THE EVERETT INTERPRETATION
CHAPTER 9
With overhead lights flashing, her foot mashing the gas pedal, Ellie had them in DeWitt’s neighborhood in less than ten minutes. Dusk had languidly stretched into evening and then drifted into nightfall. The unlit street was dark. Dousing the lights, she drove slowly down the block, parking in front of the Miller house. It was one door down from DeWitt’s. Emerging from the squad car, Ellie and Brad were met by Mrs. Miller.
“I’m so glad you got here quickly officers.” The woman whispered, obviously upset. “They’re still in there. So is Mr. DeWitt. We heard shouting and maybe a gun shot. I don’t know about that, but my husband said that’s what it sounded like. I do hope nothing has happened to Mr. DeWitt,” she sighed.
“Okay mam,” said Brad reassuringly, placing a hand on her shoulder, subtly turning her around. “We’ll take it from here. You go back inside. And stay away from the windows. Just in case that was a gunshot.”
Having made sure Mrs. Miller was safely inside her own home, Brad led Ellie as they edged up to the thick hedge growing between the two houses. He took a cautious glance around the hedge, then turned back to Ellie. Keeping his voice low, he hissed, “I see someone moving around inside. Possibly more than one person, so DeWitt has company. His red pickup is parked in the driveway, but I don’t see any sign of another vehicle.”
“Same as last time,” murmured Ellie. “If this is the same outfit, they parked somewhere else. Probably have a lookout posted near their vehicle?”
“Probably! Last time they were gone by the time we got here. My guess is the lookout is in that park where you like to jog.” It was Brad’s turn to shoot Ellie a ‘Don’t say it’ glance. “They can cut overland from DeWitt’s back yard and be there in ten minutes at a fast walk, less if they hurry.”
Ellie wrinkled her brow. “This whole neighborhood is a maze of dead-end streets and streets that loop back on themselves,” she whispered. “Last time we went right by that park on the way here. This time we came in from the other direction and totally bypassed the park. If that’s the case, maybe they know we’re here.”
“You’re probably right. They don’t appear to be in any hurry to leave. If we’re right about these guys, and if a shot was fired, we better call for back up. You stay here and keep an eye on things. I’ll call it in, Ellie.”
