“Yeah, that was totally avoidable, girl.” Sage joked.
“What happened then?” Casper prodded.
Hattie flinched a little, and all my protective instincts roared forward. “Give her a minute,” I growled. Fucker.
“It’s okay, Kipp.” Gritting my teeth, I lowered my head to her hand and let my lips touch the skin there, even though her scent was faint now from all the hospital smells. “When I woke up, that’s when I knew I was in trouble. Things hurt pretty badly, and then Galloway was there.”
“What was it he wanted?” Casper asked quietly. “You asked Wade if we’d picked up Barry.”
“He didn’t really want anything except to hurt me. He was angry about everything—about me poking my nose into the case. Apparently, Allison had been meeting him and Barry on the side. They’d been paying her, it sounded like for sex, but I don’t want to assume. He said that Allison told them she was leaving, but she had videos?” Her nose scrunched up like she was trying to remember. “It sounded like she was blackmailing them, but it also sounded like he was mad that she was even trying to leave. He said that they killed her, though.”
Casper had perked up. “Both he and the son?”
She nodded. “He said Allison had brought a knife and tried to defend herself, but they had stabbed her, and she bled out in the car. They could have helped her, and they didn’t.”
“Did he say where they met her?” Rhodes had prowled a little closer, close enough that Sage scowled at him.
“Back up, Sasquatch.” She made shooing motions at him, startling him enough that his eyes widened in surprise. “She doesn’t need you so close.”
Wade choked out a laugh. “Sasquatch, Goddamn if I’m not calling you that from now on. New contact name for you.”
Hattie smiled at Sage. “No, he didn’t say anything else. He was really mad after that, and then things got pretty fuzzy.”
“Okay. That’s all we need. We’ve got it from here. My team found her burner phone and an account she kept on a cloud server, but we’ve been waiting for the warrant to be served on the video files. I’m guessing what we’ll find there are the incriminating files that Galloway was talking about.” He snorted. “She had the money in her account.” He shook his head sadly. “I’m not sure they would have let her walk away anyway, but …” he trailed off. “You coming, Collins? I got a perp to catch. You too, Wade.
“Yeah, yeah. You need me for anything, Kipp?” Wade gave me a questioning look.
“No, brother. What we need is for you guys to close this case.”
“That’d be good,” Hattie said tiredly.
“That’s our cue. Let’s get out of here and give these lovebirds some peace. Hattie needs some rest so she can heal up.” Sage hurried Lo Lo toward the door, her eyes narrowing at Rhodes. “Move, Sasquatch.”
“You can squeeze past,” he snapped.
Wade just laughed and shoved Rhodes through the doorway. Hattie rolled her eyes as the Holt train left the station.
“I’m so glad you are okay.” My lips ghosted over her cheek, careful not to press into her bruises. “Let me call the nurse so you can get another dose of pain meds.”Pressing the call button for the nurse, I scooted my chair even closer to the bed while we waited.
“Thank you for coming for me. I knew you would.” Her eyes closed, and I thanked every star in the sky that I’d made it in time.
CHAPTER 44
Pod
The J & J Hour, Episode 43 — “Case File: Allison Finch”
Hosted by Nova & Poppy
NOVA:Hey, everyone. We know that this episode is going to be different, so please have some patience with us. We’re both a little nervous tonight, but bear with us. This has been recorded with Hattie Harper’s full knowledge and consent.
POPPY: Thank you for joining us on this episode ofThe J & J Hour. This will be your first chance to meet some of the team behind the podcast. Nova and I mostly work behind the scenes, but today we’re recording the podcast because we all worked together to bring Allison justice.
We did it.
All of us atThe J & J Hour, from every listener to everyone who dedicates time to this podcast. This case has come to a close, and we want to make sure you have all the details.
NOVA: We know that there have been some rumors about Hattie being in the hospital, and we want to confirm that those are true. Now, before you all get excited …
