Identity Crisis (Rocky Mountain Novella Series) by Rory Chambers Read Free Book Online Page B

fingers shook as she flipped the lock into the unlock position.  She wasn’t sure when she would get a chance but, if it came, she wanted to be ready to open the door and get away. 

Chapter 11
     
         Kawoski sat at his precinct desk and feverishly tapped his fingers.  He was going crazy waiting.  Thoughts of Julie and what could be happening to her filled his head.  He cringed as he pictured someone grabbing her and throwing her in the back of an old van.  She must’ve been so scared.  His only solace was in his experience with kidnapping cases.  He knew from experience that most kidnapping victims were still alive after twenty-four hours.  But, the clock was ticking.  He would have to find her soon.  He didn’t even want to consider the possibility that they end up finding her too late. 
         He couldn’t sit around much longer.  It probably wouldn’t help, but Kawoski abruptly stood up and made his way back to dispatch.  He would personally talk to every officer on duty to see if they had spotted anything at all that could help locate Julie or the man that took her. 
         “Hey boss, we got a lead!” Ted, one of the newer officers in the precinct ran in and announced just before Kawoski was about let all hell loose. 
         Kawoski read the report the young officer handed him.  The van seen at the wedding reception venue had been spotted off of an old country road.  If it weren’t for the helicopter search team, it probably would’ve been weeks before anyone found it. 
         “What are we waiting for?  Let’s go!” Kawoski ordered.  He knew he shouldn’t be involved.  He was too close to the case, but there was no way he wasn’t going to be there to do anything and everything he could to make sure Julie was rescued. 
         The trip to the abandoned warehouse seemed to take forever.  Whenever anyone spoke to Kawoski, he found himself snapping at them.  That was unusual for him.  He was typically a very even tempered boss.  No one held his harsh attitude against him, though.  They could only imagine what he was going through.  It didn’t take long, though, for everyone to just go silent for fear that whatever they would say, no matter how well meant, would be taken wrong and inspire Kawoski’s wrath.
         When they pulled up to the warehouse, they had to remain where they were, a good two hundred yards from the actual building and van, and wait for the S.W.A.T. team to arrive and investigate.  Kawoski’s eyes went to the van where he saw it was the same vehicle that had been at the wedding reception.  The vanity plates matched exactly. 
         Luckily for everyone involved, the S.W.A.T. team arrived just seconds after Kawoski and his team.  Within minutes, they had the building surrounded and gave Kawoski the okay to proceed. 
         “We have you surrounded!” Kawoski announced into the car’s radio which sent the message booming out over a loud speaker.  “Come out with your hands up!”  It was cliché but he hoped Derek was inside, scared, and just looking for it all to be over with. 
         Everyone held their breath and waited anxiously.  As Kawoski waited and listened, not even so much as a cricket chirping could be heard. 
         He repeated his order and listened again for a reply or some sound that would at least let him know someone was inside of the warehouse.  Again, there was nothing.  With a heavy heart, he gave the S.W.A.T. team the signal to go in.  He only hoped he wasn’t putting Julie’s life at risk.
         The S.W.A.T. team swarmed into the old and abandoned warehouse as Kawoski nervously watched.  He had to prepare himself for the fact that Julie may be dead.  His heart was beating so hard he was sure it would burst.  It seemed like forever to him, but in reality it was only five minutes later when the S.W.A.T. team emerged.  “No girl!” one of them yelled. 
         Kawoski’s