The Naked Eye Read Free

lot of patronizing things.”
    His gaze shifted back to her. “I mean it, Kendra,” he said quietly. “I do trust your judgment.”
    “Even if the California Department of Corrections doesn’t.”
    “Colby was their prisoner, and it was their responsibility to put him to death. For them to admit that they might have botched it and let a convicted serial killer escape, well, that’s asking a lot.”
    “The prison’s attending physician and his wife were found dead less than forty-eight hours later. I can’t believe they still think that was a coincidence.”
    “It appeared to be an accident. And even you couldn’t find any evidence to prove otherwise.”
    Kendra nodded. “Colby and his partner were too smart to leave behind any evidence. The doctor administered a drug to slow Colby’s heart and pronounced him dead in front of a roomful of witnesses, and a rented hearse drove him right out of the main gates of San Quentin State Prison.”
    “If you could offer any proof of this, I guarantee you that a lot of people would listen.
    “I tried.” Her fists clenched in frustration. “No one cared.”
    “I cared, Kendra.”
    “To a point.”
    “You weren’t able to get anywhere with the cremation service?”
    “No. A body with the correct paperwork was delivered to them that night. The crematorium didn’t fingerprint the body or do anything to confirm the corpse’s identity. The system doesn’t account for the fact that there are monsters out there who can drive to skid row and easily come out with a dead body no one will miss.”
    “Again, still no proof.”
    “Even you have to admit that there was enough to follow up on. Colby’s partner, Myatt, had that medication they called the zombie drug in his possession, and he had the prison physician’s name in his notebook. Before he died, he as much as told me Colby was still alive.”
    “He could have been taunting you. He had a history of that.”
    “That’s what the FBI thinks.” She shook her head wearily. “I thought you were on my side.”
    “I am. That’s why I’m out here at four in the morning.”
    “So the FBI sent you to tell me to stop making waves and lay off—”
    “No. For God’s sake, I’m not the FBI’s errand boy.”
    “Funny you should say that, when you’re the go-to errand boy for any government agency that decides to pay your fee. Who is it this week? FBI, CIA, NSA?”
    “None. This is all about you, Kendra.”
    “Is it?” She stared at him for a long moment. She’d gotten to know Lynch well during the course of their two previous cases together. So well that she’d found herself confused about how much was sexual attraction and how much was the stimulation of working with a tough, intelligent partner who managed to strike a rare note in her mind and soul. In this moment, she was feeling a little of both but principally she was aware of a new vibe from him. He was … truly concerned. Concerned about her. The surge of warmth she felt at the realization made her smile. “You didn’t look this worried even when you thought a killer was stalking me.”
    “This may be worse. Colby has gotten under your skin. In your head. Are you still having the dreams?”
    She looked away and didn’t answer. He was the only one she’d told about her nightmares. He’d been there for her in those moments of weakness following Colby’s supposed execution, when the nightmares had started.
    “You’ve been having that dream for months … He pulls you back to that gully night after night. But it shouldn’t be a nightmare. That’s the night you caught the bastard. That’s where you beat him, Kendra. Literally, I wish you’d killed him with that rock instead of fracturing his skull.”
    “I thought prison was the best place for him. I was wrong.”
    “Come back to my house. You’ll feel safe there.”
    “I can’t hide out in your suburban fortress for the rest of my life, Lynch. And if you remember, that’s where those