Page 447 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Addie saw the change in his eyes. It began in the darkness and seeped out to permeate every inch of him, to his fingertips.

Hank jumped off her and launched himself at Stella.

Kyle put two bullets in him.

He fell to the grass.

Stella stumbled back but rallied quickly. “Hey…thanks.”

Kyle held out a hand to Addie. “EMTs are here. They’re getting Jake now. It doesn’t look good.”

Addie found her balance then let go of his hand. “Like Stella said. Thanks.”

Then she ran inside to see Jake.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

The elevator doors opened, and Addie walked out onto the same floor where Jacob had been admitted after the stabbing.

Her phone started to ring in her pocket.

The screen saidZimmermaneven though it was after one in the morning on the East Coast.

She swiped her thumb across. “Special Agent Franklin.”

“Word coming down the pipeline is a detective was apprehended. Friend of yours.”

“That was fast.”

“The mayor is all over it.” Zimmerman sighed. “Spinning the tale, so he looks like the hero who brought in the FBI. Now he’s going to bring in police reform in Benson.”

Addie winced. She didn’t have a lot of love for the police department here, but there were good cops everywhere, and Benson was no exception. “Anything else?”

She needed to see Jacob.

Mona was being treated, and she would hang with Russ after. The cops were cleaning up the scene. Addie would have to write all the reports when she got to the office tomorrow.

Tonight was about Jacob.

Zimmerman said, “William Benning told us where he buried all the missing girls.”

“Good.” She was glad the team had closed the case.

“You’re staying in Benson, aren’t you?”

Addie stopped outside the door to Jacob’s room. “Things aren’t going well with Ellie?”

He was quiet. “I miss you, okay?”

There was no way she was going back to Virginia. She just didn’t know if she was staying in Benson, either. Not until after she talked to Jacob. “I’ve got to go. Thanks for everything.”

He had helped her. Cared about her. Now it was time for a new chapter in Addie’s life.

She hung up the phone and stepped into Jacob’s room.

The sight of him stopped her dead. Pale skin, so pale. Purple lips. Mussed hair. Blankets and beeping monitors.

His voice croaked, “Do I look that bad?”

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