Then shed dropped Sam like a hot potato.
Hed learned a hard but lasting lesson: romance and police work did not mix. He had never again crossed that line while on the job, and he wasnt about to do it with Nina Cormier, either.
He turned away from the dresser and was crossing to the opposite end of the room when he heard a thump.
It came from somewhere near the front of the house.
Instantly he killed the bedroom lights and reached for his gun. He eased into the hallway. At the doorway to the living room he halted, his gaze quickly sweeping the darkness.
The streetlight shone in dimly through the windows. He saw no movement in the room, no suspicious shadows.
There was a scraping sound, a soft jingle. It came from the front porch.
Sam shifted his aim to the front door. He was crouched and ready to fire as the door swung open. The silhouette of a man loomed against the backlight of the streetlamp.
Police! Sam yelled. Freeze!
Four
The silhouette froze.
Hands up, ordered Sam. Come on, hands up!
Both hands shot up. Dont hurt me! came a terrified plea.
Sam edged over to the light switch and flipped it on. The sudden glare left both men blinking. Sam took one look at the man standing in front of him and cursed.
Footsteps pounded up the porch steps and two uniformed cops burst through the doorway, pistols drawn. We got him covered, Navarro! one of them yelled.
Youre right on time, muttered Sam in disgust. Forget it. This isnt the guy. He holstered his gun and looked at the tall blond man, who was still wearing a look of terror on his face. Im Detective Sam Navarro, Portland Police. I presume youre Dr. Robert Bledsoe?
Nervously Robert cleared his throat. Yeah, thats me. Whats going on? Why are you people in my house?
Whereve you been all day, Dr. Bledsoe?
Ive been uh, may I put my hands down?
Of course.
Robert lowered his hands and glanced cautiously over his shoulder at the two cops standing behind him. Do they, uh, really need to keep pointing those guns at me?
You two can leave, Sam said to the cops. Im all right here.
What about the surveillance? one of them asked.
Want to call it off?
I doubt anythings coming down tonight. But hang around the neighborhood. Just until morning.
The two cops left. Sam said, again, Whereve you been, Dr. Bledsoe?
With two guns no longer pointed at his back, Roberts terror had given way to righteous anger. He glared at Sam. First, you tell me why youre in my house! What is this, a police state? Cops breaking in and threatening homeowners? You have no authority to be trespassing on my property. Ill have your ass in a sling if you dont produce a search warrant right now!
I dont have a warrant.
You dont? Robert gave an unpleasantly triumphant laugh. You entered my house without a warrant? You break in here and threaten me with your macho cop act?
I didnt break in, Sam told him calmly. I let myself in the front door.
Oh, sure.
Sam pulled out Ninas keys and held them up in front of Robert. With these.
Those those keys belong to my fiancée! How did you get them?
She lent them to me.
She what? Roberts voice had risen to a yelp of anger. Where is Nina? She had no right to hand over the keys to my house.
Correction, Doctor. Nina Cormier was living here with you. That makes her a legal resident of this house. It gives her the right to authorize police entry, which she did. Sam eyed the man squarely. Now, Ill ask the question a third time. Where have you been, Doctor?
Away, snapped Robert.
Could you be more specific?
All right, I went to Boston. I needed to get out of town for a while.
Why?
What is this, an interrogation? I dont have to talk to you! In fact I shouldnt talk to you until I call my lawyer. He turned to the telephone and picked up the receiver.
You dont need a lawyer. Unless youve committed a crime.
A crime? Robert spun around and stared at him. Are you accusing me of something?
Im not accusing you of anything. But I do need answers. Are you aware of what happened in the church today?
Robert replaced the receiver. Soberly he nodded. II heard there was some sort of explosion. It was on the news. Thats why I came back early. I was worried someone mightve been hurt.
Luckily, no one was. The church was empty at the time it happened.
Robert gave a sigh of relief. Thank God, he said softly. He stood with his hand still on the phone, as though debating whether to pick it up again. Do the police do you know what caused it?
Yes. It was a bomb.
Roberts chin jerked up. He stared at Sam. Slowly he sank into the nearest chair. All Id heard was the radio said it was an explosion. There was nothing about a bomb.
We havent made a public statement yet.
Robert looked up at him. Why the hell would anyone bomb a church?
Thats what were trying to find out. If the wedding had taken place, dozens of people might be dead right now. Nina told me youre the one who called it off. Why did you?
I just couldnt go through with it. Robert dropped his head in his hands. I wasnt ready to get married.
So your reason was entirely personal?
What else would it be? Robert suddenly looked up with an expression of stunned comprehension. Oh, my God. You didnt think the bomb had something to do with me?