CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Hands in the air,” shouted the first officer in the clearing. “Get on the ground. Now.”
“Everything will work out,” Liam murmured to Piper. “Do exactly as they tell you and don’t volunteer information. Answer questions they ask and nothing more.”
Liam wished he had time for more coaching but he didn’t want to be shot by a twitchy cop because he didn’t obey the commands. They didn’t know the circumstances and, until they did, would have to treat everyone as guilty of a crime.
He released her and backed away, hands in the air. He lowered himself to the ground and spread his arms and legs as did Simon. Piper was slower to react but complied as well. Liam hated to see the fear on her face. He kept his gaze locked with hers as law enforcement rushed to their sides and searched them for weapons. Their tension ratcheted up several notches when they found multiple weapons on him and Simon.
Once all three of them had been cuffed, the senior officer separated Liam, Simon, and Piper from each other and called in to dispatch to request an ambulance for the thug with the shoulder wound. That done, the officer turned to Liam. “What’s the story here?”
He gave a brief account of discovering Gavin’s body in the cave, the shots fired at them as they left the mountainside, and the hunt for the shooters.
“Why didn’t you run for help? You should have called us,” the policeman insisted.
“I was in the Marines and my friend was in the Army. We don’t run from trouble and my girlfriend’s life was in danger.” He inclined his head toward the pile of weapons confiscated from him and Simon. “Obviously, we’re well armed. If your girlfriend or wife’s life was in danger, would you run for help?”
The man grunted. “I’m the one with the badge. What about the man with the gunshot wound?”
Liam shrugged. “He was shooting at us. We defended ourselves.”
A shout went up a moment later. “Got a body here.”
The cop’s eyes narrowed as he rounded on Liam. “A second body?”
“Second shooter. He fired first.”
“Did you kill him?”
Liam shook his head. The cops would test his Sig and find he hadn’t fired his weapon. Since Piper wasn’t armed, that left Simon. “I stayed with Piper in case a third shooter was in the woods.”
“How long have you been at the resort?”
A small smile curved his lips. “Less than two hours.”
The other man shook his head. “The homicide detectives will be here soon.” He waved one of the other officers over to watch Liam and walked to Piper.
Liam kept his attention focused on the other man, watching for signs of aggression. Having his hands cuffed behind his back wouldn’t prevent him from protecting Piper should there be need. The odds were against him with this many cops in the clearing but between him and Simon, they would get to her if these cops were dirty.
From the body language Liam observed, the policeman treated Piper with respect and gentleness. Within a couple minutes, he waved another officer over to stay with Piper and moved on to Simon.
Liam knew the exact moment the cop learned Simon had killed one thug and wounded the other. The man’s body stiffened and his focus intensified. After a few minutes, he rose and signaled two officers to stay with Simon.
Yeah, this was going to be a mess. Liam angled his body to keep Piper in view at all times. He wanted to go to her and was frustrated that he couldn’t. She didn’t deserve to be cuffed, sitting on the cold ground.
Thirty minutes later, a man and woman strode into the clearing and met with the senior officer in the center of the open space. After a short discussion, the two newcomers approached Liam.
The man held out his badge as did the woman. “Detectives Barrett and Kerrigan,” he said. “Officer Rothchild says you found a body in a cave up the mountain.”
“That’s right.”
“We need you to show us where you found the body.”
“Either uncuff me or restrain my hands in the front.”
Barrett’s eyebrows rose. “Why should I?’
Liam inclined his head toward the mountain. “The climb is steep. I’m unarmed. The trek will be less hazardous for all of us if I have better balance.” A slight prevarication. He’d make the climb whether or not his hands were restrained in the front or back. He stood a better chance of defending himself with the change. He was still unsure if another shooter lingered in the area.
Barrett help Liam to his feet. A moment later, he was restrained with his hands in front.
Liam glanced at Simon who gave a slight chin lift in acknowledgment of his silent order to keep Piper safe. His attention shifted to Piper who watched him with wide eyes, worry in her gaze. He winked at her and allowed the detectives to lead him from the clearing.
He guided the two officers to the cave. He inclined his head toward the entrance. “Gavin’s about fifty feet from the entrance.”
Barrett frowned. “How do you know his name?”
Here’s where things would become dicey. “Piper knew him well. He called her and said he was leaving something for her in this cave.”
“How well did she know him?”
“They used to date. She hasn’t seen him in three years.”
“He wanted to see her and she came running?” Barrett looked skeptical. “Sounds like their relationship wasn’t over.”
Liam sighed. Just what he’d figured the cops would say. “Look, I didn’t know about Gavin James until a few hours ago and I’ve never seen him until I found him in the cave.”
“You expect us to believe that?” Kerrigan shook her head. “You had the motive to kill this poor sap. Your girlfriend was going back to her former lover, leaving you in the dust. You decided to take him out and end the competition for her affection once and for all.”
“My weapon hasn’t been fired which you’ll find out when you test it. Gavin’s been dead longer than I’ve been in Copper Ridge.”
“We only have your word for when you arrived.”
“You’ll investigate and confirm my arrival time.”
Barrett glanced at his partner. “Wait with McCoy. I’ll check inside and see what we have.”
Kerrigan stepped a few paces away from Liam and, with her hand on her weapon, motioned for him to move further from the cave entrance.
Barrett returned a moment later. “One shot through the heart. Small-caliber weapon. We need the crime scene team and the coroner.” He glanced at Liam. “Let’s go. We need to be closer to the resort to get a cell signal.”
Liam retraced his steps to the clearing and crouched by Piper’s side. “You okay?” He didn’t like the pallor of her face.
She nodded.
“Get away from her, McCoy,” Kerrigan snapped, weapon in her hand.
Simon snorted.
Liam’s lips twitched. “Just making sure Piper was all right.”
“You can’t talk to her. Sit on that rock.” The detective indicated the large rock fifteen feet away from Piper.
He knew things moved slower in law enforcement than he was used to with Fortress, but by the time the coroner pronounced Gavin and the other shooter dead and the crime scene team moved in to do their job, Liam was fed up with watching Piper shiver in the cold night air. Part of the trembling was from shock.
Liam clenched his teeth, wishing yet again he had Matt here to help Piper. “Barrett.”
The detective walked over. “What is it?”
“Have one of the officers take Piper to the resort or the station. She’s cold and in shock.”
Barrett glanced at the woman who visibly trembled. He turned back. “What about you? Aren’t you going to demand I send you to a more hospitable environment?”
“Doesn’t matter about me. Take care of Piper.”
The detective crossed the open space and spoke to the officer with Piper. A moment later, she stumbled from the clearing with the officer’s hand around her arm to steady her.
Although Liam didn’t want her out of his sight, she needed to get warm. When Barrett returned, Liam asked, “Where did he take her?”
“The station. That’s where I’m taking you and your buddy. On your feet, McCoy.”
The ball of ice in his stomach melted. At least he would be in the same building with Piper. He hoped she’d be released soon and would call Matt or another member of Bravo to stay with her until Liam returned to her side.
He and Simon walked to the resort parking lot where the law enforcement vehicles waited. They rode in the backseat of Barrett’s SUV after a stern warning not to talk to each other on the drive.
Inside the station, Liam and Simon were taken to two interrogation rooms. Liam noted the camera, two-sided mirror, and the one exit. Some enterprising soul had defaced the table with a variety of curse words and racial slurs while he or she waited for the interview process to begin.
Instead of giving away his agitation, Liam remained still and used the wait time to review everything he knew about what was happening to Piper, sifting the facts into different order, hunting for a solution.
Too many pieces were missing to make much headway. He wasn’t sure whether the kidnapping and shooting this evening were connected to Piper’s past or his own. If it was hers, Liam knew where the intimidation and danger dogging her heels originated. If the events were connected to him, the list of people who wanted him dead was a long one. As soon as the cops sprung him, he would find Piper and call Zane. If anyone could nail this down, it would be the tech guru.
The door opened. Barrett and Kerrigan walked in and sat down on the other side of the table, a file between them. “Let’s talk,” Barrett said.