I Bet on Losing Dogs - Patrick Jane

Blood Stained Hands

Rock with You by Micheal Jackson was the only song that was playing on repeat through Kenzie's earbuds. Her head and waist bopped from side to side, lightly singing the lyrics to herself.

Outside her office, Patrick smiled at the dancing woman. It's been a couple of weeks since Patrick and Kenzie watched one of the CDs from Red John. Kenzie hasn't watched hers. Patrick couldn't blame her, knowing the threats. That's why he kept a close eye on her.

Kenzie's moment of peace in the morning was ruined when Teresa stumbled into her office and ripped the earbud out of her ear.

She groaned in annoyance. "Res, what the hell? You know you're not supposed to interrupt me during..." Teresa had a distressed look on her face. "What's wrong?"

Teresa opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out except for small sounds. Kenzie froze as tears started to fill Teresa's eyes. "Res, what happened?"

Kenzie stumbled out of the car as she, Patrick, and Teresa pulled up to a house. Police officers swarmed the scene. Yellow police tape was strung across two poles in front of a porch of a farmhouse. Her eyes grew wide in recognition.

She ran toward the porch, only to be stopped by two police officers. "I need to go in there," Kenzie exclaimed. "Let me in there!"

Teresa and Patrick raced up behind her. Teresa flashed her badge. "She's fine." The police officers looked at each other with an annoyed look before letting Kenzie go. She rushed inside.

Kenzie ran into the living room and froze. Her brother-in-law, Joseph, was lying on the floor with a gunshot wound in the chest.

A 10-year-old, disoriented Kenzie looked around as she sat up in the dark room. She inhaled before staring down at her father, who was gasping for air. She reached for him, seeing blood seeping from his chest. She gasped and pressed her hands into his wounds.

"Help," she yelled out. "Someone help me!"

Dennis' hand caressed Kenzie's cheek. "It's okay, pumpkin. Everything's okay."

"No, we..." His hand fell from her cheek. "Daddy?"

"Kiss me once, then kiss me twice, then kiss once again. It's been a long, long time. Haven't felt like this before, my dear. Since I can't remember when..."

Kenzie tried to shake him awake. "Daddy. Daddy, wake up." Sobs start to escape. "Daddy, please! Wake up! Mommy! Help! Help me!"

Kenzie placed a hand over her mouth as tears ran down her cheeks. "No. No. No. No."

Patrick carefully pulled her into a hug, trying to calm her down.

A police officer walked over to them and reached out toward them. "Why don't we–"

A huge gasp made everyone jump up out of fright. Everyone stared at Joseph in disbelief. Kenzie turned to see his chest slightly moving up and down. Without any hesitation, Kenzie raced toward him and applied pressure.

"What happened," Joseph muttered.

🙂

After Kenzie used a paper towel in the hospital, she threw it away and looked at herself in the mirror. She sighed as she rubbed her hands over her face. The bloody water was still draining. She cleared her throat and walked out.

Quietly closing the door behind her, she turned to see Joseph lying in his bed. Next to him was Brianna, who was holding their now 9-month-old baby, Izzy. Kenzie smiled at the family.