Page 405 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Hummet didn’t promise anything, but she knew he couldn’t do that. Some cases went unsolved. Others, an FBI agent specializing in profiling who knew the local area and some of the people who lived here, were called in.

She headed for her car, all of it and the adrenaline racing through her mind. Her body wanted to break into a run to get rid of the excess energy. Her hands didn’t stop shaking.

Someone had ordered her sent here. But the second she got here, those hang-up calls and heavy breathing silences turned into actual attacks. Like the same person was responsible.

He’d herded her into danger.

Had he done the same to get her back in Benson? The FBI had sent her, officially, so how was that possible? She couldn’t help but wonder if it was the case. Whoever wanted her here so all this could happen was likely also responsible for the murders. Though, she needed proof if anyone else was going to believe her. She had to figure out who it was.

Could she find out who had been involved in persuading the FBI to send her here? Or they’d faked the request.

She needed more information.

In her car, Addie sent Zimmerman an email he would get first thing tomorrow asking for a name. Who had requested her to be reassigned to Benson? It wasn’t the Seattle office. Even with the mayor’s brother being a senator, the mayor and the cops here didn’t have that much pull. The answer seemed more than that. Someone in DC had to have put it through, pulled the strings, and done this.

And how did they connect to a string of local murders?

Then she called Russ.

He answered on the first ring. “Hey.”

“I figured you’d be asleep.”

“What happened?”

Of course, he knew something was wrong. Addie explained, then said, “I’m headed to the hospital now so I can be there when he wakes up.”

“I’ll call Hank and meet you.”

“Yes.” She hadn’t even thought of Hank. “Good idea. See you soon.”

Ten minutes later, she pulled into a spot at Benson General and raced for the front desk in the emergency department. “I’mlooking for information on Jacob Wilson. He was just brought in. Stab wound to the abdomen.” She flashed her badge.

“I’ll let the doctor know you’re here.” The woman picked up her desk phone.

“Thanks.” Addie paced the waiting area. Avoided the pockets of people looking exhausted and distraught. Two people at separate corners seemed like they needed to be in bed on an IV bag, not out.

Someone had sent her here. Walking her right into a killer’s hands.

Her and Jacob.

The doors swished open, and Hank raced in. “Addie!” He hugged her, and she gave herself a second of composure.

“Officer Hummet checked the security tapes at the grocery store. He said there wasn’t enough to identify the person who stabbed Jake.”

Hank squeezed the bridge of his nose. “This is unbelievable.”

“Yeah? A retaliation crime on the same day Jake is questioned for a murder?”

“You don’t know that’s what this is.” Hank frowned.

The doors opened again, and Russ entered, followed by Mona. Her uncle squeezed her shoulder while her sister hung back.

“You wanted to come?”

Mona shrugged.

Russ frowned. “She doesn’t get the responsibility of being at home alone right now.”

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