Page 138 of Long Road Home

One day later

Kobrinsky shook his head, leaning back in the chair beside Kenna’s hospital bed. “Apparently, she was going to start up again, after she’d killed Forrest. She was going to be ‘Jennifer Pierce’ and carry on the family business.”

“That’s crazy.” Kenna looked at the door, wondering how long Jax planned to be before he came by. According to the nurses, he’d been there the previous day, and she’d been asleep. They’d passed on the information that he’d told them to tell her when she woke up—that he was staying in her RV. Forrest had asked him to stay there so she wasn’t quite so alone.

Kenna planned to order a full security system ASAP.

“Is Forrest okay?” Kobrinsky asked. “Do you know?”

There was something a whole lot like genuine concern in his eyes. The guy presented a good ole boy image, but there just might be a genuinely good guy deep down inside. WouldForrest always see him as the cop who’d been the one to tell her that her husband and son were dead?

Kenna smiled. “Maybe after you’ve healed up, and settled into your new role as interim sheriff, you should swing by and check on her?”

The town also needed a new pastor. That would be a transition for a lot of people.

Someone knocked on the door. Betty opened it and looked straight at Kobrinsky. “He wants to know if you have said everything you needed to say.”

Theo called out from the hall. “No, what Isaidwas, ‘Is he done?’”

Kenna bit her lip.

Kobrinsky stood, adjusting his crutches.

She looked up. “If you need anything, give me a call.”

The interim sheriff nodded. “Thanks, Kenna.”

Betty held the door for him, and when it was clear, the orderly pushed Theo in. “MaybeIhave something to say”—Betty put a hand on her hip—“about her putting you and Alonzo in that much danger. And when Alonzo was in danger.”

Theo rolled his eyes, his face pale and head bandaged. “Woman, she didn’t twist our arms.”

Betty put her other hand on her other hip. “Just because you’re a grouchy old man doesn’t mean you get to talk to me like that. If your head hurts, ask the doctors for some medicine instead of yelling at everyone.” She turned and walked out.

Kenna gave him a second, then said, “She’s right.”

He sighed. “I know.”

“Maybe while you’re asking for pain medicine, you can talk about treatment options.” He’d told her days ago that his cancer had come back. At least, that’s what she assumed he’d been sick with.

“I’d rather take her on a three-week European vacation and then come back and meet my maker on my own terms. Like in a fiery go-kart accident.”

Kenna frowned. “That sounds horrible.”

“But it’ll make a cool story in the paper. All the people hunting Alonzo and me will think I spent all the money we stole. They’ll chuckle and turn the page and go on with their lives. Betty will buy a condo in Key West and live like a queen.”

“What was the book?”

“Oh.” Theo waved. “A list of the places we buried the money. But he found it. Charlayne tidied up, and she moved it. It’s all good.”

Kenna wasn’t sure that was entirely true, but he and Alonzo were allowed their business. If anyone cared about the money they’d stolen or bringing justice, they were going to come here and find two old men. Justice would feel pretty much like paperwork, a hollow victory.

“Unless you’re going to tell someone that you found us.”

Kenna chuckled. “I wasn’t looking for you.”

She didn’t know anything about the case. Anything she heard wasn’t corroborated—it was just hearsay at best. Unless she dug into it to figure out who in the marshals service, or some other agency, cared about finding them.

“Is there someone looking for you?” she said.

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