away in their squad cars. The sound of sirens filled the air as more Freemont police responded to the call.
Ella huddled against the wall in the corner, while Zach kept watch at the windows. The tension that lined his face spoke volumes about the danger, but she didn’t need to look at him to know that the situation had escalated.
What she realized made her tremble with fear. Last night, the police were looking for an assailant who had broken into her clinic and attacked two women.
Today that assailant had become a killer.
And the person he wanted to kill was her.
FIVE
“W e found spent rifle casings at the edge of the tree line,” Sergeant Abrams said, holding up the evidence bag to Ella, when he and Officer Taylor returned to the clinic.
Seeing the casings made her feel even less secure.
“Looks like thirty caliber.” Zach stepped closer and studied the back of one of the rounds. “They’re 30-30 to be exact.”
Abrams nodded. “Someone was holed up for a period of time, judging from the way the underbrush was trampled down. Could have been the guy from last night. He hides in the woods and watches for the doc to return, only he can’t see the parking lot in front of the clinic.”
“So he didn’t see squad cars parked there and didn’t realize law enforcement was on-site,” Zach mused.
“That’s what I’m thinking.” The sergeant scratched his chin. “If he didn’t find what he wanted last night, he could have waited for the doctor to return.”
“You’re sure he was after me?” Ella rubbed her hands together, trying to dispel her nervousness.
“Seems that way, although we can’t be sure,” the cop said. “Folks who commit crimes aren’t always the smartest people. He might have another reason to be lying in wait. We’ll process the prints we took earlier and see if any are on the shell casings. We might find new prints that match what we lifted last night. That would mean the attacker came back. If not, we could be dealing with two independent crimes, although that doesn’t seem likely.” He looked at Zach. “Anything come to mind?”
“Never say never.”
Abrams nodded. “That’s exactly the way I feel.”
The two Freemont officers headed for the door. “We’ll increase patrols in this area and keep our eyes open in case the shooter returns, but we’re finished here for now,” Abrams said. “We’ll stop by Mr. Miller’s farm and talk to him. Join us, Special Agent Swain, if you have time.”
Zach nodded. “I appreciate the offer, but I’ll talk to Levi a bit later. If he happens to reveal anything of value, I’d like to be notified.”
“Will do.” Abrams turned to Ella. “Might be a good idea to install dead bolts and even an alarm system, Dr. Jacobsen. A watchdog would be a deterrent to crime, as well. Keep your cell charged and near you at all times. You might want to move to town until this case is solved.”
“I’m staying here, Sergeant Abrams. My patients need to know where to find me. I wouldn’t be much good to them if I was holed up in a hotel in town. Besides, I refuse to run scared.”
“I wouldn’t call that running, ma’am. I’d call it being prudent and safe.”
The cop shook Zach’s hand and nodded to her. “I’ll be in touch, Dr. Jacobsen. Don’t hesitate to call us if you think of anything that might have a bearing on this case.”
“I’ll be sure to do that.”
The officers left the house yet again. Ella stood at the window and watched as they climbed into their patrol cars. Then, letting out a deep sigh, she turned her gaze to the Miller home.
Levi’s wife, Sarah, was a sweet young woman, though somewhat reserved. Ella hoped that everything that had happened wouldn’t upset her unduly or cause her more worry. The baby was due in three months. Hopefully, the birth would be uneventful, but the last thing Ella wanted was for the young wife to be distressed.
Zach stepped to her side and followed her gaze. “You’re
Ella huddled against the wall in the corner, while Zach kept watch at the windows. The tension that lined his face spoke volumes about the danger, but she didn’t need to look at him to know that the situation had escalated.
What she realized made her tremble with fear. Last night, the police were looking for an assailant who had broken into her clinic and attacked two women.
Today that assailant had become a killer.
And the person he wanted to kill was her.
FIVE
“W e found spent rifle casings at the edge of the tree line,” Sergeant Abrams said, holding up the evidence bag to Ella, when he and Officer Taylor returned to the clinic.
Seeing the casings made her feel even less secure.
“Looks like thirty caliber.” Zach stepped closer and studied the back of one of the rounds. “They’re 30-30 to be exact.”
Abrams nodded. “Someone was holed up for a period of time, judging from the way the underbrush was trampled down. Could have been the guy from last night. He hides in the woods and watches for the doc to return, only he can’t see the parking lot in front of the clinic.”
“So he didn’t see squad cars parked there and didn’t realize law enforcement was on-site,” Zach mused.
“That’s what I’m thinking.” The sergeant scratched his chin. “If he didn’t find what he wanted last night, he could have waited for the doctor to return.”
“You’re sure he was after me?” Ella rubbed her hands together, trying to dispel her nervousness.
“Seems that way, although we can’t be sure,” the cop said. “Folks who commit crimes aren’t always the smartest people. He might have another reason to be lying in wait. We’ll process the prints we took earlier and see if any are on the shell casings. We might find new prints that match what we lifted last night. That would mean the attacker came back. If not, we could be dealing with two independent crimes, although that doesn’t seem likely.” He looked at Zach. “Anything come to mind?”
“Never say never.”
Abrams nodded. “That’s exactly the way I feel.”
The two Freemont officers headed for the door. “We’ll increase patrols in this area and keep our eyes open in case the shooter returns, but we’re finished here for now,” Abrams said. “We’ll stop by Mr. Miller’s farm and talk to him. Join us, Special Agent Swain, if you have time.”
Zach nodded. “I appreciate the offer, but I’ll talk to Levi a bit later. If he happens to reveal anything of value, I’d like to be notified.”
“Will do.” Abrams turned to Ella. “Might be a good idea to install dead bolts and even an alarm system, Dr. Jacobsen. A watchdog would be a deterrent to crime, as well. Keep your cell charged and near you at all times. You might want to move to town until this case is solved.”
“I’m staying here, Sergeant Abrams. My patients need to know where to find me. I wouldn’t be much good to them if I was holed up in a hotel in town. Besides, I refuse to run scared.”
“I wouldn’t call that running, ma’am. I’d call it being prudent and safe.”
The cop shook Zach’s hand and nodded to her. “I’ll be in touch, Dr. Jacobsen. Don’t hesitate to call us if you think of anything that might have a bearing on this case.”
“I’ll be sure to do that.”
The officers left the house yet again. Ella stood at the window and watched as they climbed into their patrol cars. Then, letting out a deep sigh, she turned her gaze to the Miller home.
Levi’s wife, Sarah, was a sweet young woman, though somewhat reserved. Ella hoped that everything that had happened wouldn’t upset her unduly or cause her more worry. The baby was due in three months. Hopefully, the birth would be uneventful, but the last thing Ella wanted was for the young wife to be distressed.
Zach stepped to her side and followed her gaze. “You’re
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