“I’ve got this,” he said. “I’ll do a visual survey of what I can, make sure the shooter is in the wind. But if he cuts south, he could reach the road.”

Tess stepped aside so he could have her position at the corner of the house. She moved to deal with Harp, holstering her weapon. She’d already considered the area they’d need to cover for the search. Right now, the bad guy had options, and they needed to eliminate all of them.

“Thanks. I’ll have my people cover the road to the south. Ms. Harp, the deputy can watch here; come with me.” Tess regarded the woman. She needed to get inside the house, regroup with Bender, but Harp was a powder keg.

For a minute, Tess didn’t think the woman would comply, as amped up on anger and adrenaline as she was. But she relaxed and stepped back, grip relaxing on the rifle. Tess held her hand out and Harp gave her the weapon. Tess wondered about the shotgun but wanted Harp unwound before she broached the subject.

“Do you want to tell me what happened?” Tess asked as they walked toward the house.

“I’ll let Mia tell you. I need to calm down.” She’d begun to tremble, and in spite of the weather, sweat dripped down the side of her face.

They stopped by the horse carving, and Tess saw the divots and splintering from buckshot, which she knew didn’t come from the rifle. Harp read her mind.

“I didn’t fire the rifle. I got it after he ran away. I just wanted to make sure he didn’t get back to the house,” Harp said, looking pale and unsure now.

“You’re not in any trouble,” Tess said, now afraid that the woman was going to faint. “Why don’t you sit?” She helped Harp to sit at the base of the statue. “Where is the shotgun?”

“In my car. He hurt Mia.” Harp wiped sweat from her brow and leaned against the horse. “I’ll be okay in a few minutes.”

Tess knelt next to her. “You sure? You’re white as a sheet.”

Harp managed a weak smile. “Never been shot at before.”

“You’re in one piece, so I’d say you did okay. Why don’t you wait here until you feel better?”

Tess watched her for a minute, until color began returning to her face, and then continued toward the house, climbing up on the porch. There was something in the doorway. At first she thought it was a piece of furniture, but when she reached the top step, she saw it was the body of a very large man. She could see Bender inside the house, in the open doorway.

“I went around and came in through the kitchen.”