Excerpt of Tainted by Marsha R. West

The Scene is in the POV of Jeff Hudson, Marshall of Red River New Mexico where Liz Hartman and her daughter Lauran Richardson have gone to get out of the mess of their lives in Fort Worth where Liz's ex-husband is serving time in Federal Prison for money laundering. 

“My daughter Sarah arrives next week. I hope we can get her and Lauran together.” Jeff took her arm when she stumbled.

“I’m sure we can work that out. What’s Sarah like?” Liz didn't remove her arm from his. He took that to be a good sign.

“Sarah’s beautiful, looks a lot like her mother did, and she’s smart. She’s in college at Texas State in San Marcos, studying interior design. She got hooked on the decorating shows on TV and wants to have her own.”

“How fun. Listen, maybe she’d be interested in helping us redecorate Mom’s house.”

Matt hooted. “I’m sure she’d love that.”

“Good boy, Charley,” Lauran leaned over and used a small plastic sack to pick up his poop. “We can go home now.” And they reversed their direction toward the condo, still stopping for the pup to snuffle around whatever caught his attention, long grasses, weeds, and sometimes twigs.

They approached the condo which sat on the end of a line of units. The green grass on the side made a convenient place for Charley to pee, though he preferred his walks. The river running directly behind the unit provided a comforting gurgle. 

“What a beautiful evening.” Liz looked up at the sky filled with stars and drew in a deep breath. “Hard to feel unhappy or stressed here.”

“Well, that kind of statement will warm the hearts of the town council and the visitor’s bureau.”

Pop! Dirt spirted beside Charley. He jumped and barked like crazy.

“What’s the matter, baby?” Liz stepped toward her pooch.

Recognizing what had made the dirt jump, Matt shoved Liz in front of the car parked in front of their condo. Then he grabbed Lauran who scooped up Charley. He pressed them all down. “Stay here. When I give you the go ahead, go in the condo and lock the door.”

They both nodded without saying a word, but their faces filled with fear. He drew his weapon and scanned the road and the area on the other side of the pond across the street from the condo. Silence surrounded them, muffling whatever threatened. Minutes ticked by slower than the proverbial molasses. Was it safe now for them to enter the condo? Would they be safe in the condo? What the hell was going on in his town? Should he encourage Liz and her daughter to leave Red River and return to Fort Worth? Would they be safer there? Could he keep them safe if they stayed here? Questions whirled like the props of a helicopter rotating so fast they were a blur.

No other shots. He needed to get them inside so he could investigate. Who best to put in harm’s way? If he tried to open the door and the shooter took him out, they’d be done for. “Lauran, can you give Charley to your mother? I need you to unlock the door and go in the condo.”

Lauran’s eyes were as big as the harvest moon in November, but she nodded. She handed the pup to her mother and pulled out her key. Lauran leaned over, making a smaller target. Smart girl. In only moments she had the door unlocked and open. After scooting in she peeked out the window.

He nodded to Liz. “You’re next. Stay crouched down the way Lauran did. Can you do that and carry Charley, too?”

“What about you?”

“Don’t worry about me. Your job is to make it safely inside, lock the door, and stay away from the windows. The stairs will give you better protection if more bullets fly.”

“Dear God,” Liz gasped.  

“I’ll check this out and return as soon as I can to give you the all-clear.”

“Be careful.” She made a dash for the door, which Lauran opened barely wide enough for Liz and the dog to ease through.

Crack. Damn! A bullet hole gouged into the condo’s door frame, barely missing Liz. Lauran slammed the door. Matt used his cell to contact dispatch to ask for back up. Someone else needed to be aware of the action, on the off chance he didn’t make it back. He was convinced the shots came from the far side of the pond, but hard to tell exactly when the shooter used a silencer.