âKira Matthews?â The officer at the window of the Police Station motioned her forward. âYouâll be riding with Dallas Brooks tonight. He needs to pick you up right outside these doors. If youâll go on out, heâll be here in a few minutes.â
âThanks,â Kira said as she hurried out the doors to wait. A cruiser pulled to a stop in front of the station and the driver yelled, âIf youâre Kira Matthews, get in.â
She nodded. âNice to meetââ
âSorry to rush you, I just got called out.â
She quickly climbed into the car and set her tote bag on the floor. âWhatâs the call?â
âSomeone dialed 911, then hung up. Not a good way to start a Friday night.â
âI know what you mean.â Kira buckled her seat belt and Dallas took off, lights on and siren blaring. She held tight to the grab bar above the passengerâs door of the squad car, trying to keep her balance. âYou take 911 hang-ups pretty seriously. It doesnât take more than a few minutes to get anywhere in Antelope Springs. After all, weâre not in Denver. Iâm sorry I was late arriving. I had an unexpected call from a foster parent right as I was leaving at five oâclock.â
âNo problem. The dispatcher heard yelling in the background before whoever it was hung up, so I donât want to waste any time. If itâs a prank, Iâd like to catch the kid and teach him not to cry wolf.â As the officer turned the corner to Sixth Street, he cut the lights and siren on the squad car. âIâm Dallas Brooks, by the way.â Pulling to a stop diagonally across the end of the driveway, he glanced quickly at her. âStay in the car. If it is a viable domestic call, guns or knives are always a possibility.â
âBut Iâm a social worker,â she started to say.
âGood, that may come in handy. Even more reason to keep you out of harmâs way.â He gave her a quick smile and turned off the engine. âIâll let you know when itâs safe to come in, all right?â
âI walk into houses unarmed on a regular basis, Officer. We handle these calls every day, all day, just like you do. Dispatch said there may be kids in the house, and I should be there.â
âAnd if there are, Iâll come get you when I know if itâs necessary and if itâs safe.â He climbed out of the car, closing the door on her next words.
âHumph,â she muttered. Kira watched Officer Brooks study the situation as he walked up the driveway. When he reached the front of the house, she opened her door. Just as she put her foot on the asphalt, she heard a loud bang, yelling, and glass breaking. She jumped out of the vehicle and started toward the house.
âGet back in the car,â Dallas ordered. He pointed to the cruiser. âI donât need to worry about you, too,â he said in a loud whisper, before putting his hand on his gun and stepping to the side of the entry. He knocked on the door and announced his presence, glancing in her direction again.
Kira moved hesitantly back to the car and turned her attention to the police radio. It didnât take long for Officer Brooks to call dispatch for backup. âI hope you have the sense to wear your vest,â she muttered, feeling a sudden pang of anxiety at the thought.
It was warm for a spring evening and Kira wished she had the courage to turn the key and open the windows. If the sun wasnât disappearing so quickly, she would. It would be just her luck the call would be nothing and the officer would come right out. Fanning herself with a notepad, Kira propped her door open with her leg to let some fresh air inside.
She heard a rattling sound and searched for the source. To the side of the house, a man had just jumped the gate in a chain-link fence and was staggering toward the car ahead of the cruiser. I hope he realizes weâre blocking the driveway, she thought. He started to get in, then saw the police car. Ducking behind the other vehicle, he studied the house. He seemed undecided whether to keep his eye on the cruiser or the building as he crawled along the half-dead, creeping juniper bushes edging the driveway. He kept turning his head back and forth, as if watching to make sure Officer Brooks didnât come out and catch him. He brushed his long bushy hair back as he stepped around a bicycle in the driveway and moved toward the driverâs side of the patrol car.