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“Hank and Lindsey came in a beat too early.” Todd scanned the area, never showing any outward sign of distress or blowback from what he had done. “Jeb panicked.”
“And now he’s dead.” That counted two men dead. Simon hated losing anyone. The training needed to bring people up through the ranks proved daunting, but Simon had bigger concerns at the moment. “Jeb is a man who could trace back to me, who definitely traces back to New Foundations. It’s only by pure luck he’d been doing survival training and hadn’t met Hank.”
“I took care of him.” Todd cleared his throat and lowered his voice. “No one will find the body.”
Simon wanted to argue about forensic evidence, but he let it drop. “I have a new job for you. This is your last chance to prove to me you can handle it.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Figure out how to take the deputy’s attention off Hank.” Simon thought about all he had planned for Lindsey and how none of that would happen if she left town in a panic. “And make it quick.”
* * *
LINDSEY SLAMMED EVERY cabinet door in the kitchen. Holt knew because he stood right there listening to the drum show. They waited for Shane to return with news. Holt toyed with the idea of diverting her attention, but now, when her nerves rode the edge, was not the time for more kissing. Which was a damn shame.
Just when he thought he couldn’t take the noise for one more second, Shane walked in. He hit the alarm code before it started screaming, then came into the kitchen.
Lindsey spun around. “Well?”
“Kelly is in stable condition.” He stopped there.
Holt knew that was a bad sign. If Shane had good news he’d spill it, especially if he noticed the hope on Lindsey’s face, which seemed hard to miss. But they needed everything out in the open, so Holt asked, “Kurt?”
“He didn’t make it.”
Lindsey sat down hard on the kitchen chair. Her mouth opened and her eyes filled. Her pain vibrated out of her and took over the entire room.
Holt wanted to go to her, and he would, but he needed to know where they were first. “Give me the full report.”
Shane didn’t need further coaxing. He launched right into it, even though his usually lighter tone had disappeared. “Cam and Connor are making arrangements to get Kelly to safety once she can travel.”
Holt waited for Lindsey to pipe up. To say anything. Instead she just sat there, almost in a daze of sadness. With flat eyes and a pale face, she sat motionless. All the life and energy that usually buzzed around her had disappeared.
He reached over and grabbed the list Lindsey had compiled while they waited. “She saved six others. Most relocated outside of Oregon.”
“I contacted them.” Lindsey’s voice cut through the quiet, sounding more mechanical than human.
As each minute passed he worried more about her and how she would cope. Losing Kurt, losing anyone she’d helped, would be a huge blow. Most people would shrivel and stop functioning. He hoped she would spin out of it.
“Connor helped.” Holt could still hear Connor’s calm voice as he worked with Lindsey to reassure everyone.
Shane nodded. “I just talked with him. He’s dispatching Joel and a few others to get these people, relocate them and watch over them until we know what’s going on.”
The news brought relief. The tightening in Holt’s chest finally eased.
“But Kurt is still dead and Roger is missing.” Lindsey stood up. Went to the refrigerator and opened the door. Just stood there doing nothing as the cold air escaped.
“We’re going to get these guys,” Holt said, vowing to do just that.
She glanced at him over his shoulder. “After how many more people die?”
“Hopefully none.” And Holt meant that. He couldn’t promise everything would run smoothly and no one would get hurt, so he didn’t try. But he could make a vow. One to protect and defend.
She shut the refrigerator door. “I’m going to bed.”
That was all she said and then she walked out of the room. Down the hall. Holt waited to hear the soft click behind her.
Before he could say anything, Shane jumped in. “She’s having a rough time.”
“This sucks for her.” People dead at her feet and attackers behind every door. It was too much for him, and he played this game every single day at work.
“Tonight when you go in there to help her sleep, throw everything at her to reassure her.”
Holt wasn’t even sure what tools he could bring to that. “Maybe she needs a break. Some alone time.”
Shane shook his head. “If you think that, you still aren’t getting it.”
