Page 94 of Her Last Whisper

Katie used her boot to stop the door from closing. “Please. I’m here to talk to him—just to talk to him about his brother.”

“I know nothing about brothers.” Her face clouded and she became angry. “Go away. Just go away!”

Katie heard a door slam from around back and she didn’t waste any more time talking to Nadine, she took off running and managed to make her way around the building dodging large trash items, overgrown weeds, and what was left of a retaining wall.

She saw a dark-haired man trying to put on a shirt running from the apartment.

“Hey! James. Stop!”

Katie scaled the crumbling wall of concrete blocks and various-sized smooth rocks. Slinging her leg over the last obstacle, she ran to meet up with him.

“Please stop!” she yelled again.

To her shock, the man turned around to face her and grabbed hold of her, practically lifting her off her feet. He performed a smooth move that Katie wasn’t prepared for as he turned her torso, causing her to fall back and land on her backside.

She knew the man was James Haines by his appearance, facial structure, and the fact that he looked just like Nick.

Recovering from the attack, Katie kicked his legs from under him. As he fell toward her, he grabbed her right arm, pinning it underneath her stomach. Somewhat out of breath, she worked her body to gain a better position. She felt like she was in self-defense class, so she went full throttle and used a wrestling move, garnering the upper hand by pinning him facedown holding his wrist up behind his back, her knee in his kidney.

“Sheriff’s department,” she said breathlessly. “I would suggest you stop moving if you’re smart. I’m here about your brother.”

“What?” he said, surprised, and tried to spin around to attack again.

“Can I trust you?” she asked, still holding his arm up behind him. She cinched it higher.

James yelled out, “Okay, okay.”

“Relax,” she insisted.

“Okay, okay,” he said, quieter.

Katie slowly released the grip and stood up, still not convinced that he wasn’t going to bolt or attack again.

He rolled over and sat up staring at her. “Where did you learn that?”

“Army.”

“Should have known.”

“What about you?” she asked.

“My big brother.”

Katie offered a hand to help him up. “That’s why I’m here.”

He got to his feet and said, “Has something happened to Nick?”

“Are you James Haines; your brother is Nick Haines?” She wanted to make sure, but the more she talked with James it was obvious, at least to her, that he was Nick’s brother. His voice inflection, slight southern accent, and even some of his mannerisms mimicked his brother.

“Yes.” He paused. “Are you going to arrest me?”

“For what?”

He looked down and didn’t respond.

“Look, I was asked by Nick to locate you—as a favor. Whatever you’ve done or whatever you think you’re in trouble for—it’s not my call or concern at this moment. Understand?”

“Then what do you want?”