Free A Silent Fury by Lynette Eason

to curve her lush lips.
    â€œAll right,” she admitted, “a clever one.” She left him and he watched her round the corner.
    â€œJoseph?” she called. “They’ve already managed to get out. I can see them running. I’m going after them!”
    â€œWhat? How?” He made his way around to find Catelyn racing off in the direction of the road.
    Â 
    Five minutes later, Catelyn leaned her palms against her knees and puffed, “Nice work, Colombo. Very clever.”
    â€œHey, how was I supposed to know they’d move so fast? They ran up the stairs and out the back door. Mom’s still shaking her fist at them.”
    â€œIf we’d just gone in and…never mind. How far away could they be?”
    â€œFar enough. There’s tons of places to hide around here, and it’s not a far hike into town to some of the stores.”
    â€œThen let’s get officers here to set up a perimeter and a K-9 unit.”
    â€œWe need a chopper, too.”
    Joseph was already talking into his radio. When he finished, he looked at her grim-faced and furious as he pulled out his BlackBerry.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” she asked, annoyance still evident.
    â€œTelling Alonso to haul himself back here and that he’d better hurry up and talk his friend into turning himself in.”
    â€œYou think he’ll listen?”
    â€œThere’s always hope. He’s been making some good decisions lately. Let’s hope he adds this one to the list.”
    Catelyn sighed. “Running from the cops doesn’t seem like a very good decision to me.”
    â€œYou’re right, it doesn’t.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I really think Alonso will come through. He’s got a baseball game tonight. That is if it’s not cancelled.” He looked at the clouds that were threatening to release a downpour. “There’s no way he’d jeopardize the team’s status by not showing up. When he shows, I’ll grab him and grill him, okay? And if it’s cancelled, I’ll figure something else out.”
    Indecision marred her features and he wanted to reach out and smooth her wrinkled forehead. Instead, he clenched his fingers into a fist. “Let’s get in the car and see if we can track them down.”
    â€œFine.”
    They hurried to his vehicle and he pulled the door open. A raindrop smacked his nose before he had a chance to duck inside.
    Catelyn’s door slammed and she pointed. “That way.
    â€œDo you see them anywhere?” she asked as he circled the block.
    Her question distracted him for a moment. “No, I’ll try this other side street.”
    Catelyn watched him drive, competent, strong…intense. Swallowing hard, she refocused her attention on the search. She picked up the radio and called for backup in the neighborhood. Joseph sighed, but didn’t protest. He wanted to find these kids as soon as possible, too.
    The drizzle turned into a steady downpour.
    â€œWe’re never going to be able to spot them in this mess. They’ve most likely holed up somewhere.” He slapped the steering wheel, frustration stamped on his forehead.
    â€œLet’s get the dogs out. They can track anything, even in the rain.”
    â€œI’ll call it in.”
    While he did that, she answered her ringing phone. Slapping it to her ear, she stared out her window at the rain. “Hello? What? When?” She whirled back around to look at him.
    His gaze sharpened, and she knew he could see the worry on her face. “What is it?”
    â€œI’ll be right there.” She hung up and bit her lip.
    â€œWhat?” he insisted.
    â€œMy mother.” Her voice shook. She cleared her throat. “She’s taken a turn for the worse. They can’t wake her up. She’s…”
    He stopped the car, then did a three-point turn. “I’ll take you back to the station to get your car.