Chapter Seventeen
Kate knew that she and Sean had to work things out. He couldn’t be afraid to touch her and they couldn’t have tension between them. She thought they needed to have a long talk and she would try to arrange that as soon as she could. They had work to do and she couldn’t let any distractions get in the way of that.
Kate had the list of people she wanted to talk to. Walter Sims was at the top of the list but of course he had vanished and the whole world was looking for him. The next name she had was Brad Levy. Kate was still wondering why a woman who had a gym membership needed a personal trainer. She had hoped that Mr. Levy would have some answers for her.
Kate and Sean made their way to Brad Levy’s house and Sean knocked on the door while Kate stepped back with her badge clearly visible. Brad invited them in and offered them a place to take a seat.
Brad asked, “What exactly can I do for you? On the phone you had questions about my relationship with Linda Miles.”
Kate replied, “Yes, I was unclear why a woman with a gym membership would need an additional personal trainer.”
Brad responded to the direct question, “The gym has staff personal trainers but Linda thought she needed someone more experienced, so I not only worked with her at home but also accompanied her to the gym as well. I am sure you can understand how serious some people are about working out, given the shape you are in.”
Kate said, “I am flattered but most of my shape is courtesy of the United States Marines. I guess the rest can be attributed to the Boston PD and “The Squealing Pig”.”
Kate noted Brad’s attempt at flattery but continued to press him about the relationship. Brad told Kate he worked with the whole family. He explained that Richard Miles worked all the time and didn’t have time for a gym membership, so he would meet him at his office for a quick workout.
Kate made some notes about Brad and wondered if his duties to Richard might also include killing his wife. That was only speculation but Kate had scribbled it in her notes.
Kate asked, “What kind of car do you drive?”
Brad replied, “I have a little Nissan Rogue.”
Kate knew that wasn’t on their vehicle list so she thanked Brad and Sean followed her to her car.
Sean said, “You are suspicious as hell of him aren’t you?”
Kate replied, “Yes I am very suspicious of him. The fact that he is friends with the husband doesn’t help his case any.”
They got into Kate’s car and began looking through their list for the next contact to schedule an interview with. Kate eased into traffic and headed for the next house. They heard an emergency call come over the radio, about a domestic disturbance just two blocks ahead of them so Sean says, “We should take that, it isn’t two blocks from here.”
Kate knew the dangers of domestic disturbance calls from her days as a patrol cop but she knew they were close and sometimes time can mean the difference between life or death. She replied, “Okay, respond and tell them we will be there in less than three minutes.”
Kate saw the action ahead and a squad car had also responded to the call and by rights Kate knew in her heart they should back off but the officers might need some help and she would be of assistance if possible. Kate kept her head down as she made her way to the patrol car to talk to the officers there. Both officers were squatted down using their car as protection.
Kate asked, “What is going on here, the radio call didn’t say anything about an active shooter?”
Dan, the officer closest to Kate, responded, “What’s wrong, are you afraid to shoot?”
Kate replied, “Not at all, but if I knew there was a shooter I would have brought something besides this pea-shooter to confront him with.”
Bullets were spewing out randomly while the officers carried on a conversation.
Dan said, “Why don’t you just go back to your partner and let us handle this.”
Kate didn’t like the attitude and was about to speak when a barrage of bullets temporarily distracted her. The shells hit everywhere and bounced like crazy, ricocheting off of walls and the street. After the barrage slowed Kate glanced at her partner and saw blood coming from his chest. They hadn’t had time to put on their vest and detectives didn’t usually wear a vest anyway.
Kate was panicking now and you could detect that in her voice when she called in on the radio, “Officer down, please send an ambulance.” She moved to the front part of the car and took aim at the window where the bullets originated from. It was dark in the house but Kate could see the flashes when the gun fired and sighted in her shot. When she saw the next flash she fired, three shots and the gunfire in the house stopped.
Dan looked at Kate and said, “I think you got him.”
Kate didn’t answer but was more concerned with her partner. She had him on the ground and was performing CPR and she kept saying, “Stay with us Sean, stay for your kids.” Kate was working frantically on the CPR but could hear sirens in the distance and knew the professionals would be here soon
In the meantime Dan and his partner went up to check out the house and the shooter. When they came out Dan said, “You won’t need an ambulance for him, He has three shots in his head right close together. Where did you learn to shoot like that?”
Kate replied, “I’d like to say it was the marines and the tour in Afghanistan but the truth is, my dad taught me to shoot when I was eight. Can you guys fill out the report, I have to go with my partner and I guess I will get to call his wife.”
Kate stopped the CPR when the ambulance crew took over. She asked where they were taking Sean and the answer was Boston Medical. It was the best that was closest. Kate went to her car to follow the ambulance. She dialed Haley’s number.
When Haley answered Kate said, “We were in a shootout with a suspect who had his wife hostage. It wasn’t something we normally do, but Sean thought since we were close we should respond to the call. There was a barrage of bullets and one ricocheted off of a wall and hit Sean. He is on his way to Boston Medical and I am following the ambulance.”
The ambulance had lights and sirens and so did Kate as she followed close behind. The ambulance parked in the emergency bay and the paramedics jumped out, wheeled the gurney out of the back and let the wheels drop down before wheeling him into the waiting medical crew. They asked Kate to wait in the waiting area which was already packed with people.
The story being narrated on the news report said there was a shootout with police and an officer was hit and transported to the hospital. Kate worried that Megan might hear the news story and decided to call her, but before she could do that her phone rang and she saw Megan's number come up.
When Kate answered, Megan asked, "Mom, are you okay? I heard the news report."
Kate replied, "It's Sean, he was hit. We are at the hospital now just waiting to see what happens."
Kate could hear the crying in the background and she knew that Megan was close to Sean. Kate asked, "Are you okay? Do you want to come home?"
Megan replied, "Yes, I want to come home."
Kate said, "I think the danger is over now as far as the case goes. My attacker is nowhere to be found. Can you fly by yourself if I send you a ticket and pick you up at the airport?"
Megan replied, "Yes mom, I can do that. I want to be there in case something happens. I know he has young kids."
When Kate hung up with her daughter she immediately started looking for airline tickets. She found one for the next morning and booked it, then sent the information to Megan to use for a boarding pass. Kate called Megan and told her to pack and check her email, the flight info was there.
While Kate was talking with her daughter, Haley came in and Kate caught a glimpse of her before she frantically stopped at the nurses' station. She looked disheveled and had obviously been crying. Kate assumed an ample amount of guilt went with sadness and panic.
Kate went to Haley and invited her to come sit with her. She told the story of them taking the call after they had interviewed the witness. Kate ended her story with, "It won't help Sean, but I shot the son of a bitch that shot him."
Haley said, "I was so glad when Sean became a detective because I didn't worry as much about shootouts and things, even though the hours were hard on the family."
Kate didn't have the heart to tell Haley that Sean stayed away a lot, not for work, but to avoid confrontation with her. She thought perhaps that was a conversation better saved for another time and broached by Sean himself.