheel and his jaw set. “Hang on.”

  Daniel glanced in the mirror. “Dakota. Down. Stay.”

  To her temporary relief, Aurora saw the enormous dog obeyed immediately. Bracing with one hand on the dash and the other grabbing a handle above her door, Aurora pushed her feet hard against the floor as the SUV turned the corner onto Fowler. Main was only two blocks ahead.

  A white car came barreling toward them with police cars in pursuit, lights flashing, sirens wailing, as nearby traffic pulled to the curb.

  Daniel moved to the center of the street, slewed his armored SUV to take up most of the remaining room and stopped.

  Aurora gasped. Everything was happening so fast she could hardly think, let alone react logically. In spite of her seat belt tightening, Daniel threw an arm in front of her as if he hoped that would also protect her.

  Eyes wide, she held her breath. The driver of the speeding car braked at the last second, sending his vehicle into a squealing skid and stopping with one corner of the protective push-bumper of Daniel’s car denting his radiator.

  Steam hissed. Men shouted. Armed officers were running toward the disabled white car as the driver’s door opened and a scruffy-looking man tumbled out. He hit the ground running with Daniel and others in pursuit.

  Oncoming traffic began crashing into the crumpled white vehicle and each other. Drivers were shouting in anger. An ambulance joined the fray, blocking traffic in the middle of Fowler and further tangling the mess of civilian cars and patrol vehicles.

  Aurora got out, finding her knees a bit unsteady, and leaned against his SUV for temporary support. She had no idea where Daniel had gone or what his plans might be other than the fact he’d taken off without Dakota. The enormous K-9 was expressing her displeasure loud and clear too.

  Easing around to the rear of the black SUV, Aurora patted the side window and spoke soothingly to the Dane. The volume of her barking lowered and Dakota seemed to be listening to her. “Easy. Easy, girl. He’ll be back for us soon. I know he will.”

  Wagging her strong tail and circling, Dakota sidled up to the inside of the window while Aurora continued to try to calm her. “That’s it. Good girl. Settle down.”

  Just as she thought her words were working, Aurora saw the K-9 stiffen, drop her front quarters to the floor and snarl against the glass. The effect was so startling Aurora jumped away…right into the arms of a man who looked exactly like the one who’d been at the courthouse trying to hurt Maddie.

  He rasped, “Gotcha,” as if pronouncing a death sentence.

  Struggling and fighting to keep panic from disabling her, Aurora twisted in his grip, looked into his contorted face and shouted, “You have the wrong person!”

  The assailant didn’t release her immediately but he did stare in apparent disbelief so she added, “My name is Aurora.”

  “No. You’re that DA. And you’re gonna pay.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the hatchback begin to rise on its own. Before her captor had time to let go and run, Dakota jumped down and bit into his calf.

  Of course! Daniel had a remote key fob that would release his K-9 from a distance. He must have seen what was happening to her and was on his way.

  Head spinning, breathing ragged, Aurora sagged against the SUV as Dakota used both size and strength to overpower the man who had threatened her and held him down until Daniel ran up and gave the command to release.

  Desperately wanting to hug both the agent and his dog, Aurora started with the one who was acting the happiest, bent and threw her arms around the neck of the brave canine.

  * * *

  Daniel gently urged her to rise and turned her to look at him. “Are you all right?”