Why didn’t I leave when my shift was over? Two hours ago, there’d have been half a dozen other cops headed out with me, and I wouldn’t be in a deserted parking lot alone. Or about to be kidnapped by the one man I should be able to trust more than anyone else in the world.
My service weapon is under my jacket, but with his hold on my wrist, I can’t get to it.
“Temple, please,” I whimper. “You’re hurting me.”
“Keys. Now.”
Forcing me down, he keeps the gun pressed to my back, and I snag the fob and unlock my car.
It hurts even more when he pulls me up, and I curl my fingers around the door handle.
“Put down the gun!” a man shouts from across the parking lot. “Hands in the air.”
The sharp pressure of the barrel shifts, and I ram my left elbow into Temple’s gut, then stomp on his instep with all the strength I can muster.
A loudcrackregisters before my ears start to ring, and something warm and wet makes my shirt stick to my side.
Temple grunts as he doubles over, giving me a split second to jerk my wrist from his hold and pull my gun.
The shouts from my fellow officers are muffled, and the world seems to move in slow motion as I draw down on my partner. His eyes are glazed over, his mouth slack, but his gun is still trained on me.
“Temple! Listen!” My voice isn’t steady, and I brace myself against the car so I won’t fall. “It’s Zoe. We’re partners.Friends. Don’t do this!”
A dozen uniforms and half as many detectives surround us, but Temple doesn’t flinch, doesn’t react at all.
When I meet his gaze, something unnatural slithers along my spine. It’s like his personality, his verysoulis gone, and all that’s left is desperation.
“I never would have made detective without you. You’re a good man.” Fire burns through my side, and a quick glance has me stifling a whimper. My light green shirt is stained red with my blood, and the world tilts. Heshotme. My own partner.
Temple blinks, hard, then focuses on my Smith & Wesson. “Do it,” he says as a tear rolls down his cheek. “Can’t fight...himany longer.”
“Who?” The burning pain in my side is getting worse, and the gun wobbles. “Temple? Tell me...”
“You’re…special, Zoe. Don’t…tell anyone…” His eyes cloud over. “Run.”
I only make it a single step when the crack of his .45 deafens me, and the bullet rips through my passenger window. I don’t think. Training takes over, and I return fire. My ass hits the pavement, with Temple falling an arm’s reach away.
Blood spurts from his neck, and he gurgles quietly as footsteps pound towards me.
“Zoe! Detective Dawes!” My sergeant kneels next to me and presses his hands to my side. “Stay with me. That’s an order.”
Sergeant Perkins isn’t someone you mess with, even when you’re about to pass out, and I clutch his arm. “Temple...”
Sirens blare in the distance, and I fight to hang on. We’re surrounded now. Two uniforms drag Temple away, and every other officer on duty takes position in a solid blue wall around me and Perkins.
I can’t see anymore, and Perkins’ voice sounds like it’s coming from miles away. “He’s gone, Zoe. Whatever made him do this...we’re going to get to the bottom of it.”
Two
Present Day
Zoe
Pushing through the door of the Red Light Diner on Grand, I stifle a wince as I remove my sunglasses. Macie, the way-too-perky server on the breakfast shift, arches a brow, and I slink into a booth.
“What’ll it be?” she asks, a weariness to her voice that I hear all too often.
“Tomato juice, heavy on the tabasco. And a glass of water,” I say as I pull out a packet of Alka-Seltzer.
