Page 334 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Benning raised both hands and set them on the top of his head. An agent she knew well spun him, then slammed his torso against a tabletop. Benning was cuffed in time for her boss to see it when he walked in.

SAC Matt Zimmerman had been her boyfriend for three months before he’d quit attempting to get her to open up to him and take things to a “deeper” level. Whatever that meant.

They’d had bigger problems.

He strode right up to her while the others pretended they weren’t listening to all of it. “What was that?”

Addie motioned to photo taken of her after being checked into the hospital. Fifteen years ago, but it may as well have been yesterday even if she wanted to forget all about it. One look, and she was right back there.

“Benning knew exactly what button to push.” Zimmerman’s jaw flexed.

Addie nodded. “Zimmerman?—”

He cut her off with a shake of his head. “The next words out of your mouth had better be that you need some time off.”

“I told you I didn’t want to do this.”

“So you sabotaged the whole thing just to prove me right?”

She pressed her lips together. That was what he thought? There was no reason for him to be mad at her over this. What was going on?

“Take the weekend. Go home.”

She shook her head. “I don’t need?—”

“We all need a break after this one.” Zimmerman shot her a pointed look. “Once the details are wrapped up, everyone is taking a long weekend. But you’re spinning out.”

“The team has this handled.” She wasn’t going to let them fail.

“Good. They can handle it while you take a break.”

Addie opened her mouth to argue.

His jaw hardened. “I don’t wanna see you tomorrow.”

Addie’s eyes burned. I don’t need you right now, Ads. Her mother’s voice echoed in her head. I have Greg, and you don’t fit with that. Russ will take care of you.

CHAPTER TWO

Washington State

Grandpa’s truck rolled into the parking spot with all the grace of a coughing rhino. It was still Grandpa’s truck even though Jacob Wilson had been the sole driver the past ten years since the older man passed away. Jacob owned a BMW SUV as well but rarely drove it downtown. Just over to the beach on the West Coast when he needed to get away from Benson.

Snow from the six inches that had fallen last week had been piled at the edges of the parking lot for Grassy Knoll Retirement Home. Situated beside a YMCA, the retirement home was brand-new and had been open for six months. Given the price tag, it seemed to be where the wealthy who lived in Seattle proper, an hour west, dumped their nearest and dearest. Close by, but not so near they’d have to visit much.

Jacob left the truck keys in the cup holder, grabbed his camera bag and backpack, and headed for the front doors. His boots crunched the salt on the asphalt.

He pushed inside and pulled off the beanie that kept his ears from going numb. His hair fell to the left. It was necessary to grow it out to cover the scar just behind the hairline on the left side of his forehead.

He ran his hand through it and headed for the receptionist.

He got a good look at the gray strands on the top of her head before he rapped his knuckles on the counter.

She flinched and looked up. “Oh, Jacob. Hey.”

Naomi was older than him by a few years. He remembered her from youth group summer camps a couple of years in a row. The ones where he and Addie had snuck out during free time and hidden behind the tennis courts. When they got lost in the trees—and each other.

Probably not the most righteous thought to have.

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