Kingston opened his mouth, then closed it as if rethinking what he’d been about to say. “I don’t blame Caroline for Eric’s death.” He shifted his attention to Kellan. “I believe you’re the one who delivered what eventually became the fatal blow.”
“I did,” Kellan readily admitted. “I just wish I’d been able to put a bullet in him sooner.”
If Kingston had a reaction to that, he didn’t show it. Instead, he turned back to Caroline. “Someone wants you dead. Theattack proves that. And I think the person who sent me that message thought I’d do the job for him or her.”
“Do you want to do the job?” Caroline asked, and thankfully she sounded a lot tougher than she felt. More of those flashbacks bolted through her like lightning, and for just a moment she wished she hadn’t recovered those parts of her memory.
Again, Kingston took his time answering. “There’s no law against admiring a man like Eric. In his own twisted way, he was a genius. And he kept you alive. That’s a key point here. Why would I want to go against him on that? If he didn’t kill you, then why should I?”
Caroline didn’t have to think long to come up with a reason. A sick one. “Because he’s dead, and you might want the thrill of murdering me to honor a man who intrigued you.”
“No.” Kingston looked her straight in the eyes when he said that. “I wouldn’t do that, and I’m not responsible for the attack against you. I merely went to your place out of curiosity.”
Caroline wasn’t sure she believed that, but the problem would be finding the proof. Maybe they’d get that with the rental car. Jack had asked his brother, Texas Ranger Eli Slater, to assist with locating it, though she was concerned that Kingston had covered his tracks there. Strange, though, that he hadn’t done the same track-covering at the safe house. But then maybe he hadn’t known there’d be security cameras at the back of the property.
“Did you send Eric money the night he took Caroline hostage?” Jack asked Kingston. Obviously, he intended to press the man on more than just the attack. Of course, anything Jack found out about Kingston could give them more fodder to make an arrest.
“I did,” Kingston admitted, “but I didn’t know what he’d done. It hadn’t hit the news yet that Caroline had been taken hostage, and Eric didn’t mention it.”
Eric hadn’t. Caroline had been there for that entire call, and not once had Eric said anything about why he needed funds.
“How’d you get him the money?” Jack pressed.
“I gathered the cash. Ten grand. It was all my parents had in their safe. I put it in a bag and left it for Eric on the side of the road where he told me to leave it.”
Jack gave Kingston another dose of his lawman’s glare. “And you didn’t think it was a little strange that a person you knew or at least suspected was a serial killer would ask you for money?”
“No. I didn’t know or suspect he was a serial killer,” Kingston insisted. “That didn’t come out until later, until he escaped with Caroline.”
Maybe. But Caroline still wasn’t buying it.
“Did you get Eric a car that night, too?” Jack continued.
Caroline had to speak up on this. “No. Eric stole it. Or rather, he had me hot-wire it. It was in the driveway of a house not far from the abandoned inn where your father was killed.” She paused, stared at Kingston. “But just because you didn’t do that doesn’t make you an innocent man.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Kellan agreed before Kingston could respond. “I need to take him to the interview room and get his statement.” He didn’t invite Jack and her to go with him. No doubt because it would be a conflict of interest since Kingston was a suspect in their attack. Still, Caroline wanted to hear what else the man had to say.
“There’s an observation room,” Jack told her, and they headed out of the office and toward the hall.
However, they hadn’t made it far before the front door opened again. This time, it wasn’t a suspect who came in but Gemma. In the blink of an eye, the past months melted away, and Caroline felt the warmth of seeing a dear friend. Even though she figured the flashbacks would soon return, she savored the moment when Gemma rushed to her and pulled her into her arms.
“You’re okay?” Gemma muttered.
Caroline nodded. It wasn’t the total truth, but she hadn’t been physically harmed. That was what Gemma needed to know for now.
When Gemma pulled back, Caroline saw tears in her friend’s eyes. Not just from the relief of her not being injured but because her memory had returned. Gemma didn’t have to say that aloud for Caroline to know that Kellan had told her.
Jack cleared his throat to get their attention. “I’m going to the observation room. Why don’t you two talk in Jack’s office?”
Only then did Caroline remember that they were too close to the windows. Not a good idea for either one of them. Caroline hooked her arm around Gemma’s waist and got her moving.
“How much have you remembered?” Gemma asked.
“Enough.” Caroline didn’t say more until they were in the office. “I got my memory back three days ago.”
Gemma nodded. Then she sighed. Obviously, her friend didn’t understand why Caroline had kept it a secret. Heck, Gemma might not even understand after she’d explained. Still, Caroline had to try.
“Eric made a call to someone the night he took me hostage. I heard a police radio in the background. I heard someone say Longview Ridge. The caller used cop words, including dispatch codes. I know, I know,” Caroline added before Gemma could try to explain all of that away. “It doesn’t mean Kellan’s guilty. But he could be unknowingly shielding a killer because he can’t see past his friendships or blind loyalty to the badge.”
