Page 71 of Deathtoll

She said nothing on the ride, just kept checking her phone over and over. Murph called Bing to tell him what they were doing and that they needed another man.

“I’ll send Hunter,” Bing said without argument.

When they reached Kate’s house, Murph kept her in his pickup while Joe and Chase checked out the place. Then he walked her in. Walked her to her little gun safe and checked her weapon, made sure it was loaded.

“I’m not an idiot.” Her temper flared at last. A good sign. She was finding her spirit. “I remember what you taught me.”

“Good. You see the bastard, you shoot. No hesitation. If he comes, he’ll come for one reason only.”

“I’ll be fine. Hunter will be here in a few minutes. Please go and look for Emma.” She put her free hand on his arm.

Need roared through Murph for more. “Kate?”

She leaned forward. And then she rested her forehead against his collarbone, as if all her energy had been sapped, as if she was exhausted beyond words.

He didn’t put his arms around her, even if he wanted to, wanted so much it made his teeth ache. He let her give or take what she needed.

In the end, she only needed two seconds. Then she pulled away.

And because staring at her balefully while desperately wanting her back wasn’t going to help anything, he took off without further argument. He only stopped at the door to tell Joe and Chase to guard her with their lives.

He called the captain from outside. “I’ll be at the station in ten minutes.”

“Everybody’s out already, checking abandoned buildings. If Emma Bridges was kidnapped, if it is Asael, she could have been picked up a street or two from Kate’s place. She could still be in town somewhere.” Frustration sharpened Bing’s tone as he added, “Damn hard to know where to start. Most of the time, a kidnapper takes his victim somewhere familiar. An abandoned house he might have played in as a kid, or a campsite in the woods he’d visited in the past.”

Murph jumped into his pickup. “What would be familiar for Asael in Broslin?”

“Nothing. As far as we know, he’s never been here.”

“His lover had. Has anyone checked Fred Kazincky’s apartment?”

“I doubt it’s sitting empty. And it’s in the middle of town. Hardly a hideaway.”

“Asael might be trying to make a point.”

“Like, he’s smarter than the rest of us combined?” The captain’s tone said he was warming to the idea. “All right. I’ll head over.”

“I’ll meet you there.” Murph ended the call and floored the gas.

He reached the location minutes later but got stuck behind a red light at the intersection. He could see the run-down apartment building across the road and watched as two cruisers pulled up to the front, lights flashing. Gabi and Mike ran to the door, talking on their radios. Then Bing was there, hurrying past them, going in.

No, no, no. Dammit!Not like this. Not for Asael.

Then the light was finally green, and Murph sailed through it, shot into the parking lot, and jumped from his pickup.

“Going after the captain,” he told Gabi, who was securing the entrance. Mike wasn’t in sight, probably securing the back.

Murph dashed up the stairs to the second floor. He’d been there before. Right after Mordocai—masquerading as Fred Kazincky—had kidnapped Kate. He’d hoped never to have the occasion to come back.

Bing was knocking on the door at the end of the hallway, standing to the side, gun at the ready.

No response, but as Murph slowed, he could hear someone moving around in there. He pulled his own weapon.

Bing acknowledged his presence with a small nod, then knocked again.

“Who is it?” a child’s voice asked, a young boy.

“Police,” Bing answered. “Can I talk to your mom or your dad? Could you send them to the door, buddy?”