Too simple, really.
But then, it had always been simple.
Time was running out. He knew it. He’d checked with his source again just minutes before. The agents were running their search. They’d turn up his name.
They’d track him.
But he wouldn’t go down easy.
No, not easy.
He’d go down in flames because that was his way.
His way, and Lora’s.
CHAPTER Nineteen
Kenton’s phone rang just as he stepped out of the hotel room. “Lake.” He shoved the keys into his pocket, adjusted his jacket, and felt the brush of his holster.
“Has Donalds got the woman?” Hyde demanded.
“Yeah, she’s detailing her.” He’d walked them out moments before and headed back into the room just to grab some files. Although he knew Kim would keep a careful watch on Lora, he couldn’t help feeling a little uneasy. He wanted Lora with him so he could watch her himself and make absolutely certain she was safe.
“Pick up Davenport and get your asses down here. Sam’s got a list of names—”
Names? “Who?”
“She’s been looking for firefighters, men who’ve been burned.”
That fit. They’d thought it was a firefighter in the beginning, until they’d seen the link with Malone. A link that was still there. “What about Malone? What happened to—”
“Alibied by one of Lora’s neighbors.”
“Okay.” He digested that. “But Malone is still tied to the cases. It’s no coincidence that he had a history with all the victims.” A link. Malone was the link, perhaps unknowingly, but he could lead them back to the killer.
“We’ve done some more digging, and we found four men who fit Davenport’s profile. I want you both here because we’re bringing ’em in, and we will get the killer to break.”
That sounded like one f**king fine plan. “Be there in twenty.” He shoved the phone back into his pocket and quickened his step. Monica’s room was on the other side of the hotel. Deliberate, that, after his last unfortunate encounter overhearing her and Luke in a hotel with thin walls.
Four names. Excitement had his heart thundering.
“Agent Lake!”
Kenton spun at the call, tensing. “What are you doing here?” His hand rose, going close for his gun, just in case. Not a firefighter, but…
“I wanted to talk to you and Lora.” Seth came closer, the limp slowing him a bit. “I checked at the station, but you weren’t there.” He shook his head. “I’ve found something.”
Cars buzzed by on the interstate, and their engines roared.
“What?”
“I think—I think I know who started the fires.” Seth’s voice lowered. “I don’t want to believe it, but…”
Kenton lowered his arm and stepped forward. The traffic was getting louder and making it harder to hear.
“I think it’s…” A broad smile covered his face as Seth’s hand came up. “Me.” A spark of electricity shot from the taser in his hand.
“Fuck!” Kenton jumped back.
Too late. The metal probes slammed right under his rib cage, and his body convulsed. Kenton fell, the files scattered, and his head hit the concrete.
The burn unit. Lora’s spine stiffened as she stared up at the sign in Memorial Infirmary. She’d been here so many times. First, she’d come as a kid for her own painful treatment. Ryan’s wounds had been worse than hers, so she’d come back during all of his long visits. Over the years, she’d also gone in with her teammates when they were injured and checked up on survivors.
Wade wasn’t talking yet. He couldn’t with that tube still down his throat. But she’d paid her respects to him. The chief was still talking to Sherri, and tears trickled down the woman’s cheeks.
The road ahead wouldn’t be easy for Wade and Sherri, but at least they’d be together.
The scent of fresh flowers filled the air. She’d brought roses, though Wade would have cussed her out if he knew that. The man had always said they were too girly.
“Lora.” She blinked and found Sherri in front of her. “Lora…” More tears fell as the other woman’s arms lifted and wrapped around her. “Thank you.” A whisper.
Lora held her tight. Sherri. Sweet Sherri. She’d always come to the station, smiling and flirting with Wade.
“Everything’s gonna be okay,” Lora told her, aware that her own voice was getting choked up. It was just that this place stirred up so many memories.
A lot of people had survived because of this place.
And some—some just hadn’t been strong enough.
“Wade’s a fighter. He’s gonna make it.” He would. She pulled back and stared into Sherri’s tear-filled eyes. “You keep telling him that, okay?” Because it mattered. You had to hear the words over and over. The pain—you had to know that you’d get past it.
“I will,” Sherri promised.
Because sometimes just surviving wasn’t enough. He’d made it through the flames, but now Wade had to want to live.
The shrill cry of her phone stopped Monica just as she was leaving her hotel room. She yanked the phone up even as her heart raced. “Davenport.” Maybe Sam had found—
“What the hell is taking so long?” Hyde barked.
Hyde.
“You and Lake were supposed to be here thirty minutes ago. I want these interrogations started ASAP. Let’s get this—”
“Kenton?” She turned and met Luke’s puzzled stare. “Wait—what do you mean we were supposed to be there?” She’d crashed hard once she and Luke had gotten back to the hotel, but she hadn’t missed a call from Kenton.
Silence hummed on the line. “You haven’t seen Lake?”
Goosebumps rose on her arms. Beside her, Luke tensed.
“I talked to him fifty minutes ago,” Hyde told her flatly. “He was supposed to pick you up and bring you to the station.”
Her heart kicked into a double-time rhythm. “I haven’t seen him.” That’s not like Kenton.
“He’s not answering his cell.” She could hear the hint of worry in Hyde’s voice.
Hell. Hyde wasn’t the type to worry without cause. “I’m going to his room.” Be there. Please, Kenton, be there.
Kenton wasn’t in his room. With some help from Luke, she’d busted the door down. The bed was empty, the covers rumpled, and Kenton wasn’t there.