Page 105 of Long Road Home

“You could still be a target,” Kenna said. “Whoever put you here might not be happy when you’re released. It’ll mean it didn’t work.”

Like Rayland’s reaction to the arrival of a witness who could provide Forrest’s alibi.

Was there someone else out in the community who was currently reacting the same way, or who would when they found out? If that person had also killed Rayland, then they couldn’t have known about the alibi…unless it was Sheriff Gingrich.

“Kobrinsky is here.”

Kenna flinched and spun around, nearly jumping out of her skin. “Jax.” She laid a hand on her front. “Thanks.”

Destain chuckled.

“He’s here?” Forrest asked. “Great. The boyfriend shows up, and I’m behind bars. I’d offer you coffee or a piece of my amazing coffee cake, but I haven’t been home in three days. I’ve been peeing in public, and I’m seriously sleep deprived.”

Jax moved to stand where Forrest would be able to see him. “Sounds like good time to go home, shower, and take a nap.”

Forrest huffed in agreement.

Kenna tapped her fingers on the bars. “Just hang on a little while longer, okay?”

“I don’t have muchof a choice, do I?”

Sorry this happened to you.She should say it out loud, because for a lot of years she never would have identified with the wrongly accused. These days she had a whole lot of empathy flexing its muscles inside her heart and mind.

Jax laid a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “The sheriff needs us to go find Rayland’s mom and do the death notification.”

She followed him out of the hall of cells back to the main office area. The sheriff stood with Pilsborough, who had a lot more color in his cheeks. Whether from the adrenaline, or from something the EMTs had given him, she wasn’t sure.

“We’re heading out,” Jax said.

Gingrich lifted his chin. “Paulette has the food.”

Kenna told him, “Keep an eye on things while we’re gone.”

The sheriff flushed. “Just find her before she finds out through a rumor.” He’d seen a subordinate he probably felt responsible for die right in front of him. A terrible way to kill someone if it turned out the sheriff was the one who slipped Rayland the substance that killed him—and his emotional state was just an act. She didn’t think he was a criminal mastermind, but also refused to assume.

As they headed to the front desk, Kenna said, “We need to know if Bruce and Rayland were killed with the same substance.”

Jax nodded. “And my ASAC wants Tilley in custody in forty-eight hours, or I have to report back to the office.”

She blinked. “Two days?” Unbelievable. “I’m going to sleep for that long just to build back the energy to figure out how to draw him out.”

Jax’s eyes lit with amusement.

Kenna heard a sniffle. “Paulette.” Jax went around tothe other side of the counter, but Kenna moved to stand by the receptionist. “Hey.” She tugged Paulette to her side. “It’s been a rough day already, and it’s barely nine.”

“Don’t tell Kobrinsky I’m crying, I’ll never hear the end of it.” She dabbed a tissue to her eyes and sniffed.

“Where is he? I haven’t seen him.”

Paulette frowned. “He said he’d take your food to you, and he took Jax’s and Reuben’s.” She flushed. “The diner waitress thought I was nuts balling my eyes out, but I needed some air so I told the fed to stay put. I’d get it. The sheriff told me not to say anything until we notify Dr. Rayland about her son.”

“One sec.” Kenna strode back to the office and walked through it, looking around. She spotted Kobrinsky and his crutches at the conference table, two seats down from Reuben. They were watching local morning news on the TV. Both of them were eating from Styrofoam containers. She caught his attention in the window and raised her hands, like,What?

He lifted his chin, saluted with his fork, and mouthed,Thanks.

She pressed her lips together. They looked to be eating three breakfasts between them. She stomped back to the front desk. “Let’s go.”

Jax followed her out.

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