The Broken by Shelley Coriell

Author:Shelley Coriell
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2014-03-13T04:00:00+00:00

Sunday, June 14, 1 p.m.

Dorado Bay, Nevada

Tripods clicked to attention, fingers tapped on mics, and bodies jockeyed for the best camera angle. Sights and sounds from her past. But at this press conference, Kate wouldn’t be reporting the story. She would be the story. She stood to the right of the podium, next to Hayden and behind two Dorado Bay police officers.

Chief Greenfield stepped up to the mic and read his prepared statement regarding Jason Erickson and the Broadcaster Butcher. Although the police chief spoke first, Kate knew the man directing this dog-and-pony show was FBI agent Hayden Reed, the same man who had sent her world out of kilter with a series of kisses. Her fingers slipped to the bare column of her throat. The skin was still ablaze.

When the chief finished his statement, Hayden took his turn at the podium. She watched his careful gestures, the occasional well-timed facial expressions, his lips. He was smooth and steady and masterful in the way he spoke. And kissed.

“We have a witness that has recently come forward,” Hayden was saying, “and she has been instrumental…”

Kate didn’t hear the rest of his words but focused on the pressure of Hayden’s lips against her neck. On his words. You’re exquisite, Kate.

“…she’ll now issue a brief statement. Katrina Erickson.”

A gasp rippled through the journalists as they crowded closer. Her feet twitched. Hayden held out his hand to her, and she reached for it. Cameras clicked and hands flew to lenses, tightening in on her face. Hayden nodded. She could do this.

On a small piece of paper in her pocket, Hayden had written what she needed to say, but she didn’t need a script.

“For those of you who don’t recognize me, I’m Katrina Erickson, and I’m a former news reporter for KTTL Frontline News. Three years ago I was attacked in Reno, stabbed twenty-four times by a man I have since identified as Jason Erickson, my brother.”

A soft murmur swept across the crowd.

“Like most of you, I feel angry at this senseless taking of life and at the gross injustice done to my seven fellow broadcasters, and I am working with the FBI and Dorado Bay Police to find the individual responsible for these deaths.”

That was the easy part. Truth always came easy to her. Her fingers dug into the podium ledge. “In the past week I have undergone memory recovery therapy and was able to recall that my brother, Jason Erickson, didn’t act alone. He had a partner, the killer who you know as the Broadcaster Butcher, and I have since given details to the authorities. It is my hope that this information will aid in apprehending this killer swiftly and that justice will be served.”

A display of fireworks exploded as more cameras flashed, capturing her face, which no doubt displayed her determination and her fear. The bait was set.

Now it was the Butcher’s turn. How would he react? Come at her? Kill another? Her legs were shaking as she walked from the podium toward Hayden.

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