Seth’s stomach roiled. “Did you know this policeman?”
He nodded. “He comes here a lot, but I don’t know his name.”
Seth remembered Callie telling him about Marty’s appearance at the shelter the night before. He turned and called out to Peggy, “Did you see Marty Weaver come in here tonight? He’s a Memphis police officer.”
She shook her head. “No,” she grunted as she finally got Sadie settled in a chair. “I haven’t seen a policeman come in tonight.”
Seth glanced back at the homeless man. “Are you sure you saw a policeman?”
He raised his hand and pointed down the hallway. “He came in the back door. I saw him take Miss Callie in the office.”
Seth pulled his gun from his holster, raced down the hallway and skidded to a stop at the open door to Dorothy Tipton’s office. A quick glance around the empty room that showed clear signs of a fight confirmed his fear that something bad had happened to Callie.
He rushed to the exit at the end of the hallway and stopped. Not knowing what awaited him outside, he pushed the door open slowly before he stepped into the empty parking lot. His gaze swept the area, and his hand holding the gun dipped. A soft moan drifted on the night air, and he jerked his gun back into firing position.
“Help me,” the voice said. Seth squinted into the darkness and made out the crumpled form of someone on the ground.
He inched forward, both hands grasping the gun he held in front of him, and gasped when he recognized Marty Weaver on the ground. Even in the dim light of the parking lot, he could see blood pooling around Marty’s body. Seth rushed to him and knelt down.
“Marty! Can you hear me?”
Marty didn’t respond. Seth pulled his cell phone out and punched in 911. When the operator answered, he identified himself and his location. “We have an officer down. He’s been shot. I need backup and an ambulance right away.”
“They’re on the way,” came the quick response.
Seth shoved the phone back in his pocket and leaned down over Marty. “Marty, it’s Seth Dawtry. Can you open your eyes?”
Marty’s lips moved, and a low groan rumbled in his throat. “H-he t-took h-her,” he whispered.
Fear gripped Seth’s heart, and he leaned closer to Marty. “Who?”
Marty’s eyes fluttered open, and he stared up into Seth’s face. “Captain W-Wilson. Sh-shot me. He and Abby D-Dalton put C-Callie in his police car.”
“Abby Dalton?” Things were getting crazier by the moment. Seth frowned and shook his head in disbelief. “I don’t understand. Why would Anthony and Abby do something like that?”
Marty grimaced, grabbed the front of Seth’s shirt in his hand and clutched the material between his fingers. “Gonna k-kill her. You’ve got t-to save her.”
The back door of the shelter burst open, and Peggy ran into the parking lot. “What’s going on out here?” she demanded as she ran to where Marty lay. When she stopped beside Seth, she stared openmouthed down at Marty and then looked back up at Seth. “How badly is he hurt?”
Sirens sounded in the distance, and Seth rose to his feet. “An ambulance and the police are on their way here. Lieutenant Weaver says Captain Wilson shot him. Have you seen the captain tonight?”