S I X T Y - F O U R

As the last of the paramedics and police officers filtered from the apartment, Colton extended a weary thank you before closing the door. It had felt like hours that they’d be there, asking questions, developing a clearer picture of what happened. The blonde police officer, Sandy, had arrived half-hour after her co-workers. She was dressed haphazardly, hair loose on her shoulders, and Colton guessed she hadn’t actually been on duty. She had sunk on the bed beside Kate, apologizing emphatically for focusing on the wrong brother. Kate, as compassionate as ever, shook her head, wiping the tears from her already soaked cheeks and admitting she had been just as surprised as anyone. The police department in Seattle had been alerted about Preston’s revelation, and Sandy had assured Kate that they were reinvestigating the case against Harry Abbot.

Colton’s head had hung low as he recalled the events of the night before, shame washing over him at the acknowledgment that he had made lif