“Come on.” There was no way this rookie detective had been hit in the line of duty.
“I’m being serious.”
“Huh. I had no idea.”
“You’d have no reason to know. I lived, but I take that day with me all the time. Carry it around, but not like a burden or a weight; more as a reminder. I know how embarrassing it can be when someone gets the upper hand, but we’re human, Amanda. It happens. Sometimes we’re on top. Other times, well, not so much.”
She sank back in her chair and studied him, deciding whether she wanted to confess all that had transpired. So much of it was incredibly personal and the fact Trent had shared his story didn’t make it mandatory that she share hers.
“You can talk to me. I’m a steel trap,” he tagged on and smiled.
“I came home. Figured I’d grab a couple of things and take off… for a bit of a break. My front door was unlocked.”
Trent perched forward like he was about to spring into action, but he remained seated. “You should have called it in.”
“After I just left my badge and gun behind? No thanks. Anyway, I quickly found out that Palmer’s cousin had broken in.”
“He hurt you.”
“Yeah, he—”
He shook his head. “That wasn’t a question. I saw your face before the makeup, and I can still see the bruising and cuts to your lip and cheek through it.”
“Wonderful.”
“It’s barely noticeable.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Okay, now you’re lying.”
He pinched his fingers to almost touching.
“Like I told you though, I’m fine. Like you, I survived. I’m alive.”
“He threatened your life, didn’t he?” Trent’s face took on sharp angles.
He was a far better detective than she had ever wanted to give him credit for. “He did.” And her father’s, but she couldn’t bring herself to say that right now.
“We should go pick him up.” He sprang off the couch.
She stood and grabbed his arm on a back swing and let go just as quickly. Her head was spinning. “No.”
“Why? Why wouldn’t we?” He scanned her eyes.
He might as well have said give me one good reason. She was catapulted right back to Rick Jensen saying the same.
She blinked slowly. “I first need to know you’re on my side.”
“Stupid question. You’re the first partner I’ve ever had. Loyalty means something to me.”
It was as if seconds ticked off with clunks as she held eye contact with him.
Trent stepped back, let out a deep breath. “Talk to me.”
“All Rick wants is justice for his cousin.”
“He doesn’t get that by threatening your life.”
“No, you’re right, he doesn’t,” she said to cool him down. “What I tell you next stays between us—remember what you just said? ‘Steel trap’ and all that?”