Page 72 of Long Road Home

That was her story, anyway. She was going to stick to it.

Betty stood in the hallway, drinking from a paper cup. A little square tag hung over the rim, but Kenna couldn’t makeout what kind of tea it was. She hadn’t laced her boots, and the aglets clicked on the floor as she walked. Betty glanced over. Her eyes filled with tears.

“What’s going on?” Kenna pulled Betty in for a hug.

“You look awful.”

Kenna barked a laugh. “Thanks?”

“You know what I mean.” She patted Kenna’s cheek. “I just visited Charlayne. Alonzo is charming all the nurses, and it sounds like his injuries aren’t as bad as anyone thought.”

“That’s good.” Kenna didn’t like being responsible for other people getting hurt. Even if they were adults who knew the risks. “How is Theo?”

“The worst patient in the world. Yelling like he’s in charge, with blood running down his face. They cleaned him up and gave him a shot to knock him out. It was the only thing that got him to quiet down.” Betty shook her head.

“Sorry he was there,” Kenna said.

“Sounds to me like if he hadn’t been, you might be dead or missing. Given how he told the story to the sheriff. He yelled through that as well.” Betty rolled her eyes.

“The sheriff knows about Stan Tilley?” He hadn’t mentioned it, except the plan for the FBI to take the case. Maybe he thought he had enough on his hands. “What about the fact Theo winged him?”

“He thinks he missed.”

“Kenna, is that you?” Theo’s roar came from inside the room.

Betty patted her shoulder. “Best of luck, dear.” She moved to a chair and sat with her tea, sipping where it was quiet.

Kenna braced herself and peered into the room. Theo sat up in the bed, in a hospital gown, tucked in by the covers. His head had been bandaged, and the rest of his skin was about the same color as the white cloth. She winced.

“Yeah, you look great yourself.”

“So Betty pointed out.” But they’d let her out. Maybe that was self-preservation on the part of the hospital, though. No one wanted to be sued. Or deal with an irate patient who might go so far as to argue the hospital had kidnapped them. Some people loved to argue about their rights and freedoms being infringed upon.

Kenna didn’t have the energy to get worked up. She needed to get back on a solid footing before Jax showed up. Just talking to him had thrown her enough. In addition to eighteen hours of sleep, she needed a pot of coffee, the evidence that exonerated Forrest, and Stan Tilley in cuffs.

So not much.

“Sit down before you fall down, kid.”

She grabbed a chair and leaned her head back, eyes closed. The strength and energy she had seemed to sink into the floor. She wasn’t sure how she was supposed to get out of this chair and go anywhere, let alone get back to the case.

“Still trying to fool anyone looking that everything’s fine?”

She peeled open one eye. “Thanks for taking that shot.”

“I missed.”

“Did you? We need information from that guy. It would’ve died with him.” Kenna paused. “Instead, you slowed him down, and we might be able to catch him.”

“I like the sound of this ‘we’ business.”

“I mean the FBI and myself.” She frowned.

His expression turned entreating. “Woman, let me in on this.”

She lifted one brow.

Theo cleared his throat. She saw his eyes fill with tears.Lord, what is going on?Two emotional men in one day, and a call from Jax? Her heart might not be able to take this. Kennapushed herself out of her chair and went to lean against the side of the bed. “What’s going on?”

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