Page 11 of ’Til You Break

Soft.

Warm.

Even that brief touch lingers longer than it should.

“I’ll be fine,” I say gruffly.

I return to my place behind the kitchen counter, finish my coffee and steal a piece of bacon from the plate.

“Good luck with your interview today, Hannah,” I say before I leave.

I go back to my office. Back to the only place that makes sense.

However, once the door closes behind me, regret begins to simmer beneath my anger.

I’ve shown Hannah too much of myself. Given her a glimpse of the beast beneath the surface. I worry it’ll only make her more curious.

That would be a terrible mistake. Everyone who’s ever looked beneath the surface lies buried beneath the earth.

I sink into my chair and wake the surveillance monitors. This next set of cameras isn’t as important as the last. My next target isn’t a man who hides.

I open the drawer of my desk.

The Colt isn’t there. Instead, my hand closes around an old newspaper clipping. The headline reads: HOME INVASION LEAVES ONE DEAD, CHILD INJURED

I’ve always hated that headline.

One dead.

Not a name.

Just a body count. You have to read halfway through the article before she becomes a person.

That’s what sells. Death. Not the life that was lost.

I read it again.

As I always do.

Sara B. was found dead this morning after a home invasion... Reports suggest her son survived when the culprit fled after hearing approaching sirens... Police believe the suspects have ties to an organized crime syndicate... The investigation remains ongoing...

The police have been investigating ever since.

They still have no names. Have made no arrests.

That’s where I come in. It’s my task to right the wrongs this city gave up on years ago.

Last night ended in failure. Tonight may be no different.

But I won’t quit the way everyone else has.

Not until I’ve brought her justice.

Chapter Five

Hannah

Dumb, dumb, dummy...