Page 98 of Breathe Me In

As we crashed through the door together, we almost collided with Cap and Kennedy, who waited with their weapons drawn. They both went for Hank together as Bree and I gasped for air. Once they realized I already had him secured, they pulled him to his feet.

“Aww, fellas, you missed all the fun.” Hank laughed like a crazy person at Cap and Kennedy. “Stone was pretty amazing.”

I started to run at him, but Kennedy grabbed my shoulders. “You think this is a game?” I yelled at him.

“No.” He smirked with bright eyes. “I know this is a game.” I brushed off Kennedy’s hold on me and nodded at him to show I wasn’t going to do anything.

“Get ’im out of here!” Cap growled. He handed him over to Stanley, who pushed him into the back of a squad car. I tried to catch my breath as I studied Bree. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” She nodded with her hands on her knees. Hayne appeared then and hugged her and asked if she was all right. I looked away.

“You good?” Kennedy checked me over, but I held up a hand. I needed a moment. I was terrified we might have inhaled some of the drug.

“Plunger. Drug.” I pointed behind me, and Kennedy ordered Ellis to get someone in to look after it. She took off, and I saw her pull gloves on as she ran.

“Shit!” He immediately called for medical assistance. “We need to get you two checked out fast.”

“Where’s Hank’s wife?” I choked out.

“We got her, though she seems totally in the dark on what’s going on,” Cap answered as he inspected me. “Let Kelly look you over,” he ordered. I figured by the time the ambulance arrived, we’d have expired anyway, but I still gave a sigh of relief once Bree and I had been cleared. As I stepped away from the ambulance and raised my thumb at Cap, I heard a shriek.

“Bradley!” Sherry’s voice came from high up on the Ferris wheel. She must have spotted me. “I’m up here! I think this thing’s broken. Get me down!”

“And then there’s Sherry,” Kennedy muttered. “I forgot you trapped her up there.” He chuckled darkly, and I smirked for a moment along with him. The two of them had been close once. Sherry could be a lot at times, but before our divorce, he’d stopped talking to her completely. I’d never asked, because I’d figured he’d had words with her over something I probably didn’t want to know.

I spat on the ground and considered myself damn lucky I’d clued in before we breathed that stuff in. “Adam, tell the workers they can let ’em down now.”

“Sure thing, Stone.” He raced off as Bree came forward. I reached out and grazed my fingers along her cheek, and for a tiny moment she leaned into me. Then she stepped back, and the moment was gone. I ached to hold her in my arms and bury myself in her. Her eyes were wide and glossy as she looked at me. I could see the pain in her eyes, and I knew she wanted it too.

“I guess you didn’t need my help, after all.” She tucked her hands into her pockets. “Thanks, though, for helping me back there. I hope you know I was keeping my distance.”

“Of course, and I know that.” I drew in a deep breath. “I’m glad you’re okay. That was a little dicey.” I pursed my lips and blew out some air. “Actually, Bree. I was dead wrong to shut you out of this, and I’m very sorry.” I snagged my hat from the ground and dusted it off, needing something to do with my hands. “Why don’t you come down to the station and help me question him?”

Her eyes lit up. “Yeah, I’d like that. I’ll let Hayne know.”

“Yeah.” I looked at Cap, who grinned at me.

“Good job, Stone.”

“Thanks, Cap.”

“And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry it was Hank.” Cap rubbed his neck as he spoke. “It’s not sitting right with me either. The man’s been around since we were in high school.”

“Yeah, it’s a mind bender for sure.” I felt the weight of it. I was just glad it was finally over, and I hoped we’d get a few more answers for the victims’ families.

“Ready?” Cap asked, and I saw Sherry and her friend Anna watching me from the popcorn stand.

I righted my head and focused on what I needed to do next. “Let’s go.”

Bree went with Kennedy to the station, and we met later outside the interrogation room.

“Don’t worry.” She tucked her hair behind one ear. “Kennedy gave me the rundown. I take my lead from you, and I don’t offer any information that doesn’t need to be mentioned.”

“Good.” I left my hand on the doorknob for a moment as I looked at her.

“Wait, Brad, I have to ask. How did you know for sure it was Hank? I mean, it had to be more than the picture as a child. You said something about Gumbo.”

I rubbed my jaw, still bothered by the fact I’d never suspected the man who was in my face almost daily. “Remember how I told you Gumbo texted someone, but the text never went through?”