Deadly Chase - Chapter 16
The situation at the suspect’s home had escalated into an armed standoff by the time they arrived.
Brady huddled behind the door of his cruiser, gun drawn while Peter Jensen paced back and forth on his front porch, a rifle in his hand.
Alex and Miriam pulled their cruiser next to Brady’s and joined him, squatting beside him and his K-9 partner, Winnie, a yellow lab.
“What happened?” Miriam asked and pulled Lily close to her side.
“As soon as I pulled up, he came out with the rifle and started ranting and raving about how his son was dead because we didn’t do our jobs,” Brady advised and tugged Winnie’s leash tight to keep her close.
“You killed him! You and that Peterson trash!” Jensen shouted.
“Honey, please,” someone pleaded from inside the house.
“Shut up, Alice!” Jensen commanded.
Alex peered past the edge of the car door at their suspect. Jensen was in his sixties with thinning gray hair and a lean body with a large paunch.
“This isn’t doing anyone any good, Peter. This isn’t going to bring back your son,” Miriam urged and unclipped Lily’s leash, preparing her for action.
“But he’ll get justice,” Jensen shouted back and unsteadily brought the rifle to his shoulder.
“The man responsible for his death is in prison,” Miriam advised, then stood and raised her hands as if in surrender.
“He wants me. He’ll get me,” Alex said and shot to his feet beside Miriam.
“I’m here, Jensen. But killing me won’t end your pain or your wife’s. She loves you. See her there, worried about you.” Alex pointed to the woman hiding behind the screen door.
“Get inside, Alice! I don’t want you to get hurt,” Jensen hissed at his wife.
“No one will get hurt if you put the gun down, Peter,” Miriam said, her tones gentle, understanding. But Alex didn’t fail to see the hand gesture to the pit bull who immediately went on alert.
Jensen dropped the barrel of the rifle the slightest bit, but enough to say he might relent. “No one else needs to suffer, Peter,” Alex said. From the corner of his eye, he noted that Brady and Winnie rushed to one side of the yard and closer to the home.
Jensen suddenly trained the barrel of the rifle on Brady and his K-9 partner.