Caching Out (27 page)

Tate
took in the scene before him in a flash. Emma in a near-comatose state, her
back propped against the barn door, her head tilted at an unnatural angle, the
killer squatting next to her with a knife in one hand and Emma’s arm in the
other.

“Drop
the knife and stand up. Do it!  Move away from her.” Tate demanded.

Looking
back at the woman, Gavin shrugged his shoulders and rising to his full height
he turned, lunging at the man with the gun, the knife raised above his head.

“Get
down!” A voice boomed from the doorway, startling both men.

Tate
fell, pressing his body to the floor, his gun still drawn, eyes locked on the
killer. He couldn’t take the shot, he wouldn’t risk hitting Emma.

Gavin
saw the old sheriff standing in the doorway for a split second, then one shot
rang out, echoing into the night.

The
old bastard shot me!
Gavin
dropped to the hard barn floor, the knife flying from his hand. Struggling to
stand, he cried and fell back, his voice gurgling as blood seeped into his
mouth. “Mama, I’ve got to get Mama. She needs me.”

Martin
kneeled at the dying man’s side. “Just lay still, we’ll get an ambulance on the
way, but I don’t think you’ll be seeing your mama anytime soon.”

Looking
at the killer’s chest Martin sighed. It was a clean shot, an accurate shot….a
killing shot. “What’s your name?” he asked.

His
eyes wide with fear, Gavin coughed blood from his mouth. Looking at the old
sheriff he saw the ugly truth in his eyes, he was done. With his last breath,
Gavin looked at the uniformed man and said, “Fuck you.” 

Tate
jumped up and ran to Emma. He pulled her face around to his and felt for a
pulse, even though her eyes were clearly open. “Damn it, it’s way too fast.” Juggling
his cell with nervous hands, he dialed 911 and demanded an ambulance be sent to
Walt’s house. “Come to the back, near the barn and hurry!”  He scooped Emma
into his arms, and rushed out of the barn and into the cool yard, hoping that
the fresh air would help bring her around.

How
much did he give her?  
Tate worried. The stuff had killed Walt almost
immediately and Emma was a lot smaller. “Where the hell is that ambulance?” Dropping
down on one knee he let Emma’s body slide down onto the cool grass. “Hold on,
Em. I hear the sirens; they’re almost here, baby.”

Standing
over the killer, Martin shook his head. Damn, he hating killing, even when
killing was the right thing to do. He double checked that the man was actually
dead and to his relief, there was no pulse at all. Martin was glad to leave
this mess of a whack job behind and check on Tate and Emma.

“Miss
Emma going to be alright?” he asked, kneeling down next to them.

“I
think so, she’s starting to come around, but her heart is pounding. What about
our serial?” Tate asked looking up at his friend.

“Dead.
I see the ambulance lights. Won’t be but a minute now.”

The
paramedics pulled to a smooth stop a few feet in front of Tate and Emma, and two
county cruisers pulled in behind it. A squat and balding man in a blue uniform
rushed to Emma’s side, plugged his stethoscope into his ears and bent to listen
to her heart.

 
“Ma’am, can you tell me your name?” No response. Pulling her right eyelid open
wide he flashed a pen light across her face.

“She
was injected with Ketamine,” Tate said. “I don’t know how much, but it happened
sometime in the last hour and a half.” 

Rounding
the ambulance, a tall thin woman pushed a gurney through the damp grass and
stopped behind her partner.

“Pupils
are responsive, BP is one sixty over ninety eight, pulse one forty. Respiration
is shallow, but steady. We’re going to need a twelve lead and an IV for the
ride, Susan.” The short man barked orders to his partner and then turned to
Tate. “We’re taking her to County for some observation, Chief Echo. Ketamine
generally wears off in a couple hours or so and I expect she’ll come around by
the time we get her to the hospital and they get her stabilized.”

Placing
a hand on Tate’s shoulder Martin insisted, “You go on with her Tate.”  He
gestured to the two county deputies behind him. “Me and the boys have got the
scene covered. We’ll wait for the coroner and CSU and then you can come by my
office and give your statement tomorrow.”

Nodding,
Tate watched the paramedics loading Emma onto the gurney his heart still
beating out of his chest. What if he hadn’t found her in time? What if Martin
hadn’t shot the guy when he did? What if Emma had overdosed from the Ketamine?
What if?

It
was all Tate could think about.

CHAPTER 41

Three
Days Later

The
bell over the diner door clanked when Tate and Emma walked in. Martin was
drinking coffee in a booth near the door. Standing until Emma was seated,
Martin said, “Miss Emma, it is real good to see you up and around.”

Emma
laughed, “It’s good to be up and around Martin. I can’t thank you enough for
coming to my rescue. Tate told me what you did and I owe you one.”

Grinning
at Emma and then Martin, Tate said, “We both owe you one, hell the whole town
owes you one.”

His
face turning a dark shade of red, Martin cleared his throat. “Did you find out
anything on Gavin Wheeler when you called the Little Rock police?”

Tate
shook his head. “Some. He was raised there, a good student but a loner, no
trouble with the law. His mother lives in a very upscale Alzheimer’s clinic
that he paid for and will continue to pay for through a trust that he’d set up
to cover her expenses well beyond her life expectancy. Seems he actually loved
his mom.”

“It’s
good news too that Chad Green will be okay. Just a crack on the head, but he’s
good to go I think.”

“Yes,”
Tate agreed, “It could have been way worse for everyone involved.”

 “The
bureau has closed three cold cases fitting the same profile as the Pine Ridge
cases and they’re looking at several more,” Emma said, changing the subject. “I
caught a little hell for being involved without prior approval, but since the
case got solved it’s not going to be a problem.”   

“That’s
great, Miss Emma,” Martin said. “Anytime they don’t want you over at the FBI,
you’ve got a spot on my team.”

“Aww…That’s
sweet. Unfortunately, duty calls. I’ve got a flight out tomorrow, but I’m sure
going to miss you.”

Martin
shook Tate’s hand. “I’ve got rounds and county patrol today, but I’ll be seeing
you at the courthouse.”  He was surprised when Emma stood and pulled him into a
fierce hug.

“Sheriff
Crawley, you are one special man.”  Emma said,
pulling
back to drop a kiss on Martin’s cheek.

Watching
Martin leave the diner, Tate pulled a laminated menu from behind a chrome
napkin dispenser and slid his chair closer to Emma. “It’s our last night together,
Em, want to make it memorable and have the meatloaf special?”

“Absolutely,”
Emma grinned as Reva stepped up to take their order.

CHAPTER 42

Tate
pulled the SUV into a parking spot at the Pine Ridge Airport and turned to Emma.
“You could stay, you know that.” 

Cupping
his face with her hand, she said, “You could come with me.”

Last
night had been a long awaited dream and he didn’t want it to end. Tate pressed
her palm against his lips, squeezing her hand gently. “Thank you for coming to
my rescue and getting the mayor off my back.”

Bright
tears filled Emma’s eyes and she nodded, afraid to speak still arguing with
herself.
Damn it Emma, why don’t you just stay? You love him, you know you
do. He loves you too. No!  Stop it!  You know you can’t stay, you always knew
you couldn’t stay, nothing’s changed. Suck it up, buttercup, and get on that
plane.

Silently
they walked together into the Pine Ridge Airport, Tate pulling Emma’s baggage
behind them.  

Tate’s
heart ached, but he would not beg her to stay. It was her call and he’d known
all along she would leave. At least she was leaving in one piece and if nothing
else he was grateful for that. Reaching the security gate, Tate pulled Emma
against him, his lips gently touching hers.

Emma
wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him closer as her fingers sneaking
into the base of his hair. Emma gave him one last squeeze, took a deep breath
then turned and stepped through the security controlled gate without looking
back.

 “I
love you, Emma Gage-Echo,” Tate whispered. “One of these days, I’m going to
convince you that we belong together. Even walls fall down sometimes, Em. Even
walls.”

About
the Author

Tammy Cheatham grew up in rural East Texas and
learned to love books and reading at an early age.  Her writing
career began in the fifth grade when she won second place in a UIL writing
contest but was put on hold while she pursued a career and raised a
family. With her three children all grown up, Tammy elected to retire
from her full time job and return to her first career choice, writing
fiction. Today, Tammy lives in South Texas near San Antonio with her
husband. 

Dedication

To Angie and Alicia, my sisters
in crime and to my Lillie who always believed.