to Charlie to be the catalyst and continued maintenance of the reformation of a man like Noah Knight.
Pulling in front of the police station, I drum my fingers anxiously on the steering wheel as I watch the windows. There aren’t many cars here. I imagine most people have gone home for the day, as it’s now nine pm. Hopefully Diana is still here, and I can get some answers.
Sliding out of the car and locking it behind me. I walk up the steps, my boots echoing in the night air. It’s eerily quiet. I wonder about the air. It feels different tonight. That makes me nervous. Sliding my hands into my pocket, feeling the butt of my gun, I walk into the police station. I find it empty except for a beat cop in the corner holding a styrofoam cup containing what can barely pass as coffee.
“Hello, can I help you?” he says before scowling. “Jake. What the hell are you doing here? Looking to get arrested?” He stands and strides up to me.
Ron McKenzie likes to pretend that he’s tough. He’s hauled me in more times than I can count and has spent hours interrogating me, hoping I’ll narc on Noah. His efforts have always failed. I owe Noah my life. And for that reason, I can never betray him. Also, at this point, Noah is family. A man doesn’t betray family and live to tell the tale. Not in my experience, anyway.
“Calm down, Ron. I’m looking for someone.”
“Oh yeah? Posting bail on one of your buddies?” he sneers, sliding his hands in his pockets and widening his stance as if to appear larger.
There’s not much use in it, though. At his tallest, he is five foot nine. Maybe one hundred and twenty pounds. This skinny little man has nothing on me. If we were to meet under different circumstances and he wasn’t a cop, I could hand his ass to him without worrying about being arrested. Well, let’s just say he wouldn’t wake up for a few days.
“No. Actually, I’m here to see the chief.”
“Is that so?” he asks.
“It is,” I reply, growing more irritated by the second.
“And what business do you have with the chief of police?”
“Let him through, McKenzie,” a familiar voice calls from the far end of the police station.
McKenzie jumps, turning quickly and straightening his posture.
“Yes, Chief,” he says.
I wonder if it pains him to let me go. “This has been fun,” I say with a wink.
I clap McKenzie on the shoulder as I approach the chief, feeling McKenzie’s eyes on me and enjoying his almost palpable irritation.
“What can I do for you, Jake?” the chief says, leading me into his office and closing the door behind me.
“I want to know how Diane is doing,” I tell him. I look around the empty office, disappointed not to see her here.
“She’s doing okay,” he says with a nod. Nice of you to come down here to check on her.”
I turn to face him, towering over him. I want to know where she is. The question is how to ask him. If I come on too strong, the chief will shut down and be anything but helpful. Don’t push hard enough, and he’ll brush me off as another concerned citizen.
“She’s staying at an undisclosed location for her safety,” he says.
“Is she going into a witness protection program?” I ask, frowning.
“We don’t have witness protection programs here,” he says, his brow creasing.
“Given the amount of crime you have in this town, you really should consider opening one,” I suggest, turning away and sitting down on the chair in front of his desk. I make myself comfortable to show him I’m not going anywhere soon.
“Yes, well, as soon as the budget opens up for that, I’ll be sure to get started on it,” he says.
I wonder if he means it as I watch him walk behind the desk and sit with a groan.
“How are you doing?” I ask.
“I’m doing okay,” he says, slowly moving his shoulder.
“Sucks that you got hit,” I say.
“Word travels fast, doesn’t it?” Kenton says, unholstering his gun and placing it on the desk.
I don’t even bother to look directly at it. I’ve been shot six times. Three of them during the same fight. And each time I get up and keep fighting. Gun no longer scare me, unless they’re pointed at someone I love.
“So where is she?” I ask again, holding my hands in front of me, resting my ankle on my knee.
“As I