The words hung in the air for a moment. Then Casey met David’s eyes, his kind. “Why don’t you take off? Go see Zell and Detective Sutherland. You’re back on in a few hours and you won’t be able to then.”

David thought of Olivia, grieving alone. She shouldn’t be alone. “Thanks. I’ll need to catch a ride back to the firehouse.”

“I’ll ask one of the cops to drive you back,” Barlow said.

Wednesday, September 22, 2:30 a.m.

Olivia and Noah found Micki at the crime scene, staring at the flattened grass that was stained with blood. Kane’s hat was still on the ground. It looked… lonely. And small. Nothing like the man who’d worn it.

Carry this picture in your mind, Olivia told herself sternly. This is the monster you’re chasing. This is what he took from you. From Jennie.

Beside her, Noah let out a breath. “Goddammit.”

Micki looked up, startled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you coming.”

“Did you find the bullet?” Olivia asked harshly.

“Yes. Hollow-point. I had it sent to ballistics. They’ll have results by morning meeting, but I’m betting it’ll match Weems and Tomlinson.”

“Did he leave anything behind?” she asked. “Did the cameras catch him?”

Micki’s lips twisted bitterly. “He was dressed like a cop. Kane must have knocked off the bastard’s hat.” She pointed to it, flattened in the dirt on the shoulder. “The shooter ran over it with his tires when he was escaping. Then the ambulance ran over it again, but it’s folded over, so hopefully anything he left behind will be trapped inside.”

A hat, Olivia thought. Kane would see the irony in that.

“And the security cameras?” Noah asked.

“We got basic height and weight of the shooter. Angle was wrong for the license plates on the van. We can get a very basic make on the van, but that’s it.”

Olivia pointed to Kane’s hat. “Can I take it?”

Micki shook her head. “Not yet. I’m sorry, Liv.”

Olivia’s nod was crisp even though her heart cracked. Micki was doing her job and she was damn good at it. It’s just that it’s on the ground. It shouldn’t be on the ground. She cleared her throat and when she spoke, her voice was even and strong.

“It’s okay. I just want to make sure Jennie gets it. I’m going to find Kenny Lathem now. Call me if you get anything.”

Micki just nodded, her lips pursed to keep from breaking down. Olivia turned on her heel and made her feet move, Noah at her side.

Oaks was waiting for them in his office. A woman sat in the chair next to his desk. He signed, then pointed at the woman who looked to be in her early twenties.

“He said he thought you’d come back, so he waited,” she said. “I’m Danni Oaks. Principal Oaks is my dad. He asked me to come and interpret for him tonight.”

“Thank you,” Olivia said. She turned to Oaks. “Were any children hurt tonight?”

“No,” he signed. “Kenny is quite upset, as you might expect. We’ve called his parents to come get him.”

“We need to talk to him first,” Olivia said flatly.

Oaks hesitated. “Detective,” he signed, “I cooperated with you yesterday.”

“And we appreciate it,” Olivia interrupted the soft voice of Danni Oaks, not bothering to hide her impatience in her face or her tone. “But my partner is dead, Mr. Oaks.” She watched him flinch. “And Val, the interpreter from yesterday? She’s missing. Somebody wants Kenny real bad. I want to know who and why. And I want to know now.”

“His parents should be here,” Oaks signed tiredly, Danni voicing.

“Kenny could be in danger, Mr. Oaks,” Olivia said. “He knows something that somebody doesn’t want told. I don’t want to have to explain to his parents why somebody murdered him, too.”

Oaks’s shoulders sagged. “I’ll have him brought in.”

Wednesday, September 22, 2:55 a.m.

Kenny shuffled in next to a man Oaks introduced as Roger Court. Roger was the dorm staff who had spoken with Kane’s killer.

When they were all seated, Olivia began. “Kenny, I know you’re scared, but you have to talk to me.”

Kenny closed his eyes. “I want to go back to my room,” he signed, his face stony.

Danni Oaks voiced it with a note of apology, sentiment Olivia knew was Danni’s and not Kenny’s. Olivia tapped the table, but Kenny’s eyes remained stubbornly closed.

Olivia tapped harder, then banged her fist so hard the table jumped and shuddered. Still Kenny’s eyes remained closed. Fury bubbled up, rattling her control and suddenly Olivia saw Kane again, lying on the ground. His blood soaking the ground. Dead. Because this little shit wouldn’t talk. Goddammit, boy, you’ll talk to me.

She grabbed the back of Kenny’s chair, yanking it from the table and around so that he had nothing to lean on. His eyes flew open, went cold, closed again. “Fine,” she said. “We’ll see how stubborn he’ll be in the general population at the jail.”

“You can’t,” Oaks signed. Danni’s voice trembled as she spoke for her father.

“Watch me,” Olivia snapped back. “Just watch me.”

“He’s a kid,” Roger said aloud, signing at the same time. He was hearing impaired, but she could understand him. “He didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I don’t know that. So I’m going to assume the very worst.” Olivia yanked her handcuffs from her belt and snapped one on Kenny’s wrist.

Kenny’s eyes flew open, stubbornness flashing to panic. “No!” he cried aloud.

Olivia cuffed his hands behind him, then pushed him back in the chair. She had his full attention now. She turned to Danni Oaks, her temper close to breaking.

“Tell him he will talk to me or I will arrest him for hindering an investigation. Tell him my partner died to save his sorry ass and if he doesn’t start talking in the next ten seconds every cop downtown will know why he’s there. Tell him I am sick and tired of his games and I want answers and I want them now.”

Danni signed rapidly, then Oaks stepped in front of Kenny and began to sign.

“What’s he saying?” Olivia asked when Danni didn’t immediately voice.

“To please cooperate. That his own life could be in danger.”

Kenny shot Olivia a look of impotent rage. “Let me go,” he voiced thickly.

“Not until he talks,” Olivia said and Danni signed it, giving Olivia a fearful look.

“How?” Kenny roared.

“He can’t talk if you’ve cuffed his hands,” Danni said quietly. “Please let him go.”

“You’ll cooperate?” Olivia asked him. Danni signed it and Kenny nodded furiously.

Olivia looked at Noah. “Well?” she asked. “Should I let him go?”

“He can’t sign without his hands, Liv,” Noah said mildly. “Let him go.” Olivia noticed Danni’s expression softened when she interpreted for Noah. Kenny’s did, too.

Olivia unlocked the cuffs. “So talk to me, Kenny. First, what did this guy look like?”

Kenny rubbed his wrists resentfully. He deliberately turned halfway in his chair so that he answered Noah. Good cop, bad cop, Olivia thought, satisfied.

“Average,” he signed. “My height, about my weight, average face. He wore a hat.”

Olivia looked at Roger. “Anything you can add?”

Roger shrugged helplessly. “He had a badge, a white shirt. He looked like a cop.”

Olivia nodded. “I know. You told someone when he took Kenny away?”

“Yes. It wasn’t right. He’d taken Kenny away from the cops, not to them. I couldn’t leave my kids alone. I was trying to get the attention of one of the officers when the detective arrived with a piece of paper with Kenny’s name. I pointed around the building. He went running after them and then another cop followed him.”

Roger touched his hearing aid with a tiny wince. “I heard the shot and the second cop came back with Kenny. It didn’t take long for the story to spread, that the detective was dead.” His eyes were stark. “I’m sorry. I know he was your partner. I wish…”

The look she gave Roger was gentle, but inside she was screaming. “I know, but your quick thinking helped Detective Kane save Kenny’s life.” She turned her gaze to Kenny sharply. “My partner died protecting you. What. Do. You. Know?”