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“Then join the FBI. It’s what we do.”
Kenna rolled her eyes. “Been there, done that.”
“You could be a consultant for real, though. Not just because I have the paperwork already.”
She pushed through the interior doors. If she did that, it would mean she’d be stuck working his cases and not her own. She would have no autonomy if they dictated what she was supposed to be working on all the time.
Not that working with Jax would be bad. But living and working together? She might not be ready for that. Far as she could see, a man had to have his thing. He might like the idea of her being part of it, but he wouldn’t want her there when he had to be the boss, and he’d know she wasn’t going to like it.
Jax snagged her elbow, and she nearly ran into Bruce’s back.
“What’s going on?”
The older man said, “Nothing.” He ushered them out. “Time to go, I guess.”
They stepped outside and strode to the path that would take them to the parking lot.
Kenna asked, “What happened?”
“I was gonna ask you guys the same thing.” He looked her up and down, then did the same to Jax. “You both seem like you’re in one piece.”
She gave him a rundown of their encounter downstairs. “How about you?”
“Explains why I didn’t find them at lunch. Everyone in there…” He paused to shake his head, blowing out a breath. “Stepford. Isn’t that the movie?”
“Happy, plastic? Super fake?”
“That’s it. Everything’s great. It’s all wonderful. Meanwhile, they’re eating mashed potatoes that taste like sawdust and the chicken was… I don’t even know what it was.” He shuddered. “There’s something wrong with those people.”
“Maybe they’re just trying to make the best of it,” Jax suggested. “But I can call the health department.”
“You do that.” Bruce nodded.
“Nice to know you care about people.” Kenna was almost impressed by it.
“I’m gonna end up in one of those places someday. Lord willing.” Bruce frowned. “It had better be a good spot.”
“Start saving now. That’s all I have to say.”
Bruce said, “Maybe I’ll just get a cabin in Wyoming and go off the grid. No one needs to worry about me.”
“But we are going to worry about you.”
“Then come visit. Your feelings aren’t my problem.”
Jax looked a little offended, but Kenna just laughed. “Leave some instructions on what to do in the event of…”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll give you the password for the safe deposit box. All that stuff needs to come out into the open so people know what’s going on. Better if that happens after I’m gone.” Bruce took a step back. “Got a job for me?”
“Not right now. Jax and I can check out the one lead we have.”
“I’m gonna track down those kids. Make sure they’re all right.” He looked at her husband. “Keep her safe?”
Jax just nodded.
Bruce wandered off to his car. Jax drove, and she entered the address One had given her into the dash screen map. Those men had been mysterious. Maybe like her, and maybe not. Definitely covering for the doctor. Or they had no choice in the matter, and they had to protect him whether they liked it or not. Either way, they were going to find themselves at odds with her if she went after Buzard to take him down.
She didn’t want to put their lives in jeopardy, but justice had to be served. This doctor couldn’t continue to operate without someone exposing him. He was destroying lives by working for a deadly enemy with international reach.