Killian (Hope City #8) - Kris Michaels Page 0,80

to catch Bekki’s report. Duke growled. I’ve heard that kind of growl before. I figured someone was trying to steal from the site again. I shoved my feet into my boots and flew out of the trailer. Duke took off like a shot and I followed him when I heard him yelp. That’s when the concussion of the explosion knocked me down. I lost my gun then.”

“Gun?” Grant Couch’s head snapped up.

“Yes sir, I have a concealed carry permit. I had my legally registered forty-five with me when I left the trailer.”

“Is that normal for you, carrying weapons on the build site?” Detective Couch’s eyebrows lifted.

“I usually stay alone on the build site. I’ve had people break into the area to steal whatever isn’t bolted down, and some people even try to steal what is. It’s the reason I went through the permit process, but last night I had it out because Commissioner King asked me to take care of his daughter, who someone was trying to kidnap.” Killian cocked his head and watched as that bit of information hit home.

“We got that information, too. Go on, please,” Detective King prompted.

“After the explosion, I saw a man walking around the trailer, so I left Duke and ran toward the storage Conex area. I wasn’t sure who it was, but I knew he wasn’t friendly, so I got myself out of sight. A bullet whapped the side of one of the storage units and I dove between them. I used a ladder on the side of the Conex to get to higher ground. I hunkered down. When I thought it was safe, I snuck to the edge to see what was happening. That’s when I saw the two men. They were arguing. The first man I recognized as Zamparelli from the night at the Tipsy Tavern and the photos Commissioner King showed us. He turned on the older guy and shot him in the gut. I laid low until I saw Zamparelli leave. I assume he was still looking for me. When I got to the older guy, he wasn’t dead, but he was close. He said he was a friend of Bekki’s.”

The detectives shifted their attention to Bekki. Her eyes were huge with her coffee cup lifted halfway to her lips. “Say what now?” She squeaked the words.

“I took his wallet.” Killian rubbed his forehead. “It was in my pocket when the cops showed up.”

Both detectives flipped through their notebooks. “Possessions retained on person.” Couch said the words and they both turned back to him. “Where are your clothes?” Grant asked.

Bekki stood up. “Here.” She pointed to a white plastic bag. “The nurse in the surgical recovery area gave them to me to bring up.”

Kallie slipped on blue gloves and lifted the bag. “Killian, do we have your permission to search your belongings?”

“Yes, of course.”

He watched as they went about opening the bag. Couch logged and took a picture of each item they took out. Finally, they pulled his ruined jeans out of the bottom of the bag and Kallie found the wallet. She pulled it out and Couch photographed it. She opened it and looked at her partner. He nodded slightly.

“Bekki, do you know a Walter Crane?”

He watched as his lover’s face drained of all color. “He was my mentor at HCU. Why?”

Kallie held up the blood-soaked leather. “This is his wallet.”

The coffee fell from her hand and landed on the floor, but no one moved. Bekki’s face went ashen and she shook her head. “What? No, that can’t be right. Not Walter.”

Kallie held the ID up. “Is this your friend, Walter?”

Bekki groaned and her hands flew to her mouth. “Oh, dear God. That’s him. That’s Walter. He wouldn’t have, I’ve known him since college… Why… dear God, why?” Bekki sent a pleading look his way.

Killian held up a hand, beckoning her to him so he could hold her as she silently fell apart. She started to lift off the chair when Grant’s voice froze everyone.

“Hold up.” Grant pulled out an oddly folded piece of paper. “Get a shot of this, would you?”

Kallie picked up the camera and photographed both sides of the paper. “This has your name on it, Bekki.”

Bekki jolted at the declaration. “My name? Why?” Her terrified gaze sought him out again.

“Come here.” He lifted his hand again. Bekki stood and gave the detectives, clothes, and wallet a wide berth to reach him. He took her cold, trembling hand in his and kissed the back of