“It’s not in the hospitals,” I said. Yet . . .

Garth grunted. “What’ll you do once you have the board members’ addresses?”

I averted my gaze, staring down at my plate once more, and licked my lips. “Does it matter? I mean, as long as I get the cure . . .”

He was quiet for a long moment. So long that I thought he was sure to refuse. “Alright.”

I looked at him, lips parted and eyebrows raised. “Alright? You’ll help?”

He nodded. “I’ll do it tomorrow.” His focus shifted to my hair, hanging over my shoulders in wet, tangled strands. “I’ll get you some hair dye, too. Now that your image is plastered all over the news . . .”

I grimaced, a heavy sigh escaping from my chest. “I forgot about that.”

Garth reached out and gave my shoulder a squeeze. “Maybe some of those fake glasses, too.” The corner of his mouth lifted, his full lips twisting into the faintest of smirks. “And a dress.”

I smirked right back. “Don’t push it, buddy.”

Chapter Eight

Garth’s bedroom door creaked faintly as I pushed it open. Like out in the living room, the wall facing the city was taken up by two large windows. He’d left the vertical blinds cracked open, and the glow from the nearly full moon mixed with the light from Seattle, casting stripes across him and his bed. He was sleeping on his back in only his boxer briefs, just one leg under the covers, his arms thrown out to either side and his head turned to the windows. He snored softly on each inhale, and I found the rhythmic sound soothing.

I moved closer to the bed, not trying to be stealthy but not being loud, either, and sat on the edge of his mattress. “I’m so sorry that I dragged you into all of this,” I said, my voice hushed. I clasped my hands together and stared down at my intertwined fingers. “I’m terrified that if I stay here, I’ll get you killed, and . . .” I inhaled shakily. “I’ve taken a lot of lives, and for a long time, I thought of myself as a killer. But I think I was wrong. Human life, it—it’s this precious thing, and I couldn’t handle knowing yours ended early because of me.”

Another shaky breath. My chin trembled. “You’re a good man. A good cop. This city—these people—they need you.” I cleared my throat, surprised by how choked up I was getting. “So I guess this is me saying thank you. And goodbye. I left a note with Lex’s phone number on the counter. You can give her the addresses. I really appreciate the offer to stay here, but—”

Garth’s hand closed around my arm, just above the elbow, his fingers more than encircling it completely. I hadn’t meant to wake him, but I’d needed to say my piece.

I glanced down at his hand, then twisted on the bed so I could see his face. I wanted to ask him how much he’d heard, but my tongue was paralyzed.