Page 205 of Cross & Crown

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“That’s what I’m taking away from all this,” Nick

answered. He reached to his belt, pul ing his handcuffs from

their holster. “One thing I do know . . .”

Kelly nodded. “Evidence is saying you have to arrest

him, huh?”

Nick sighed. JD turned and halted his pacing when he

saw Nick watching him. The look in his eyes was one of

both resignation and betrayal. “You’re really going to arrest

me now?”

Nick held up the handcuffs and moved closer to him.

“Turn around,” he said softly.

JD lowered his head and turned his back to Nick, his

shoulders slumping. Nick took one wrist in his hand, but

before he could put the handcuffs on him, JD jerked his elbow.

He landed a blow on Nick’s side, and Nick’s knees buckled.

JD whirled and grabbed Nick’s gun from its holster as Nick

went to the ground, and his hands were trembling. He backed

away, the gun pointing from one person to the next.

205

“I’m sorry,” he said to Nick. “I’m sorry I hurt you. But I

can’t let you arrest me, not yet. I have to find them and find

out the truth first.”

Nick braced a hand on the concrete walkway, gasping and

wincing as his blazing eyes tracked JD, who was still backing

away from them al .

JD’s eyes darted around the hordes of tourists, and then he

pointed the gun in the air, aiming it in the general direction

of the river. The blast of the shot echoed off the rol ing hills and stone monuments and created instant panic: tour groups

screamed and scattered, families with children flattened to

the ground, kayakers on the river dove out of their vessels into the water for safety.

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