Did he hit you? Aaron asked, his voice strangled.
No. Hehe manhandled me a little, but Im okay.
Ill get paramedics to look you over
No, Im fine, she insisted, coughing a little as her voice rose. Im a lot more worried about Dinah and the kids.
How many kids?
Two boys, five and seven. I didnt see them.
Is Harris ever abusive to them?
Not so far. Its all been directed at Dinah. But they should have been there. Dinah doesnt like to leave them with other people. Shes afraid Terry will try to grab them.
Her fear was contagious. Aarons head filled with images that made him want to pull over to the side of the road and throw up his lunch. Did you see any signs of a struggle? Any blood? Did you smell
God!
Im sorry, but we need to know what were heading into. Did you see anything to suggest the kids might be there?
The sound of her Volkswagens engine died, and there was almost perfect silence on the other end of the line. Melissa?
I didnt see anything, she said in a low voice. I didnt hearanything.
Like kids playing in a back room, Aaron thought. Hard to play when
She sounded so defeated, Melissa said. Like shed given up. She didnt even respond to my question about the kids.
He pushed the dark images out of his head. One thing at a time. Lets just get Harris out of that house, and then well deal with finding the kids. As he heard sirens in the distance, he saw the turnoff to Old Borland Road looming down the highway. Im almost there, Melissa. And backups on the way. Can you hear the sirens?
Yeah. Her voice shook.
He slowed into the turn, spotting her Volkswagen on the gravel shoulder ahead. He pulled up in front of her and cut the engine, halfway out the door before the sound died. He rounded the truck bed and headed for the drivers door of the GTI.
Before he reached her, she pushed open the car door, stumbling a little as she emerged from behind the wheel. His breath caught at the sight of the ugly purple marks on her throat and the gray pallor in her shell-shocked face.
She locked gazes with him for a moment, her eyes huge and haunted. Then she flung herself into his arms.
I DIDNT SEE or hear the kids, Melissa said.
Aaron stood beside her, his hand under her elbow to support her, although shed stopped shaking soon after shed hurled herself against him a few minutes earlier. After his reaction to her that morning, he hadnt been surprised by his bodys surge of pleasure at the feel of her pressed hard against him. But the rage that surged through him when he examined her injuries had caught him completely off guard.
It was taking most of his self-control to stay still while she briefed the deputies hed flagged down before they raced into a potential hostage situation with sirens blazing.
As far as you could see, it was just Harris and his wife? Blake Clayton asked. He was one of the four deputies sent by dispatch when Aaron had put in the call about the assault.
Melissa nodded. She pressed her body back against his, as if seeking his warmth and strength. He tightened his grip on her elbow, his thumb sliding comfortingly against her arm.
You said you think he could be high? Aaron asked.
I know hes done crystal meth in the past, she answered. Hes acting high. Completely out of control.
Was he armed? he asked, kicking himself for taking so long to ask the most pertinent question.
I didnt see any kind of weapon. I dont know. Melissa looked up at him. Dinah never mentioned weapons before. I think he just uses his fists.
His fists were weapons enough, Aaron thought blackly, his gaze dropping to the darkening bruises on Melissas throat.
We have to assume the children are still in the house, even if you didnt see them. He struggled to keep his anger in check. We need to get him outside the house if possible.
Maybe I should go back there, Melissa suggested.
Aarons gut clenched. No.
She frowned. Hes angry with me. I hurt him. It could be enough to get him outside.
He may have a weapon. Im not putting you in harms way.
I didnt see a gun, and anything less than that, you could get to him before he got to me.
He caught her arm and turned her to face him, loosening his grip when he saw her wince. He smoothed his hand over her arm where hed grabbed her. Someone already tried to set your house on fire, he said more quietly.
She gave him a dark look. Yall thought that was me.
If Terry Harris set that fire, he obviously wanted you dead. I wont give him a chance to get it right this time. He eyed the other deputies, who were looking at him for direction. Would he ever get used to being the one with authority? So, how else can we get Harris out of the house?
Do we know anything about his family? Mother, fathermaybe a sibling? asked Kendrick Dell, an earnest young rookie fresh out of the county police academy. Aaron gave him a quick look of approval, and the young man beamed with pride.
His mother works at the chicken processing plant in Cedar Creek, Melissa offered, referring to a town fifteen minutes to the east, across the county line. I think theyre close. She was the only one in the family still speaking to him.
Would she help us arrest him, though? Blake asked.
Shes not blind to his problems. She didnt stand in Dinahs way at the custody hearing. He seems to listen to her.
Aaron turned to Kendrick. Get on the horn to Sunshine Processing in Cedar Creek. Ask for He looked at Melissa.
Mary Mullins, she supplied.
Tell Mrs. Mullins well send a car to pick her up. Dont scare her. Just tell her we need her to talk to her son. Then go pick her up.
Kendrick headed to the patrol car.
Riley Patterson arrived, to Aarons relief. Even though Aaron had more seniority with the sheriffs department than his brother-in-law, Riley had more experience as an investigator. Hed been a deputy chief in Wyoming, taking the pay cut and the loss of rank when he chose to move to Alabama to be with Hannah. Riley was damned good at the job, and Aarons ego wasnt so big that he couldnt look to the man for help.
He pulled Riley aside and caught him up on what had happened. Melissa thinks Harriss mother may be able to get through to him. Kendricks gone to pick her up.
Nodding approvingly, Riley looked at Melissa, who leaned against the side of Aarons truck, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. She okay?
Seems to be. He did a number on her neck, but she got herself out of there in pretty good shape. She looked scared and sad. Aaron squelched the urge to give her a hug and forced his gaze back to his brother-in-law, lowering his voice. Im worried about the Harris kids. Melissa says the mother doesnt usually let them out of her sight. But Melissa didnt see or hear them in the house.
Rileys expression went grim. Not good.
I keep picturing Aaron couldnt say the words aloud.
I know. Riley laid a hand on Aarons shoulder. But I took a quick look at Harriss file before I came out here. He doesnt have a record of hurting the kids.
Ordinary guys snap and take out their whole families. Aaron glanced at Melissa again. We cant wait here forever.
We can have the A.B.I. hostage negotiation guys here in an hour. Maybe sooner by helicopter, if you think the situation is bad enough. Riley followed Aarons gaze. Melissa Draper is the closest thing we have to a fly on the wall in there. She knows the lay of the house, right? The players?
Riley was right. Melissa was their best source. He should be grilling her, picking her brain for anything she might know that they could use to their advantage. He shouldnt be trying to protect her at all coststhat wasnt his job.
He crossed to her side. You said you want to help us.
She gave a silent but firm nod.
Aaron pulled his notepad from his pocket. Then walk me through that house.