Secret Admirer. Karen Rose Smith

the room in front of him appeared empty. The side door leading outside was cracked.

      Rachel!

      The noise of glass breaking sent him running through the house. He stepped out onto the porch. What he saw there scared the daylights out of him.

      The patrol’s passenger window was broken. An armed man with his face obscured by a ski mask held Rachel close. A gun pointed at her head.

      Noah reacted immediately. “Drop the gun. Now!” His eyes held Rachel’s. “Everything is going to be okay,” he tried to assure her.

      The man shook his head. “She’s coming with me, Deputy. We need her.”

      The man’s words mimicked what the others had said. What were these men after?

      “You’re not going anywhere. Drop the weapon.” Noah kept his aim on the man’s head, the only clear shot he had.

      The gunman grew increasingly nervous. He glanced down the drive. Was he alone or...? The thought barely cleared Noah’s head before a car’s engine roared to life. Tires squealed. The man’s partner had deserted him.

      “Looks like you’re all alone. Drop the weapon now,” Noah ordered once more.

      The man hesitated. His eyes darted from Rachel to Noah’s Glock. Without warning, he shoved Rachel away and opened fire. Rachel hit the ground, putting her hands over her head while Noah ducked behind the cruiser as bullets tinged off its side.

      Silence followed. He peeked around the side of the vehicle. The shooter was getting away.

      Noah ran after him. “Stop right there!” The man kept moving. Noah aimed for his leg and fired. With a bloodcurdling yelp, the man grabbed his leg and stumbled to the ground. The weapon flew from his hand and landed some distance away.

      Securing the weapon behind his back, Noah kept the Glock trained on the man as he advanced.

      “You shot me,” the man said in disbelief while holding his leg. Noah rolled him onto his stomach and secured his hands. A search of his pockets produced nothing of any use.

      He radioed for help. “Janine, I need immediate assistance.” Noah briefly explained what took place.

      “Are you both all right?” Janine asked in amazement.

      “We’re fine, but we’ll need an ambulance. The perp’s been shot.”

      Hauling the man up on his good leg, Noah helped him over to the porch where Rachel waited.

      “Ouch. Are you trying to kill me? I’ve been shot.”

      “Keep quiet,” he told the man. Noah turned to Rachel. “Are you okay?”

      She managed to nod.

      Taking off his belt, Noah secured it above the gunshot wound to slow the blood flow before removing the ski mask. He didn’t recognize the man. His voice wasn’t familiar, either. He wasn’t one of the two who ran them off the road. How did he fit into what was happening?

      “Do you know him?” he asked Rachel, but could tell from her reaction she didn’t.

      “What’s your name?” Noah asked.

      The man glared at him. “Lawyer. I want a lawyer.” Without another word, he clamped his mouth shut. There would be no answers coming from this man.

      Within minutes, two cruisers pulled onto the lane followed by an ambulance.

      After exiting from their vehicles, Deputies Ryan Sinclair and Cole Underwood, along with Sheriff Collins, walked purposefully to Noah.

      “When I went inside, the house had been ransacked.” Noah explained what happened. Next to him, he heard Rachel’s surprise. “I’m sorry.” He turned to her. “I’ll go with you to make sure nothing is missing.” Noah drew in a breath. “I heard glass breaking and ran outside. The man had smashed the passenger window and was holding Rachel at gunpoint.” He explained how he’d been forced to shoot the man. “There was someone else here. Whoever it was, he left his partner behind.”

      “We’re ready to take him to the hospital, Sheriff,” one of the EMTs said.

      Walker nodded. “I’ll ride with him. When he’s bandaged up, I’ll bring him in for questioning. In the meantime, let’s get crime scene out here again.”

      Noah called in the order.

      “Cole and I will canvass, see if anything turns up,” Ryan said. Noah headed inside with Rachel. He stopped in the doorway and turned to her. “You should prepare yourself. It’s pretty messed up.”

      He stepped across the threshold and waited for her.

      She gaped at the wreckage around them. “Why are they doing this? What were they looking for?”

      “I don’t know,” he said gently. “But we’ll find out.”

      Walker came inside and motioned to Noah. “I’m heading out now. I’ll leave my cruiser here for you to use. Until we know what we’re up against, I want you with Rachel at all times. We’ll need to speak with the bishop and clear it with him first. There’s an add-on close to the house, correct?”

      “Yes. I can bunk down there. I think it would be a good idea to have some of our people stationed outside, as well. Perhaps when Aden and Megan come on duty later today.”

      “I agree. I’ll send them over. Whatever these guys’ motives are, they aren’t letting up. I’m worried about the sister,” Walker said in a low voice for Noah’s ears only.

      Noah was, too.

      “I don’t think we’ll get anything from this guy until his lawyer arrives. Maybe not even then. If he does decide to talk, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, take care of her.” Walker nodded to Rachel before leaving.

      Noah turned and noticed Rachel kneeling in front of an old quilt chest.

      He sensed something was wrong.

      “What is it?” he asked.

      She clutched a quilt tight. “It’s missing.” The pain in her eyes was unmistakable. “My mamm’s Bible. She kept it in this chest. It belonged to my grossmammi. Why would someone want to take the Bible?”

      Noah had no answer. What could be so important about a family Bible for someone to tear the place apart to get it? Whatever its connection to the attack and Eva’s disappearance, they’d need to figure it out and soon, because he couldn’t help but believe time was quickly running out for Eva.