Shaw looked over the pathetic weapons they had: a kitchen knife and canoe paddle, bolos, a hammer.
MacGyver...
He was about to check the surroundings again. But just then Shaw’s eyes cut to the girl’s. He cocked his head. She nodded. Again, they’d heard something at the same time.
Footsteps were approaching the front door.
The attacker had come from one side yard while Hannah was checking out the other.
“Down.” He gripped the knife in one hand, the hammer in the other and walked to the door. Hannah helped her mother to the floor and picked up one of the bolos again. She swung it ominously back and forth.
Volleyball...
A moment of howling silence, tension flooding the room.
And then:
“Alli, Hannah. It’s me.”
“Jon?” Parker gasped.
Shaw looked out briefly. Yes, there he stood alone. “Merritt, I’m armed.”
A faint chuckle. “Armed? With a kitchen knife and some kind of slingshot.”
Thuds sounded on the resonant porch.
“All my weapons. There they are. My hands are up.”
Shaw glanced outside. Merritt stood at the bottom of the steps, wincing. He was in pain. His arms were skyward. On the porch were the deputy’s Glock, two revolvers and the shotgun. The backpack too.
He said, “Just tugging up the clothes, giving you a look.”
Shaw had, for no reason, expected a low, raspy voice. But Merritt’s was soft and tenor.
With his left hand, Merritt lifted his windbreaker shirttail and jacket and turned slowly. No other weapons. Shaw noticed a massive bruise on the belly.
“I’d just as soon not stand out here much longer. I saw those two assholes in the woods and they’re not very far away. Sorry, Han. Language.”
80
First, Shaw secured the weapons.
This was not governed by a never rule. Though if there were one, it would read: Never be stupid.
He took the Glock, made sure it was loaded and a round chambered. It went into his waistband, right rear. An easy, practiced draw. Two mags in the left front pocket of his jeans.
The others—the two revolvers and the shotgun—he checked and set in the corner.
“Car keys?”
“Right pocket.” A nod at the windbreaker. “Two sets. Mine and hers.”
“Toss it. The whole jacket.”
He did, wincing once more.
Shaw fished out and pocketed the keys.