Page 24

TWENTY-THREE

While Cole drove the rental 4Runner, Kenzie relished the fact that her team had voted for her to stay and stand up to the person trying to force her out. Butler, according to Cole, had scowled and pouted, but hadn’t raised any more objections.

Then Cole had called Oscar and asked to see the man ASAP. He was off duty and visiting with his father at Harmony House, the independent living home the man had moved into two months ago.

They parked and made their way to the recreation room to find Oscar and his father engaged in a game of chess. Kenzie blinked at the sight. When Oscar’s father served as chief of police, she’d had pretty regular interaction with him until he resigned last year. He’d aged ten years since she last saw him. “How old is Oscar’s dad? Same age as mine, right?”

“Not sure. Late fifties, early sixties?”

“And he lives in an independent living home? Interesting.”

“Only requirements to live here are that you’re fifty-five years old and have the money to pay for it.”

She sighed. “I asked Dad about living in a place like this, thought he might be more comfortable, feel more secure, and he nearly bit my head off. Said I was trying to stick him in a home so I didn’t have to deal with him anymore.”

He sucked in a hard breath. “Kenzie, that’s a terrible thing for him to say.”

“Yeah, it was pretty terrible to hear. Especially since it wasn’t true. I was just worried about him being in that house alone so much. Even though Logan still lives with him, he works long hours. The nurse is only there part of the time, and I thought it would be best if Dad could be around other people. He didn’t think so.”

“I’m sorry.”

She shrugged. The elder Woodruff moved his queen. “Checkmate, my boy.”

Oscar laughed. “You’re still the champ, Dad.” He glanced up and spotted Cole, then his eyes widened slightly when they landed on Kenzie, but he waved them over. “Dad, you remember Kenzie King and Cole Garrison?”

The man went still for a few seconds, then he narrowed his green gaze on Kenzie. “Ah yes, Kenzie King. Of course I remember you. You look more like your mother every year.” He paused. “In fact, the resemblance is stunning.”

She hoped she concealed her slight flinch. “Thank you.”

“It’s been twenty years and I still can’t believe she’s gone some days.”

“I know the feeling.”

“You know he stole her from me, don’t you?” He laughed.

“What?”

“She and I dated before she fell hard for your dad. It wasn’t anything too serious, just a couple of dates before we realized we weren’t meant to be together. I’d already met my Lydia, Oscar’s mother, so I wasn’t too upset about it. How’s your father doing? Been a while since I’ve seen him.”

“He’s doing as well as can be expected.” Which wasn’t great, now that he thought his wife had been murdered, but she wasn’t about to blurt that out. “I could tell him to come by and see you.”

The man smiled. “That would be nice. I’d like to see him. We were so competitive in our younger years that it would be great to catch up without all of that between us.”

“I’ll let him know.”

Oscar stood, effectively ending the small talk. “Want to walk out to the courtyard and find a place with some privacy? It’s hard to talk around here without listening ears. The ones that can still hear anyway.” He shot a wry smile at his father, and the man rolled his eyes, waving them toward the door.

“I’ve got to head to my physical therapy appointment anyway. Stop by and say goodbye before you leave.” He grasped his walker and pulled himself to his feet, then shuffled away, looking more like a man twenty years his senior than someone in his early sixties.

Oscar led them outside into the warmth of the afternoon sun, but the breeze was brisk and Kenzie shivered, thankful for her long sleeves and vest. “What happened to your dad?” she asked, not yet ready to get to the point of their visit. “I know he took over the position of chief of police when Bernard Jackson was killed and it was a rough transition, but Dad—all of us really—figured he’d be in that job until they forced him out.”

“We all thought that, but...” Oscar sighed and scratched his head. “Last year, Dad was in a skiing accident. Blew out his knee. Between surgeries and physical therapy and ... more, the job got to be too much for him. He finally had to take a leave of absence about six months ago, which turned into ... this.” He waved a hand at the building behind them. “I couldn’t believe it when he said he wanted to move in here, but here we are.”

“So, the accident was almost a year ago.”

“Yeah. He was doing really well, bouncing back and making progress. He even seemed to be thinking better.”

“Thinking better?”

The man’s lips pursed. “Dad lives in the past more than the present, and I’ve been worried about dementia or Alzheimer’s, but then the accident happened and...”

“And?” Cole asked.

Oscar sighed. “He really wanted me on the SWAT team. When that didn’t happen, I think it broke his spirit a bit. He just kind of started going downhill, living in the past more, not being as active. Just sad, I guess.” He shot Kenzie a sad smile. “But don’t think anyone blames you. You deserve the spot.”

Well, that took the wind out of her sails. “Uh, thanks.”

Cole cleared his throat. “Look, I’m going to have to disagree with you there. Butler has made it clear he doesn’t think Kenzie should be on the team. Has he said anything to you?”

Oscar looked away. “All right. Yeah, he’s mad she was chosen over me. And he’s filled me in on the incidents where someone has tried to hurt—”

“Kill,” Cole said.

The man blinked. “Uh, yeah. Kill Kenzie. But he didn’t have anything to do with that.” His gaze hardened. “And if you think otherwise, then you need to take that up with Butler.” Oscar spun on his heel and headed back inside the building.

Kenzie let out a low breath. “Well, that was a bust.”

“Maybe. If he’s lying, he’s good at it.”

“If he can help kill someone, lying’s probably second nature.”

“COME ON,” COLE SAID, leading her back to the car. “We’ll head back to your place and—” His phone buzzed. “It’s Sherry.”

She raised a brow. “Maybe she’s heard something about Cliff.”

“Only one way to find out.”

He swiped the screen and put the phone on speaker so Kenzie could listen in. “Hi, Sherry. You’re on speaker. I’m here with Kenzie King.” He drove away from the assisted-living home and headed toward Kenzie’s house.

“Hi, Cole. Kenzie. I just wanted to let you know two things. One, I think someone’s following me. And two, I found out that Cliff passed away a week ago.”

He exchanged a concerned glance with Kenzie. “Do you think you’re in danger?”

“I don’t know. I just think someone’s watching me. I’m not changing up my routine or acting in any way suspicious as far as I can tell, but I have to admit, it’s making me a little nervous.”

“Do you need to take a leave of absence and disappear for a while?”

She laughed. “Well, if someone’s keeping an eye on me, seems like that might clue them in real quick.”

“Agreed, but I don’t want anything to happen to you either.”

“I know. I appreciate that, but I just wanted you to be aware. Just in case.”

Just in case. He grimaced. “Any word on Cliff’s wife?”

“No. She sent the text from a burner. I’ll admit I tried to trace it. But by then, the phone was disconnected and probably in a trash can somewhere.”

Cole pinched the bridge of his nose. “All right. Thanks for letting me know. Stay safe, Sherry. Call me day or night if you need to.”

“I will, dear boy. Thanks.”

Cole hung up and turned into Kenzie’s drive. She blinked at the vehicles in front of her home. Cole chuckled. “Looks like the guys are putting their words into action.”

“I don’t see Butler’s vehicle.”

“He’s still stewing. Let him.”

He followed her inside, and after she greeted the others—and thanked them for showing up—she walked to the storage area and looked around.

“Want to finish this room while we have time?” Cole asked.

She walked over to the journal she’d left on the table. “Actually, I think I just want to curl up in that chair there and read this for a bit.”

“Well, I vacuumed it, so you shouldn’t have an allergy attack by sitting in it.”

She laughed. “I know. Thanks.”

He nodded. “All right then. Let me know if I can do anything to help.”

She studied him, her eyes soft and ... secretive. The look dug into the very heart of him and he forced himself not to squirm. “Kenz?”

“I was just thinking. Thank you, Cole, for everything. For standing by me and supporting me—and just ... doing all things right.”

He thought about that moment in the hospital. Not quite all things.

She smiled as though she could read his mind, settled herself into the overstuffed chair, and opened the book.

He turned to leave her alone when she gasped. He spun. “What is it?”

She held the book up. “This isn’t my grandmother’s journal, it’s yours.”

“What?” He joined her to look over her shoulder.

Kenzie pointed to the inside cover and he read, “‘This journal belongs to Eliza Crane. Please return if found.’ Huh. How about that?”

“Your grandmother must have given it to mine, and she kept it all these years.” She handed it to him. “I guess I’ll give this to you then.”

He took it and ran his hand over the cover. “Let’s read it together. I’m sure she mentioned your grandma Betsy in it.”

Her eyes smiled. “That would be awesome.”

He grabbed a chair from under the card table and pulled it around next to her. “All right, let’s see what Granny E has to say.” He opened the book to the first entry and began reading.

1947. I don’t even know where to start. Everything is so fuzzy at the moment, but I feel like if I don’t get the thoughts out of my head, it may explode. I’ve been here at the hospital for two days now and I’m truly living my worst nightmare. The only consolation is that Betsy came to see me and snuck in this journal and pen. I can’t say how wonderful it is that she knew I’d need this in order to survive. The screams from last night still echo in my mind. The poor lost souls who cry out for help that is nowhere to be found. So, how did I get here? Why am I here and how do I get out? Please, Jesus, comfort me. I’m terrified.

A tear slipped down Kenzie’s cheek and she swiped it away. “That poor woman.”

That poor woman had been his grandmother, and his heart pounded in sympathy at all she’d gone through at the hands of the man who was supposed to love and protect her. “Nobody knew how to deal with mental illness back then,” he murmured.

“Not sure a lot of people know how to deal with it today.”

“True.”

“And besides, she wasn’t really mentally ill, was she? I remember Grandma Betsy saying Eliza’s mind was just fine. It was her father who was the sick one.”

“Yeah, but he sure made it seem like she was.” He shook his head. “It’s hard to believe this was less than a century ago. Seems like it should be much further in the past. Want me to keep reading?”

“Sure.”

Nurse Alice is one of the nicer ones here. She apologized for cutting my hair so short in order to get rid of the lice. Who knew an infestation could happen so fast? But they took out the old bed and brought a new one, so maybe Father is pulling some strings even though he’s the reason I’m here. I thought I’d have to sleep in crowded conditions, but I’m the only one in the room. Again, probably Father’s doing since most every other room is packed to the brim. I doubt he’s doing it out of love. Maybe appearances? But he’s not telling anyone I’m here, so ... why? I guess I’ll have to figure that out later. The thing that concerns me most is that they tell me I tried to kill myself. But that can’t be true despite the wounds on my wrists. I don’t want to die. I want to get out of here and find my William and start a new life. But how, when my father holds all the power?

Kenzie looked up at him. “Wow. William was the man your grandmother married, so it seems like she did get out eventually, but in the meantime, wow. It sounds bad.”

“Yeah,” he whispered.

“Your great-grandfather had a lot of pull, didn’t he?”

“From what I understand, he had everyone in his pocket. There wasn’t a soul in Lake City who didn’t owe him a favor or two.”

“And so he could pull strings with the state hospital where he locked up his daughter.”

“Sounds like it.”

His phone buzzed and chimed, then Kenzie’s followed along with the other phones all over the house.

A call.

“Where to this time?” she asked. She shut the journal and set it on the table, pulling her mind from the past to focus on the present.

“The warehouse district. A former employee with a grudge and a gun. Officers are on scene.”

“Great. What happened to giving us a heads-up and we plan out everything? All of these last-minute calls are unusual.”

“That’s because most of them have been fake.”

“True.”

“This one sounds legit. Let’s go.”

Kenzie grabbed the journal, and then they were out the door where the others were waiting in Dolly. Seconds later they headed out of Kenzie’s neighborhood and to the warehouse district. It sounded larger than it actually was. In total, there were five buildings on the edge of Carson Lake, the second largest lake in Lake City. Local police already had the place blocked off and were standing by. Badami and the same team that had been at the hospital were there again. Cole’s phone buzzed and he glanced at it. His sister. She’d have to wait. He hurried over to Badami, well aware this could be another ambush situation. “Any communication?”

“Yeah. There’s definitely a guy in there with a semiautomatic. He’s got four workers held in the main office, but he won’t let us talk to them and he hasn’t made any demands yet.”

“Name?”

“One of the workers said it could be Charlie Matthews, a former employee who was recently fired, but they’re not sure because of the mask.”

“Negotiator?”

“Ten minutes out. I called another SWAT team from Asheville. They’re being choppered in. Not taking any chances with this one.”

Cole waved to James. “Cross, you got this? King can go inside with us while you work out here.”

James stepped forward. “Yep. Get him on the phone, will you?” James had training as a negotiator, and while Cole wasn’t thrilled with pulling Kenzie from the safety of Dolly, he also knew she could do the job.

Butler didn’t even roll his eyes at the statement.

Badami dialed as James settled the headset over his head, and Cole motioned to Kenzie to join the team. Through the comms, they’d be able to hear James and the gunman.

“I don’t want to talk, man, I want justice.”

“I know you do,” James said, his voice soothing, but firm, “but we have to talk in order to figure out what we can do to make that happen.”

“They need to suffer,” the man said softly. “They need to be scared of what’s going to happen, what’s to come.”

“Why?”

“Because they didn’t care that he’d be homeless. And terrified. So now they’re just getting a little taste of their own medicine before—”

“Before what, Charlie? Can I call you Charlie?”

The chuckle was raspy. “Sure. Why not?”

“What’s to come? What do you have planned?”

“That’s for me to know and you to ... not find out until much too late.”

Cowboy went ahead, with Greene and Otis on his tail. Kenzie stayed behind them, while Cole and Butler brought up the rear.

“Get us out of here!” The female voice screeched through the comms and Cole flinched. “Please, help us! He’s crazy! He’s going to blow us all up!”

Shots fired in rapid succession from inside and screams echoed seconds later.