Page 17 of Target Acquired

She leaned forward and dropped her head into her hands. “I know. You’re right.”

No. Kenzie wasn’t one to pout. He sat beside her. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she mumbled, her face still in her palms.

“No, it’s not, but it will be.” He was tempted to slide an arm across her shoulders and the feeling spurred him to his feet. He couldn’t make gestures like that. Not with her. Could he? No. It wasn’t against the law or anything, but he was still her supervisor and it just wouldn’t be right. But he could still be her friend.

She looked up just as a knock sounded on the front door and a young woman in a crime scene unit vest stepped inside. “Kenzie?”

Kenzie stood. “Hey, Sarah.”

Sarah Beckworth, the CSU leader. “Hey, Cole.”

He nodded. “Thanks for coming so quickly.”

“Absolutely.” She looked at Kenzie. “All right if I head down to your basement?”

“Of course.”

“Mitch is outside working the area around the window, hoping for a footprint or something.”

“And hopefully, a handprint,” Kenzie said. “He had his legs in the window and probably braced his hands in the grass as he pulled himself through.” She paused. “I saw his hand when he shot through the window. Pretty sure he had gloves on.”

Sarah radioed the information to Mitch.

Cole followed Kenzie and Sarah through the kitchen to the basement stairs. Kenzie placed a hand on the woman’s arm. “He came up the stairs. About halfway. I heard the step creak. Cole got here about that time, and the guy went back down and was climbing out the window when we got down there. He’d pushed a trunk up against the wall so he could reach it.”

“In other words, check the stairs for anything?”

“Exactly.”

“Got it.” She paused a moment to slip on the little blue booties to protect the scene from any outside trace material. “Why don’t you two stay put? If I need anything, I’ll holler.”

Kenzie hesitated, then nodded. “Fine.”

Sarah paused. “Saw Logan outside.”

“Guess he heard the call,” Kenzie said.

Cole rubbed his chin and tried to read her expression. She was pretty good at hiding her feelings when she wanted to, but he’d known her a while and could pick out the wariness in her eyes. She turned on her heel, and Cole followed her back into the den, where she took her spot on the couch again.

He settled into the recliner. “You and Logan okay?” She and her brother had applied for the same position on SWAT. She’d gotten it.

“We’re fine.”

“You sure? Doesn’t sound like it.”

“Well, we are. He made detective about the same time I was offered this position, so we’re fine. He’ll probably come check on me in a few.” She sighed and rubbed her head.

Sympathy made him decide to let it go. For now. “It might be a while before Sarah’s back up here.”

She eyed him. “I’m aware.”

“Right.”

A small groan escaped her. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be snippy.”

“You have every reason to be. I can handle it.”