Dance then heard another wailing scream from the Mercedes.

A flash bloomed from the woods, and six inches from her face a bullet blew a handful of dry rotting wood into the air.

Chapter 35

“I SHOULD CHECK in with my people,” P. K. Madigan said angrily, nodding toward his office. “We’ve got an operation going here. Possible homicide. It’s urgent.” The bewildered chief was feeling panic—which was not a sensation he was used to.

Two California Department of Justice officers stood in front of him in the lobby of the detective division, back a bit, out of deference. Maybe. One was redheaded and one had black hair. They otherwise looked similar, trim, in suits. Polite. Very polite. Madigan was so shaken he’d forgotten their names. The redhead said, “Yessir, I’m afraid calls’ll have to wait. Same procedure you have in an arrest, I’m sure.”

FMCSO sheriff Anita Gonzalez stood nearby, her face too a mask of dismay more than anger. “This is nonsense, gentlemen. Utter nonsense. I’ve got a call in to the Sacramento office.”

Which had not, Madigan noted, returned that call.

The two officers obviously didn’t consider their present assignment as nonsense, utter or otherwise.

Their two suspects didn’t either: Detectives Madigan and Miguel Lopez, who were being arrested for breaking and entering, false imprisonment, misuse of legal authority, criminal trespass.

Madigan said, “Look, this is part of a plan by a perp we’re investigating. He’s trying to get some of us out of commission.” He explained to them what Kathryn Dance had said about how stalkers target people who are protecting the object they’re obsessed with.

The state officers weren’t much interested in that either.

The reason for the arrest was, Madigan knew before they’d even mentioned the charges, his decision to keep Edwin Sharp in the interrogation room longer than he should have. And to have Miguel Lopez go to Edwin’s house and gather evidence.

The dark-haired agent was saying, “Here’s how it’ll work, Detective. We’ll take you in and I’m sure the magistrate’ll expedite arraignment. Probably recognizance. Can’t imagine he’ll go for bail. You’ll be out in a few hours.”

“I don’t care when I’ll be out. The problem is I’ll be suspended until it’s resolved. That’s procedure.” Like Gabriel Fuentes, the detective so careless with his gun.

Gonzalez said to the officers, “We can’t afford to have the chief down now—not with the perp on the streets.”

The redhead said, “We know how you feel about this singer of yours. But …”

He didn’t add, That’s not enough to bend the law over.

Madigan wanted to hit him.

The panic swelled. Hell, this could be the end of his career—the only career he’d ever cared about. What would he tell his family?

And he’d bent the rules just a bit, done it for Kayleigh.

This singer of yours …

Goddamn Edwin Sharp!

The officers were debating but it was only the cuff issue.

“Oh, please,” Madigan said, sounding as desperate as he felt. “You can’t—”