Bogs drew in a breath, watching Kenzie. “Her mom was murdered twelve years ago. The guy, James Harris, was in the process of robbing the convenience store when her mom walked in.”
Kenzie slowly scooted herself to the end of the bed and got down, stepping to Bogs.
“Were you ever going to tell me?”
“Yes.” His tone was low and feral. “In time, I would have told you.”
“And you’d find him for me?” Her voice stammered on her words. He couldn’t figure out if she was asking hypothetically or requesting it. He had planned on telling her, eventually, but not like this. This was the worst scenario.
She was so fragile. He had to keep his words and his tone delicate. “It’s not that simple, baby. You don’t know what you’re saying, Kenzie. You would be the one to kill him, not any of us. You.” She sucked in a breath then clamped her lips.
Trent stepped forward. “Kenzie, what Taylor failed to tell you is we have strict guidelines we follow in these situations.” They all knew the magnitude of what she was asking. Trent was trying to shut her down. From the look on her face, she understood.
Taylor snorted and Trent jerked his head to her. “Shut up.” He pinned her with a glare so vicious, Kenzie flinched, and it wasn’t even directed at her.
“What are they?” A tear slipped past her lashes and her bottom lip trembled. It was killing him to see her like this.
“Kenzie,” Bogs whispered.
Trent rested his hand on her arm. “Taylor explained that the man who killed your mom did serve time.” Bogs knew the angle Trent was about to work and he watched her closely.
Kenzie shook her head. “Four years, that’s it.” He could read her face. Four years for the loss of her mom wasn’t fair. He completely agreed, but this wasn’t what he wanted for her.
“But he served his time. That’s not what we deal with,” Trent said. In general, what Trent was saying was true. They dealt with families whose killers got away with it. Men who didn’t do any time. Most got off on a technicality. The justice system was flawed.
Taylor stomped forward, standing next to Kenzie with a fire in her eyes. “He served four years for killing her mother. He should be in jail for the rest of his life for what he did. That’s not justice! He gets to live his life like nothing happened.”
While Bogs understood her fury, feeling his own for the injustice, it wouldn’t change anything. Taylor wasn’t thinking about how this would affect Kenzie in the long haul. From the way Kenzie was reacting, he didn’t think she wanted it either.
“How’d he only get four for murder?” T asked, not showing any emotion.
“He took a plea deal, copped to the robbery, he had information on another investigation they were working on, a bigger case. They needed him.”
“So, you’ll help her, right?” Taylor asked.
“No,” Trent said before Bogs got the chance.
“Fuck you, fuck all of you,” Taylor shouted from behind gripping Kenzie’s shocked body and pulling her away from the men. “We’re outta here. You can take me to jail, Trent, I don’t care, asshole, but me and her are leaving. This is bullshit.”
“No, what’s bullshit is you even saying anything to her when I specifically told you there was nothing we could do. You are not going anywhere, Taylor, and you need to think before you speak. Selfish brat, that’s what you are.”
Bogs stepped forward, ignoring all the others. He needed to talk to her alone. “Kenzie, come here.”
The pain shadowing her face was ripping at his heart. This was dredging up the worst aspect of her life and bringing it to the surface. Bogs reached for her but she stepped back.
“Just come with me, Kenzie, talk to me outside.”
Taylor pushed past her and stood in front of Kenzie. “No, you’ll talk to her here. Why won’t you help her?”
“You don’t know shit. I don’t know what you think you heard but there’s more to it. Shit you don’t understand.”
“Then explain it. ‘Cause from where I’m standing, all five of you have the ability to help her get justice for her mom and you’re just shutting her down.”
“Damn it, Taylor.” Trent reached for her wrist pulling her into his chest. She wiggled away from him.
“Screw you, Trent. This is my best friend and while she may not mean anything to you or these assholes, she means everything to me. If I can help her then that’s what I’ll do.”
Bogs stepped forward. “Help her what? Do you have any idea what you’re suggesting she do?” He turned to Kenzie, who remained silent watching the show in front of her. She seemed almost dazed. “Kenzie, you don’t want this. Don’t let her think you do.”
