Page 30 of Long Road Home

“It’s Kobrinsky. I need a ride home from the hospital. And thanks to you, everyone in the department is busy.”

“What if I’m busy?”

“Are you?”

She climbed in her car, trying to think of something to say.

Before she could make something up, he said, “I’m waiting in the lobby.”

Chapter Nine

Kenna pulled up at the curb and texted the number he’d used to call.

Need me to carry you out?

The lobby doors slid apart a minute or so later, and he came out, walking on a pair of crutches. Kenna opened the passenger door for him.

Kobrinsky said, “As if you could lift me?”

Right. She’d indicated that before. “How is the K-9 handler lady?”

“Her name is Jo Sammers. She’s not out of the woods, but she’s stable. She lost a lot of blood and there’s some swelling on her brain. Once her boyfriend showed up to secure the dog, they could treat her without the animal trying to snap at them.”

“I’ll be praying she keeps healing.”

He glanced over at her. “So you’re one of those?”

Did she want to get into that?

Kenna just said, “Yes. Now give me your address so we can get you home.”

He rattled off a number and a street.

“That’s Marion’s house.”

He shrugged. “Let’s go.”

She drove off for the sake of getting out of the lane where she’d been blocking traffic and people going in and out of the hospital. Still, she put no destination in her phone maps app. Her mind was full of implications of the conversation she’d just had with the preacher.

“What do you know about Pastor Bruce?” she asked.

“I know I have a buddy in Appleton who arrested the guy for the crime he went down for.”

“And now? I figure if your buddy saw him these days, he’d see how someone can turn their life around.”

Kobrinsky huffed. “If that’s what happened.”

“You think it’s a scam or something?” She held the wheel, the interior of the car warm enough she wanted to push up her long sleeves. The fact he would see the scars on her forearms stopped her, even if he knew she couldn’t lift heavy things.

“It’s religion. Of course, it’s a scam.”

There was a story there, but she didn’t want to get into a debate she wasn’t ready for. “I think maybe it’s notalwaysa scam. Hopefully, it’s not even a scam most of the time. But there are people in every sphere who will lie to get in positions where they can look good, or have money given to them as part of the ruse. You and I wouldn’t be in the lines of work we’re in if they didn’t. You know, our real jobs.”

He huffed. “Knew that would get a rise out of you.”

“Good for you.” She rolled her eyes. “How’s your leg?”

“Didn’t hit anything vital. But I’m on desk duty until I’m cleared, which means you’re my new partner.”

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