Page 52 of Every Which Way

“She responded to my request on the site. I never tried it before, and the one time I do, it’s a set up?” He scoffed. “She was probably part of it. Luring me there so they can steal my organs out of my body.”

“You said she rescued you.”

“Probably so that I’ll believe she’s some kind of hero. They never tookherkidney.”

That he knew of, anyway. For all Kenna could confirm with facts, her sister might have been captured trying to get them both out and was currently being cut up.

Langford said, “You used the QR code?”

“That’s it. Someone sent it to my phone, said I’d have a good time.”

“Okay.” The nurse clapped twice, walked over, and waved them toward the door. “If you’re not a patient, come back tomorrow. Or the day after.”

They stepped out into the hall, and the nurse slid the door shut, then closed a set of curtains, blocking the chief from view.

“How did we get from one couple being kidnapped to multiple cases and organ harvesting in just a day?”

Kenna turned to the detective. “And the day isn’t even over yet.”

“I’ll admit, I may be in over my head. But there’s no way I’m giving this case to the feds.”

She might not have a choice. “We need to show them what we have. For all we know, they have intel, and connecting with them could close the case.”

“So that’s what you do? Give your cases to the feds for help and pretend you solved them.”

“Hey, that’s a good idea.” Kenna walked away.

Langford strode after her.

She kept going, finding Maizie and Ramon where she’d left them. Though Maizie had curled up on the row of seats, and someone had covered her with a blanket. Ramon got up and came over to them. “What’s next?”

“We still need to find Zeyla and Roxanne.”

Langford frowned. “We need to find the people behind that QR code and the kidnappers.”

Ramon said, “Sounds like we all have work to do.”

“I need to check in with my partner and find out if they’ve made progress with the sketch of the female kidnapper.” She eyed Ramon, interested but also a little suspicious, as she walked away.

“She likes you.”

He said, “You think I have time to date in the middle of a case?”

Kenna chuckled. “Usually doesn’t stop me.”

“And look where it got you. Marriage.” He shuddered.

She shoved his shoulder. “One day, it’ll happen to you. Then I’ll be the one laughing.”

ChapterFourteen

Kenna lay on her back and stared up at the sky, earbuds in. She’d set her exercise mat on a stretch of grass between the two RV’s. She tucked one knee up to her chest.

“Want me to call the police department and request the files be sent to the FBI?”

She liked the sound of Jax’s voice in her ear. At least he wasn’t torturing her with crazy workouts. “And when they ask how you found out about the case?”

“I want to run that QR code.”

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