Night Kill (Private Investigator Andrew Knight Mystery Series) by RL Edinger Page B

First they searched Peter’s room and next they went to Storm’s. Talia carefully pushed the door open some more. She motioned to Deputy Brown and instantly they stormed the room. Andrew wasn’t there!
    “Damn it,” Talia cursed.
    “Maybe he was never even here,” Deputy Brown put away his weapon.
    “Check the window,” Talia ordered just as she noticed it was open. Would Andrew have been so desperate to climb out on the roof? That’s what she thought that day at the Sheriffs department building. But he wasn’t on the roof then, nor now, Talia suddenly realized. Andrew had hidden somewhere. Talia snapped her fingers realizing that Andrew was hiding under the desk in the records room that day. Talia spun around just in time to see movement in the hallway.
    “Let’s go!” Talia barked. “He’s heading down the stairs.”
    Andrew leapt to the floor from the last two steps, rolled and stood to his feet once more. He didn’t bother to look back and kept on towards the back door. Andrew threw open the front door. The area was clear. He hesitated a moment and could hear Talia and the deputy giving pursuit. Andrew bounded outside and jumped off the top step. He sprinted into the dark woods and swiftly faded out of sight.
    Talia and Deputy Brown, weapons still drawn, clamored down the stairs. The back door was already open.
    “Hurry!” Talia bellowed.
    They quickly exited the house. Talia searched the area with her flashlight. There was no sign of Andrew. She had no way to prove that he was even there. Next time, she would be ready. Next time, Andrew Knight wouldn’t get away.
    Andrew observed Talia and the deputy as they stood on the back door steps surveying the area with flashlights. When the beam flashed his way, Andrew dove down on the snow and blended in as best he could. It must have been enough, because they gave up and went back inside. They headed to the front of the house.
    “Did you find anyone?” Deputy Miller asked.
    “No,” Talia cursed.
    Talia and her men walked up to Father Michael.
    “Let him go,” Talia commanded.
    “Thank you,” Father Michael said, rubbing his wrists. “May I go now?”
    “Yes Father,” Talia replied. “You may go.”
    “Thank you,” Father Michael said. He got in his car and drove off.
    “What now?” Deputy Nash asked.
    “Keep the area secure,” Talia ordered as she walked to her own car. She turned, and with an icy tone said, “If you catch Knight anywhere on the grounds, take him out.”
    “You’re not serious,” Deputy Nash choked.
    “Don’t hurt him,” Talia replied. “Just arrest him.”
    “Yes Sheriff,” all three replied.
    Talia got in her car and drove off to the end of the driveway and stopped once she’d reached it. Talia looked at her reflection in the rearview mirror. “You look tired,” she said. “I know,” her mirrored self answered. “What are you going to do about Andrew Knight?” Talia asked, staring into seemingly lifeless eyes. “What do you think?” came back the mirrored reply. “I can’t say,” Talia said, this time looking away. But an answer did come from somewhere in the dark, “You know what has to be done.” Talia didn’t answer the voice, but instead drove back to Bayport.
    Andrew walked back through the woods to where he had parked. A sudden shiver ran up his back. He spun around, searching the blackened trees. Nothing was there. Andrew couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being watched. He had only gone a few more steps but suddenly froze in place. There were fresh boot prints in the snow heading towards the Higgins house. Andrew knelt down to examine them. He could tell from the depth and distance of the tracks, it appeared that the person was in a hurry, almost at a full run. Andrew stood and took off in the direction of the tracks, but he was careful not to be noticed as he kept close to the cover of the surrounding trees.
    The moon was finally showing its face from behind the clouds. Its light