Page 116 of Long Road Home

Jax touched her shoulder. “I’ll take the truck. Meet you there.”

“Find out if Forrest is being released. And tell Kobrinsky we need help finding Doctor Rayland.” She glancedat him.

Jax grinned. “I’ll call them.”

She drifted a little. Aware of the EMT talking to the driver but didn’t track what they were saying. Someone tried to take the papers, but she held on to them. The ambulance pulled up to a stop, and Kenna tugged off the mask. She sat up.

“We can wheel you out. So sit tight, yeah?” The woman gave her a polite smile. “Why walk when you can let someone else carry you, like those ancient kings who laid on a bed and got carried around?”

“Hmm. I see what you mean.”

The back doors opened at the hospital. A nurse stood there, and the other EMT came around to help. Kenna didn’t like even the feel of other people moving her. It brought back far too many memories of being shot. Of the night she’d lost everything, and they’d wheeled her into the hospital covered in blood. Everyone around her had tragedy on their faces.

Today was a lot different. It was freezing, not a warm night. It was daytime. The medical professionals were pleasant and polite.

But I’m going to carry those memories forever, aren’t I? It’s going to live inside me and jump up at any moment to remind me.

Kenna glanced over at the parking lot for Jax, wanting to see the sheriff’s truck. Instead, she spotted someone beyond the pillar holding up the overhang roof that would’ve protected her from falling snow. A man standing between rows at the edge of the parking lot. A heavy gray beard and an overcoat, topped by a blue-gray wool coat. Staring at her.

Kenna rolled to the right, nearly shoved the ambulance driver down, and swung her legs onto the ground. She managed to catch her knee before it hit the ground andstraightened with all the leg strength she’d amassed with those runs she and Jax had been going on.

“Hey!”

“Watch out!”

“What are you doing?”

“Kenna!”

She tore across the ambulance lane, jumped the bush, and realized she still had the papers clutched to her front. She held them tighter and raced toward Stan Tilley.

He turned and ducked behind a car.

“Kenna!”

She heard tires screech.

A car pulled out in front of her and turned sharply. Horns honked. Kenna slipped between two and narrowly missed Stan as he hurtled at her in the car.

She stared at him.

He stared right back.

A siren started up, and dash lights on the sheriff’s truck flashed red and blue—as did lights in the grill on the front.

The car swerved around it, and the engine revved.

Kenna ran to the passenger side and hauled the door open. She climbed in while Jax watched the car. “Go. Get him!” She slammed the door, shoved the evidence on the dash, and grabbed the seatbelt.

He yanked the wheel and turned the truck around, bumping the curb in the process. “Care to share why you tore across the parking lot just to escape getting checked out by a doctor?”

Kenna grabbed the handle on the door. “That isn’t what this is. It’s Stan! We need to get him!”

She spotted the medical staff, staring at the truck like Kenna was a crazy person. Which, okay, to be fair she probably looked like one after that. But she had been prepared toget checked out and actually admit she wasn’t all right. That she might need help, because it was okay to admit that. Just like Maizie had said.

Was it her fault when a lead presented itself right in front of her?

“Where did he go?” Jax looked both directions.

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