The breakfast he’d eaten earlier that morning threatened to come up. “Please tell me they arrested the man.”
Brandon nodded. “He was sentenced to ten years in prison.”
“Chump change for that crime.”
“Agreed.” Brandon tapped the report. “Once Jennie recovered, she came to live in her Aunt Emily’s cottage. And the rest, as they say, is history.”
David stood and paced in front of their work desks, ignoring his healing injuries. “Why didn’t she say something?”
“My guess is she’s embarrassed.”
He spun to face Brandon. “Why on earth would she be embarrassed?”
“Because this wasn’t the first time he’d laid hands on her.”
Heat climbed David’s neck. He wanted to punch something, or maybe a certain someone. Why hadn’t Jennie left him before it happened? One day he’d ask, but not today.
Blowing out a long breath, David tamped down his frustration. “Can we confirm where this Kenny guy is?”
“Not yet. I just received the file about ten minutes ago. I haven’t had a chance to do anything but read it.” Brandon glanced at his watch. “I’ll check into it once I finish my meeting with the captain.”
He snatched his windbreaker. “I’m going to find Jennie. I want answers as to what happened to her. And I don’t want to read it in a file.” David made a beeline to his car but stopped short.
A lady and young girl exited the diner down the block.
He squinted then straightened. Jennie and Zoey. Perfect timing. He marched down the sidewalk, his temper and brain warring with each other. After listening to the details of Jennie’s past, he had no doubt she had her reasons for not telling him. But how was he supposed to do his job if she kept things from him.
Cool down and hear her out.He could at least give her the opportunity to explain herself.
Jennie glanced in his direction and waved.
He raised his hand to return the gesture.
A man popped out from behind a green truck and slapped his hand over Jennie’s mouth.
“Jennie! Zoey, run!” David pulled his weapon from his holster and sprinted toward the attack. “Police! Let her go!”
The assailant’s gaze met his and in one swift motion, he threw Jennie to the ground and dashed around the corner of the building.
David skidded to a stop next to her and knelt beside her.
Jennie hadn’t moved since the attacker tossed her aside.
“Jennie?” He brushed the hair from her face. Blood oozed from a cut on her temple. He yanked his cell phone from his pocket and called for an ambulance. “Hold on, honey. Help is on the way.”
Small fingers rested on his shoulder. He shifted and peered up into Zoey’s tear-filled blue eyes.
“Is Momma gonna be okay?”
“I don’t know, Zoey. But I’m going to do everything I can to help her.” Because if she didn’t survive, another woman he cared about would die on his watch.
***
The cut on Jennie’s temple throbbed in time with her heartbeat. She fingered the bandage and snuggled deeper into Aunt Emily’s couch. Her body ached, but her heart was grateful. If David hadn’t arrived when he had, she’d no doubt be dead. And what would have happened to Zoey?
“You doing okay?” David draped a blanket over her.
The material rubbed against the strawberry scrape that covered her leg. She sucked in a breath.
