Chapter 35
K.J. had managed to shake Detective Trace again easily enough before her shift ended at ten. There were half a dozen road officers in the break room that he had seemed to be friendly with. K.J. had made a note of every single one.
There were traitors in the Finley Creek TSP after all.
She headed over to County Gen.
Brett…was her best friend in Finley Creek.
Like…her brother had once been. Before he had been killed eight years ago in a boating accident along the Galveston coast. They looked out for each other, she and Brett Naylor.
And though he was a total player—Brett really liked women, that man—he had never once hit on her.
Not like her last partner had repeatedly.
Brett still teased her about that. There would never be that kind of relationship between her and Brett, K.J. knew that down to her soul.
He was her best friend. It hurt to see him hurting.
It hurt, what had happened to him. And why. So much.
K.J. visited him every chance she could. Most of the time she just sat next to his bed and read on her phone. Sometimes, he was awake when she made it in. Then she just distracted and entertained him, though he was not ever fully aware when he was awake.
Today he was sleeping. The room was dim, the curtains were nearly pulled shut. She doubted anyone would even know she was there.
She slipped in quietly, and took the chair by the window. It was reasonably quiet, dim, and she just needed to think.
K.J. was still sitting there, almost in the dark, fifteen minutes later.
When the door she’d left ajar just a few inches slipped open, she expected to see a nurse, or someone who had business being in there.
But the man in the nondescript work clothes definitely didn’t belong. She knew it instinctively.
That was when she saw the knife in his hand. That he held in a way that shouted expert.
K.J. didn’t hesitate. She pulled her weapon. “Police! Drop the knife! Hands on your head! Do it now!”
Of course he didn’t comply.
He took off with a curse, into the hall.
K.J. was just steps behind him.
At a full run.