Page 42 of Jep

“Why you brought me here. What were you expecting to happen?”

“Oh, that. I wanted to show you what you could do.”

“So Ididfail.”

“Not at all. You were amazing. Exactly what I expected. The problem was, I could see how badly you wanted to help that girl, and I got caught up in the moment.”

“I’m confused. What did I do that was amazing?”

“Do you remember the drive back from my place the day you and Pearce came to get me?”

“Vividly.”

“You saw what was going to happen in the park before it happened.”

“You mean that fight you stopped?”

“Yeah.”

“All I remember is you threatening to jump out of a moving vehicle.”

“Before that.”

“Before that, we were driving down the street.” Her arm was beginning to throb. “I think my adrenaline is wearing off.”

“It’s not much farther to the hospital. You think you can hang on a little longer?”

“Yeah, it’s just aching.”

“So you really don’t remember?”

“Remember what?”

“Your reaction,” Jep said.

“I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“In the car. You were looking into the park, and you saw it.”

“Only because you jumped out and took off after those guys.”

“The only reason I saw them was because I responded to you. You saw it first. That’s why I acted.”

She frowned. “I don’t know what you think you saw?—”

“Think back. The car was quiet. You were looking out the window. You saw something.”

She put the details back into place. Put herself back in the car to the time before the focus was on Jep.

“I did see them,” she said, picturing the posture she’d noticed in the two older men. But she’d dismissed it like she’d almost dismissed the pregnant girl. It wasn’t something she thought she could influence. By the time Jep had responded, she’d put it out of her mind. “You’re saying you noticed my reaction? I can’t even remember making a move.”

“It wasn’t much. You stiffened.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s all it took.”

She could feel her pulse in her arm, the pain increasing with each beat.

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