Page 72 of Now or Never

Jax turned to Kenna. “You want to talk to Detective Langley?”

She nodded. “I’d reassure you that hospitals are pretty safe places, but has that really been our experience?”

“It’s at least a good place to be in case someone is injured, or you and the baby have a problem.”

They weren’t going to be spending much time there, but she agreed on principle.

Kenna nodded. “Let’s go.”

Half an hour later, Jax knocked on the door to Detective Langley’s room.

“Come in.” The muffled voice was male, and when Jax opened the door, only Langley occupied the space.

The detective sat up. “Hey, guys.”

“Jordan.” Jax held out his hand, and they shook. “Good to see you looking awake.”

Kenna nodded. “You do look a whole lot better than the last time I saw you.”

The detective smiled. “The alternative isn’t great.” He had on a hospital gown and an ID bracelet, but wasn’t hooked up to any machines or medicines.

“How soon until they let you out?” Kenna settled into the chair against the wall beside the little cabinet and countertop, above which was a small TV on a shelf.

“Hopefully later today. I’m all stitched up, no infections, and I can go back to work in a week. I just can’t do anything but sit at my desk. And no lifting anything heavier than a piece of paper.”

Jax chuckled. “I’ve been there. You’ll be back to work soon enough.” He paused a second, then asked, “Did you see the face of the man who attacked you?”

“I scratched his neck.”

“I heard about that.” Jax nodded. “Good for you.”

“Maybe I got a look at his face. But mostly I just remember the sneer, and teeth.”

He enjoyed it.Kenna wasn’t surprised. But unlike his usual drawn-out kills, where he got to enjoy spilling blood and causing someone terror, this had been quick. “It was different with you. Fast.”

“He still managed to enjoy it,” Langley said.

She nodded. “Because he takes pride in his work.”

The two men looked at her.

She shook her head, mostly to try and shake off the memories. “Don’t worry about it.” She found the image in her phone and showed Langley. “Was this him?”

“I got his DNA. I don’t need to ID him.”

“His name is Simon Newton, and he’s a dangerous killer. If he isn’t in the system, then your colleagues need you to ID him from this photo so they can hunt him down before he hurts someone else.”

“He’s the one killing people?”

Kenna nodded. “Did he say anything at all?”

She couldn’t let go of the idea that hurting Langley had been about sending a message. To her, to Jax. To someone else, or all of them and the police department. He was a hired gun, though. Or a hired knife. The person that whoever wanted to be in charge ofDominatusat the expense of everyone else sent to take out those who got in his way.

Either Langley was a player who needed to be removed from the board, or he was a pawn. If he meant nothing to Simon, then the assassin would never have bothered to hurt him.

“Not that I remember.”

Jax said, “Any idea why he’d hurt you?”