Page 11 of Colorado K-9 Rescue

T he room closed in around Mckenna. Everything Lily said was pretty much the same as her experience.

The only difference was that a door had opened for Mckenna to go through after a couple of days.

That was when she’d seen the opportunity and taken it, not caring how bloody she was, or how she escaped.

The kidnapper also had taken her shoes when she’d been drugged, so she was running in bare feet.

It didn’t matter. She was in a race for her life.

Later, Mckenna realized that was what he’d had in mind all along.

He’d wanted to watch her scramble out and to see if she could get away just like catch and release fishing, where the fisherman took pictures of his trophy and then let it go just before it was too late.

Only he wanted to catch Mckenna again and probably had no intention of allowing her to live.

Dizziness washed over her, and Mocha, sensing the change, climbed off the bed as Lily and Evan continued to talk.

He came over and put his head in Mckenna’s lap, big brown eyes staring at her in concern.

Mckenna tried to pet him, but her hands shook too violently.

Mocha placed his head on her hands as if he knew she needed them to be held.

The party. I never did say who threw the party. I pretended not to know. If only I had, this wouldn’t have happened. Toby. It had to be him. He couldn’t control his compulsion and obsession. Why didn’t I go to that hearing? Why didn’t I give a victim statement?

A hand lightly touched Mckenna’s shoulder, and she jerked away.

“Are you okay?” Evan asked.

Mckenna glanced back and forth between Evan and Lily. She needed to leave. Now.

“No, I think I ate something that’s not settling well,” Mckenna lied. “I’m sorry, Lily. Mocha and I need to leave now.”

“Can I see him again? Soon?” Lily asked.

“Sure. We’ll come back for another visit.”

Mckenna forced herself to her feet, swaying back and forth, trying to make herself leave.

“Let me help you,” Evan said.

He was instantly by her side, softly touching her and supporting her.

“No. No, I’m fine. I just need to get some fresh air.”

“You don’t look fine.”

“Keep talking to Lily. I’ll be fine,” Mckenna said.

She and Mocha managed to get out of the room. Lily’s parents were waiting outside the door, but she couldn’t say anything to them. She had to get somewhere with no people. Somewhere she could think.

A sign down the hall said Chapel.

“Perfect,” Mckenna muttered.

Mocha led the way, and she followed the remaining signs until she was in the small replica of a church, complete with stained glass. She managed to sit down and then leaned forward, her breathing harsh and irregular, heart pounding.

Maybe if she’d gone to the parole hearing, Autumn would be alive. Then she started sobbing, letting feelings she’d hidden for years finally escape.

Evan fought the urge to rush out of the room after Mckenna. What had happened? One minute she appeared bright, chipper, and happy to put him in his place. The next minute she had turned pale and seemed like she saw a ghost. Lily’s case must have brought back memories for her. Tough ones.

“Thank you, Lily, for everything you told me. If you think of anything else, will you call me?” Evan placed his card on the table next to her food.

Lily nodded and picked up the card with the FBI emblem.

“You didn’t kill her,” Evan said, wanting to give the girl comfort.

“How do you know?”

“You were her friend. A good friend. I suspect from your description that you were drugged. Depending on what it was, sometimes drugs and alcohol don’t mix, and some people have a reaction.

Severe ones. We don’t know yet. The coroner and pathologist will be able to tell us more, but let go of the guilt. ”

“Okay.”

“I’m going to find who did this and bring them to justice.

For Autumn.” Evan knew he was making a dangerous promise, one that he might not be able to keep, but he had to.

He had to do something. “For now, I’ll get your parents.

They love you too. When you’re ready to talk to them, I’m sure they’ll be there for you.

Until then, get some rest and get better. All right?”

“I’ll do my best,” Lily agreed.

Evan tried not to appear like he was rushing out of the room, but he could only think about Mckenna. What had happened? Was she okay? He needed to see if there was another victim services person available for this case, but first he wanted to find Mckenna and check on her.

Seeing Lily’s parents, he forced himself to stop. “She’s doing well. She gave me good leads to go on, including looking for some buildings in the surrounding area where she was found. I’ll let you know when I find out anything, but for now, don’t pressure her. She’ll talk to you when she’s ready.”

“Thank you, Agent Knox,” Brenda said. Lily’s father shook Evan’s hand.

“You two didn’t happen to see where Mckenna and Mocha went, did you?”

“That way.” Lily’s mother pointed down the hall.

“Thank you,” Evan said. “I’ll be in touch.”

He power walked toward the end of the hall, wanting to sprint, but trying to have self-control.

There was an exit sign and another sign pointing to the chapel.

Would she have gone outside? Or would she have gone to the chapel?

Evan decided to check the chapel first. It was easy to know if she was there or not. If she wasn’t, he’d call her phone.

Taking the stairs down, Evan found the door to the chapel. He heard Mckenna’s sobs before he saw her. Mocha was in the aisle, a paw resting on his handler’s legs.

“Mckenna?” he said.

She sat up and turned to him, her eyes puffy and face red from crying. Evan fought the urge to go hold her. Console her. It was all he wanted to do, but that would be crossing a line. Mocha climbed halfway into Mckenna’s lap and rested his head on her shoulder.

Evan never thought he’d be jealous of a dog, but he wanted to be the one to pull her closer. Have her rest her head on his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Mckenna said. “I’m fine.”

“Well, you don’t look fine.”

Mckenna rolled her eyes. “If you’re just going to stand there and look at me like I’m a science experiment, then you can leave.”

“A science experiment?”

“Yes, like I’m a freak or something.”

“Hey, stop it,” Evan said, striding closer. “You’re not a freak.”

“How do you know?”

Evan shrugged. “Because I’m an FBI agent? We’re trained to know these things?”

Mckenna let out a laugh and then tears started flowing again.

“Can I sit down?” Evan asked.

Mckenna nodded and he sidestepped Mocha, giving the Lab a rub on the head, and sat down next to Mckenna.

Before he could talk himself out of it, Evan picked up her hand.

It seemed tiny, delicate. She had smooth skin—opposite of his rough hands full of calluses from the gym and his recent landscaping project that had been a stab at trying to make his house feel like a home.

“This case is tough. It must be bringing back a lot of memories for you. Hard memories.”

Evan thought Mckenna wasn’t going to answer, but she said, “It’s not the memories. It’s the case itself.”

“What do you mean?”

Mckenna turned toward him again, and he wiped away some of her tears, letting his fingers linger on her cheek for a second too long. He tucked some of her dark hair back, wishing again that he could hold her close and somehow ease her pain.

“What I mean,” Mckenna said, “is that Lily’s kidnapping is the same as mine. I mean exactly. ”

Evan didn’t know how to respond. “What are you saying? What do you mean by exactly the same?”

“I’m saying I think we had the same kidnapper.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes. My kidnapper, Toby Hanson, has been out on parole. Everything that happened was the same. The party. The smell of rotten eggs. Being kept in an old building. The window where I sliced my side open and then running for my life while he was shooting at me. And that eerie tree Lily mentioned has been part of my nightmares since I was taken. Everything is the same.”

He stared at Mckenna straight on, and took her other hand. Feeling her shake, he closed his fingers tighter around hers. “Then I’ll find Toby Hanson and figure this out.”

Mckenna hiccupped and took a deep breath. “You will?”

“Yes. I will.”

“You believe me?” Mckenna asked.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

Mckenna shrugged. “I’m used to having to convince people of what I’m saying, that’s all.

” Tears began running down her face. “I should have gone to the parole hearing. Maybe if I had, Toby would still be in prison, Lily wouldn’t be traumatized for the rest of her life and Autumn would still be alive. ”

“You don’t know that,” Evan said, leaning in closer.

“You can’t go there because even if you had gone to the parole hearing, Toby might have still been released.

I’ll find Toby. I’ll investigate him. If he did this, he’ll go back to prison and never get out.

He’ll never be able to hurt anyone again. ”

Good job, Evan, more promises you might not be able to keep .

But could they really have the same kidnapper? Or was Mckenna jumping to conclusions? But if what she said was true, so many of the facts were the same. Would Toby have gone back to doing this so soon? He would need to call his parole officer and find out where he was staying.

“Thank you for believing me,” Mckenna said.

“You’re welcome.” Evan was relieved to see that Mckenna was calming down and shaking less.

Mocha seemed to come to the same conclusion as he stepped down off her lap and lay down on the floor.

Evan found himself still wanting to hold her, make her feel better, be the one to help.

Without thinking, he pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her, smelling the sweet scent from her shampoo.

I’m overstepping here. I’m going to regret this. She’s going to think I’m being pushy or even harassing her. She could tell my boss and get me in trouble.

Evan was about ready to talk himself into letting go when Mckenna leaned into him. Her arms tightened around his waist.

I guess she’s okay with this. I’m not crossing any lines. Yet.

Mckenna tilted her head up. “Thank you for not only believing me, thank you for not making me feel like I’m some broken toy that needs to be glued back together.”

Evan hesitated and then said what had been on his mind for the past couple of days.

“You’re one of the strongest people I know.

Look what you’re doing to help others. Not many people could do your job after what you’ve been through.

I would never think you were weak or broken. I think you’re amazing.”

Mckenna came closer, her hands now resting on his chest. His heart pounded and he stopped thinking and trying to talk himself out of being with her.

Taking her face in his hands, he leaned over and kissed her, starting out slow and tentatively, but she didn’t pull away.

Instead, she lifted one hand, placing it behind his head, bringing him closer, her soft lips crushing hard against his.

The world stopped for a moment and a shock went through Evan as he explored the kiss deeper and deeper until they parted.

What the hell are you doing? But how amazing was that?

Evan searched Mckenna’s eyes, wondering if he’d gone too far, but instead, she pulled him in again, this time with no hesitation.