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prove.”
    “It’s your call, Sergeant.” It galled Alex to give him control of the situation. “I’d suggest you make sure she understands not to engage the subject unless directed to do so. If he’s on meth he’ll be extremely volatile. Also, get some officers on the other corners of the house and a backup for her. If this guy bolts we need to be on his tail.”
    Keri listened to Barnes’s instructions while she scoped out a position nearer the house. Just because she couldn’t go in didn’t mean she couldn’t get as close as possible. She needed to know what was going on inside.She skirted across the patchy lawn, flattened herself against the concrete foundation of the building, and called in her location. The partially opened window she squatted beneath offered an excellent vantage point. She was close to danger; it permeated the air.
    “Car 260, can you tell us anything?” Barnes asked Keri by radio.
    “There’s a car in the driveway, older Buick with no tags. It looks like it’s been here a while and— Stand by. I hear something.”
    Alex felt beads of perspiration forming under her vest in spite of the cool night air. Screams from inside the house could be heard in the background of Keri’s transmission.
    “Sarge…” Keri’s voice was barely audible. “It sounds like he’s assaulting her right now. Permission to go in.”
    Through the open window, Keri heard the pleading voice of a woman. “I just wanted you to get some help. These drugs are going to kill you.”
    The unmistakable slap of fist against flesh brought renewed cries from the house. The sounds elevated Keri’s adrenaline levels and made her feel invincible.
    “Can you see anything, Morgan?” Barnes wanted to know.
    “No, sir, but it’s getting worse. I need to go in. Is my assist close? It sounds like he’s killing her.” Keri was already on her way to the door, her heart threatening to beat out of her chest.
    When it came down to it, Barnes passed the responsibility and looked to Alex for confirmation. She quickly assessed the new information. The only justification for sending an officer into this type of situation unassisted was imminent danger of death or serious injury. Her tactical experience dictated the necessary course of action, but for the first time in her career she felt unaccountably reluctant. That troubled her, but she didn’t have time to consider the reason or its possible implications.
    She nodded to Barnes and he relayed the command. Sirens sounded immediately down the street as the officers complied. “All other units, maintain your perimeter posts.”
    As Keri approached the door of the residence, the sickly sweet smell of fresh blood assaulted her senses. One side of the entryway was covered with bloody drag marks leading back into the house. She slammed her foot against the wooden door, sending a jolt up her leg. At the same time she announced, “Police!”
    The flimsy lock gave way and the door frame splintered to the floor. Everything slowed to half-time as Keri entered the residence. She cleared the living room with a quick scan and followed the moaning toward the back of the house, checking each room as she passed. She found the bloody victim in a south-facing bedroom sprawled across a queen-sized bed.
    At that moment Keri heard footsteps pounding through the house. The victim pointed and Keri gave chase. Her legs seemed to move effortlessly as she approached the back door.
    “Car 260, send the paramedics in, now. The victim’s been cut. The suspect’s running out the back on the east side toward the tree line. He’s armed with a gun and possibly a knife. I’m in pursuit. Have the other units move in.”
    Alex visualized the scene as Keri described it. Her heart pounded as the situation escalated. She struggled with an urge to race to the residence but protocol demanded that she remain at the command center until the scene was stabilized. Sirens wailed as the seconds dragged by.
    Keri