Page 61 of One More Chance

“Firing at Jax.”

“I’ve got this.” Bruce let her cover him, moving toward this guy so he could secure his hands behind his back with plastic ties.

“The police will want to talk with him when they get here.”

The guy slumped to the grass, his hands behind him, and groaned. “I’m helping the police! I don’t need to get in trouble again.”

Kenna asked, “If you’re helping the police, then why would you be in trouble?”

She heard a shotgun ratchet through the open window and looked but didn’t see the shooter. This guy had been climbing out of the bedroom window. Jax was still pinned down outside the front door, and the cops weren’t here yet.

She looked at Bruce. “Stay here?”

“Got it. Go help your boy.”

“Don’t leave this guy.” She grabbed the frame and climbed in the window, moving quietly across the carpeted bedroom.Mattress on the floor, the sheet coming off one corner. Blanket dumped in a pile and a pillow that looked like a bowling ball had rested in the middle.

She eased the door open slowly and looked out into the hall.

Earnest had his back to her. Dark hair with a balding circle at the crown that she hadn’t noticed before. He wore a checkered shirt and black jeans a few sizes too big. On his feet were boots that were smudging dirt on the hall carpet.

He lowered the shotgun and reached to a box by his foot for more shells.

“Put the gun down, Earnest!” She shouted loudly enough that Jax was sure to hear her while keeping her body covered by the bedroom door frame. It wouldn’t keep her from getting hurt if he shot at her, but it was better than nothing. “Drop it on the carpet and put your hands up.”

Jax kicked the front door open, all the way at the end of the hall, and looked before he stepped in. He’d wasted no time coming to her aid as backup. “Earnest Albertson! Gun down. Hands up.” His expression remained hard and his tone flat. “Do as the lady says.”

She almost smiled.

Earnest set the gun on the carpet. She strode forward, stowing her gun and pulling out more plastic ties while Jax covered her. “We make a pretty good team.” She pulled one hand down from Earnest’s head, then the other. She could have tightened the plastic down farther but didn’t.

No crescent moon scar.

She turned Earnest by his shoulder, which put his back to the wall. His hands were bound and out of sight. It looked like Earnest Albertson. She turned him again. “No scar.”

“What?” Jax didn’t move, still covering her.

She locked eyes with the man. “Who are you?”

“Isn’t this the guy you saw with Doctor Buzard?” Jax asked.

The man smirked. “Who?”

She could ask if he’d ever seen her before, but was he really going to tell the truth? What she needed was evidence. “There’s a guy on the back lawn. Your buddy didn’t get away. How are you going to explain him being in here with you and making a run for it while you opened fire on the FBI?”

“You ain’t FBI.”

“I’m not.” She thumbed over her shoulder. “But he is.” This guy might be in over his head in a major way. “Which means you’re in big trouble,Officer Albertson.” She took a half step toward him. “Where are those kids you took from the medical center?”

His muscles shifted, but she didn’t expect what happened next.

His head came down faster than she could react, and he slammed his skull against her forehead, causing her own head to whip back. But she didn’t lose her balance.

Kenna worked her jaw side to side. “Ouch.”

The man’s eyes widened, and his knees collapsed.

“He’s going down.” Jax took a step closer, kicking the shotgun out of the way. “Guess you have a hard head.”

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