Perfect Night (Mason Creek #4) - Terri E. Laine Page 0,56

but he’d been on the other side of town.

The older model sedan engine was still on. As I got closer, I signaled for the driver to roll the window down. The back windows were tinted. That left me at a disadvantage to see if other occupants were in the back. The driver rolled down the window a few inches.

“I’m Chief Deputy Sheriff Faulkner. Do you know why you’ve been pulled over?”

“No, sir.”

It was a good sign that they’d complied so far. But that didn’t mean I would take my hand off my weapon.

“You have a busted tail light. Driver’s license and registration,” I asked for.

“Sure man.”

While he was retrieving that, I asked, “Did you know that your tail light was broken?”

“No, sir.”

There was too much movement in the car I couldn’t see, but I heard.

“There is something sticking out. Can I check your trunk?”

“Why?” he asked.

I didn’t have the ability to compel the driver to do so without probable cause that someone’s life was in immediate danger. “It’s dark. There is something sticking out.”

“I don’t have to, do I?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “So no,” he slurred.

He’d given short answers before. His slur had me worried he was driving under the influence. The next minutes would decide the outcome of this traffic stop.

“Please exit the vehicle,” I commanded.

Several things happened at once. A muffled cry and pounding could be heard from the back, possibly the trunk, as the driver said, “Aww man. You shouldn’t have,” to either me or the person trapped.

There was a flash before the sound of a gun discharging. I had my gun out as the punch hit my chest taking me off my feet. I got off a shot before I saw stars as the back of my head hit the pavement.

Chaos ensued. With my vision off, my ears took over. I heard Sam shouting for whoever to get down as sirens approached. I rolled to my side, not wanting to make myself a bigger target as the back door flew open.

I aimed and fired on the person attempting to exit the vehicle with what appeared to be a sawed-off shotgun.

It was over shortly after that. I rolled on my back still trying to catch my breath.

“Aiden, are you okay?” Sam said, crouching next to me.

I nodded. “Did you check the trunk?”

His eyes widened.

“You didn’t hear?”

“I’m on it,” he said and left.

Though it hurt like a son of gun, I was pretty sure the bullet caught my vest.

“Shit,” Sam called.

I forced myself to sit up. “What do you see?”

“A girl,” he said.

Wyatt was there with a helping hand. I got to my feet and shuffled over to the trunk. There, bound and gagged, was a young girl. Though I couldn’t be sure, I had a feeling she was the missing girl from the BOLO. Her foot was lodged in the left back taillight.

“Call the paramedics,” I directed, but not for me.

Wyatt used his radio to inform dispatch as Sam and I helped free the young girl. By the time an ambulance arrived, we had the girl sitting in Sam’s squad car with a blanket around her.

I waved off any care for me and directed their attention to our young charge. With no visible injuries, they had no choice but to take my word for it. The last place I wanted to be was the hospital when there was little they could do for me. When the ambulance took her, Wyatt followed. He and Sam wanted me to go to the hospital as well, but I made my excuses.

“I wasn’t hit. I’ll be fine,” I told them.

Reports would be filled, but not tonight. I headed home.

Fearing that Emma was asleep, I did my best to keep quiet as I entered the house. I was working the straps on my bulletproof vest on the sofa when Emma ran down the stairs calling my name until she spotted me.

In an instant, she was by my side with one knee on the sofa to help her balance as she leaned over to help me unclip the straps.

“Are you okay?” she asked. “I heard you’d been shot.”

I wasn’t sure who she’d heard it from. “I’ll be fine once I get this off,” I wheezed.

The door burst open, and Darcy came into view. “Of course, the Virgin Mary is here,” she announced.

Emma barely glanced her way. “Good thing, someone needed to be here to save him from the devil.”

“Ladies,” I managed to say as I caught my breath. I wasn’t