Page 106 of Target Acquired

He shrugged. “I was on the way back to work after stopping off to see Dad at the home. He’s been skipping his PT appointments, and I was going to make sure he went to this one. He was a little late, but we got him there. Butler called as I was getting Dad settled back in his room, and I told him I was coming here to talk to you and the others.”

“They’ve already left.”

“I see that.” He sighed. “Why do you think I have anything to do with what’s going on with you?”

Kenzie looked at Oscar. “Because Butler keeps saying you deserved to get my spot. He’s angry on your behalf, what with you two being best friends and all. In fact, I thought maybe the two of you were working together to get rid of me.” Might as well lay it all out there.

Oscar blinked at her. “Wow. That’s really quite . . . unbelievable. So, you think I had something to do with the attempts on your life because I was ticked that I didn’t get the spot on the team?”

It did sound asinine when he put it that way and said it with that tone, but people had killed for less. She shrugged.

“And going after Cole?” He scoffed. “Why Cole?”

“I don’t know!” Frustration grabbed at her. She wanted Oscar to be the guilty one. She wanted him to admit to everything. Then it would be over. But looking at him, she wasn’t convinced it was him. “Fine! If it’s not you, then who? Do you have any idea who’d do this to get at me?”

“No. And it’s not Butler either. He’s got his own issues to deal with.”

And an alibi for every attempt on her life. The guy was just a jerk when it came to her. Not a killer. “We know about his sister. I don’t think it’s him anymore.”

“But you still think it’s me.” He shook his head. “I don’t know where Cole is, but I’ll definitely help find him. I’ve got my gear in my car.”

Kenzie bit her lip. If he had anything to do with Cole’s disappearance, he was doing an excellent job of hiding it. But she didn’t want him out of her sight until they either found Cole or figured out for sure if he had anything to do with the attempts on her life. But she wasn’t leaving the building. Not if she wanted to keep her career. “I’ll call Commander Hill and let him know you’re here, and he can make the judgment about what you should do next.”

He shook his head. “I’m not waiting on him.” His gaze flickered. “Kenzie, were your parents having marital issues when you were a teen?”

“Why would you ask that?”

He shook his head. “I just remember Dad saying the chief couldn’t focus on his job while his marriage was in turmoil.”

Kenzie flinched. “Well, I was just fourteen, so I’m sure I didn’t see all there was to see or know all there was to know. But I don’t have time to worry about that at the moment. If you’re not the one trying to kill me, then I need to focus and figure out who is.” Not that she believed him just because he protested his innocence, but . . .

“Then I’m going to get out of here and join up with the others.”

Kenzie scowled. “I recommend you call Commander Hill first and clear that with him. Let him know where you are. Just my advice, but you do what you want.”

While he did that, Kenzie shot a text to the man, letting him know Woodruff was there and asking if it would be okay to let him join them. They’d be able to keep an eye on him, and if he knew something about Cole’s whereabouts, he might let it slip.

The commander responded with a thumbs-up.

Oscar disappeared down the hall and she heard the exit door open. Well, if he was trying to kill her, he’d certainly passed up an easy opportunity. It wasn’t Oscar. So, who was it? Kenzie went back to her laptop, pulled up all her dad’s cold case information once more, and started reading. Mostly because she kept drawing a blank on who could want her off the team and why. It was probably something very simple, but without all the information, she couldn’t put it together and that terrified her.

Because if she couldn’t figure it out, she might lose Cole forever. Then she stilled. The door had opened again. “Oscar?”

The squeak of a shoe on the floor behind her was her only warning. She started to turn when something landed on her skull and sent her tumbling from the chair.

Pain radiated, and for a moment she couldn’t move, could only gasp in air and try not to puke. Then the barrel of a gun pressed against the base of her skull. “Get up and walk out if you want to see Cole Garrison again.” The low, raspy voice was obviously an attempt to disguise it, but it sounded familiar. “So, it was you! I don’t believe it.”

He laughed. “Get up and walk out the door and get in the passenger seat. If you try to fight me, I’ll just kill you and be done with it.”

“Then why don’t you?” Because he needed her for something.

“Go. Now.”

If it would get her to Cole, then fine. She allowed him to shove her toward the exit. Once they were at his vehicle, a large Buick sedan, he motioned her to the passenger side, and she noted that he was being very clever about avoiding the station’s cameras. Head tilted, gun held low, hand on the small of her back. He opened the passenger door for her and waited for her to get settled. “Seat belt,” he said in that low whisper voice.

She strapped in while doing her best to ignore the throbbing in her head. “Don’t suppose you have a bottle of Motrin on hand.”

He hesitated. “Glove box. Now, I’m going to walk around and get in the driver’s seat. If you try anything foolish, know that Garrison will die.”