Flashback (Kendra Michaels #11)

“Do you expect me to disagree with you?” Lynch asked.

“Anyway, Perry is here right now. I’m giving him a few minutes alone with Pauley before I go in.”

“Good. I saw a coffee machine down the hall. I think we could both use some.” He went to the machine and got them each a cup of coffee. “Shall we go for a stroll?” He handed her a cup. “Because I was dead serious about not being able to go through a day like this again.”

She took a sip of her coffee. “So you’re all set to give me hell?”

“I’m all set to find a way to stop that agony in its tracks no matter what it takes. As you know, I can be very innovative.”

“Yes, you can. I’ve seen you in action.” She took another sip of coffee. “But you told me there would be no more threats and I trust you. So it would be interesting to see how you’re going to accomplish it.”

“With a good deal of trepidation.” He was scanning her face. “And I’ll have to be very clever.”

“More than you know. But you’re lucky I’m feeling very mellow at the moment. If you’d have let me speak rather than jumping into battle, you wouldn’t have had to go into all this stern crap. I fully intended to talk to you. When I was crawling around in that garage, I thought I might not ever see you alive again.” She looked down into her cup and said simply, “And I thought that if I didn’t, it would break my heart. You might have noticed I have a few problems with maintaining my independence.”

“What, you?” he said gently. “Say it isn’t so.”

“I don’t promise I’ll change. I don’t know if I can. I don’t know if I’ll even want to.” She stared him in the eye. “But I’ll never do anything that will put you in danger or do anything that will give you reason to come after me as you did today. That’s all I could think of. When I was trying to get away from that bastard, I realized you’d probably come after me. I should have thought longer and harder before I went down there without calling you. It won’t happen again because I won’t risk your life as well as my own. That’s as much as I can promise you. Is it enough?”

He brushed his lips across her nose. “That was very generous. Yes, for the time being. We’ll work on the rest later.”

She looked teasingly up at him from beneath her lashes. “I thought it was exceptionally generous. Don’t be selfish, Lynch.”

He sighed. “Never satisfied.” He took her hand. “Take me to Pauley’s room. I know he’ll be glad to see me.”

“Maybe.” Her hand tightened on his. Together. And he felt so alive that she didn’t ever want to let him go. “We’ll have to talk about that bastard who hurt him after he sees that I’m safe and sound.”

“Kendra! Lynch!” Pauley was elevated in his hospital bed and looked surprisingly spry considering what he’d just been through. His face was bruised, and his neck was wrapped in a white bandage much like Kendra’s. His face fell when he saw her throat. “Oh, God. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what I was bringing you into.”

She approached the bed and rubbed his arm. “Are you kidding? You’re a hero, Pauley. You warned me about that psycho, and you almost got yourself killed doing it.”

Perry stepped out from a corner. “That’s what I told him. I haven’t been able to get much from this guy. All he wanted to talk about is you and how you were doing.”

Kendra’s hand went to her neck bandage. “I’m fine, Pauley. I’m already up and around, and they’re letting me go home.”

Pauley clicked his tongue. “Which is more than I can say. I’m stuck in here for another couple of days, at least.”

“We heard. I’m sorry, but this is the best place for you right now.”

Pauley turned toward Lynch. “I’m glad you’re here to look after her, Mr. Lynch.”

Lynch smiled. “You know Kendra. She’s pretty good at looking after herself. She got in some licks with that rebar leaning against the wall of the garage.”

Pauley chuckled. “I’ve been on those construction guys to get that stuff the hell out of my garage. I’m sure glad they didn’t.”

“Me and you both,” Kendra said. “Listen, Pauley… you’re the only one to have gotten a good look at this guy. This could be a killer that’s been wanted for over fifteen years. I’m sure Detective Perry has told you all this.”

Pauley nodded. “He did. It scares me to think what could have happened today.”

“We’re going to make sure it never happens again. Can you give us a description?”

Perry raised his notebook. “I got one from him. Dark hair, brown eyes, bushy eyebrows, full lips, chiseled cheekbones, dimple in his chin. He says he’s sure he can ID the guy if he ever sees him again. A sketch artist is already on the way.”

“I’ve got a better sketch artist,” Kendra said.

Perry put away his notebook. “Are you talking about Bill Dillingham? He’s, what, a hundred years old now?”

“He’s eighty-eight. Don’t be ageist. I guarantee you that he’s a better sketch artist than whoever you’re bringing in.”