Page 16 of Pretty Broken Dolls

Several deputies walked down the street and knocked on doors to see if anyone had noticed anything suspicious at the Trenton house.

“You feeling better?” the attendant asked.

“Much better,” she said. Her focus had sharpened and her balance became normal again. Taking the mask off, she said, “I’m going to check on my partner.”

The attendant nodded.

As soon as Katie’s feet hit the ground, she felt like herself. In fact, she had a renewed energy. She saw McGaven still sporting his oxygen mask and quickly climbed into the ambulance and sat next to him.

“I’m feeling a bit of déjà vu,” she said.

McGaven pulled the mask away. “I hate that expression.”

“You okay?” she asked, ignoring his last comment.

“I’ll live. Is Cisco okay?”

“He’s fine. I don’t know how he pressed the remote to release the back door, but he’s special.”

“That’s true.”

“They haven’t said anything official yet, but I think someone tampered with the gas and helped to seal us inside.”

“It speaks volumes,” he said.

“Meaning?”

“There was something that they didn’t want us to see.”

“The killer?”

“Yeah, something.”

“Something? Investigators have been all over this property and it’s been sitting vacant for a while. So why now?”

“I don’t know. Maybe they don’t want any more investigators here. Maybe they don’t wantusto investigate.”

“Us?”

“Katie, you do understand that there have been news stories about us, especially you, and how we solve and close cold cases. It’s intimidating to killers out there.”

Katie smiled. “I love your viewpoint.”

“I’m glad.”

“I—”

“Agent Campbell.” McGaven took a few breaths from the oxygen mask.

Katie looked directly at him, her eyes wide.

“Something feels off about these cases…or maybe ‘contrived’ would be a better word.”

“I feel the same way.”

McGaven coughed a few times.

“You sure you’re okay?”