Page 62 of Long Road Home

“Am I under arrest?” Forrest asked.

“We would like you to come to the station and answer some questions,” Gingrich replied. “If there’s nothing to this, then no harm done.”

Kenna said, “Really? When you’ve intruded in this entire house for nothing?” Disturbing private spaces, and the memories Forrest held dear. “You’re gonna have to work a whole lot harder if you want to effectively ruin Forrest Crosby’s life and send her to prison for murder.”

They were going up against Kenna now.

Usually, she fought to find the killer. This time she’d be fighting for the accused innocent person.

“You’re not a lawyer,” Gingrich said. “Forrest, you need to come with us.”

Forrest lifted her chin. “I think I’ll choose to call my lawyer first.”

“We’re taking the evidence covered under the warrant for further scrutiny,” the officer said. “After all, there’s a whole lot about murder in that room.”

Kenna almost wanted to show them her RV and what shehad hidden away there, but they’d probably lock her in a facility where she could receive treatment for her mental conditions. Or what they’d think were psychoses. “It’s called ajob,” she spat.

Then she glanced at Forrest. She needed to take an honest look at her friend, just in case. After all, Forrest hadn’t yet told her where she’d gone this morning. But committing murder? That was so unlikely it was almost laughable.

Which meant someone wanted the spotlight on Forrest. Or even wanted her to go down for murder.

She couldn’t make any assumptions, but she could do everything in her power to prove Forrest was innocent if that was the truth. If someone really had murdered Bruce, and his death wasn’t a coincidental medical tragedy or an accident, then there had to be justice. It was reasonable that Forrest might’ve wanted Bruce to not say anything further about her family’s deaths. She hadn’t seemed to want to deal with it.

But badly enough to end his life?

“Found something!” The cops all left Forrest and Kenna in the hall. One came back with a note in a clear plastic bag. “Care to explain, Ms. Crosby?”

“It’sMrs.And I’ve never seen that.”

Kenna leaned over so she could see it. Her phone started to ring in her pocket.

“I d-didn’t write this.” Forrest’s voice shook.

“You’re under arrest for the murder of Bruce Kilborn.”

Kenna was shoved back while they put cuffs on her friend. She kept her mouth closed while they moved to the door.

Forrest, pale-faced, was about to collapse.

“I’ll get you a lawyer.” Kenna took a step, but Gingrich stepped in front of her. “Don’t say anything without the lawyer!” she yelled.

Gingrich said, “We’ll be here for a while, and you don’t need to babysit evidence collection.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be helping my friend fight this idiotic arrest.” She strode through the house to her RV and let herself in, locking the door behind her. The call had been from Maizie, so she hit Redial and listened.

When the teen picked up, Kenna said, “Clear your task list. We’ve got work to do.”

Chapter Eighteen

Kenna fired off a quick text to Theo and Alonzo on the way back into the house. She stood at the living room window and watched as officers loaded Forrest into the back of a state patrol car. She rubbed the heel of her hand across her breastbone. Her head hurt a whole lot less than it had the past day or so.

She spun around. Gingrich hadn’t left yet.

You’re unbelievable.

Kenna thought the words but didn’t say it. She needed goodwill with the sheriff and his department so she wasn’t denied access to be able to help Forrest.

“I have work to do.”

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