egan directing his colleagues to tape off the area, his presence immediately turning the chaoti

d to intercept him. "Officer, I'm Britteny Har

. "Ma'am, please step behind the line.

irst time, had met a wal

the press. His focus was entirely on Khloe. He walked directly to

They were dark, steady, and held a flic

w and soothing. "I'm a special consultant for the NYPD. I special

's heart gave a strange lurch. It was him. The voice from her final moments. The man who ha

lean the wound with an expert's touch. His movements were gentle, precise,

ally dropped at cocktail parties to boost her own status-was here. And he was kneeling, touching that gutter trash with a tenderness she had never

ice still low, meant only for her. "Did he do any

pectful of her privacy. It made her feel

past him, she raised her voice so

toxicology screen. For

ho had been whispering urgen

believe I was drugged with Roh

. "That's an invasive proc

the space. "The victim's request is standard procedure and essential f

d curtly. "Done. I'll have a unit escort

just slammed the door on their b

it felt impossibly warm as he draped it over Khloe's shoulders. The fabric smelled faintly of pine and clean li

g hers. "Just follow the procedure. No one c

ightmare, Khloe felt a flicker of something other

and looked up at the man who had, in two se

Doctor," s

hed Alvan's lips, there

escorted by a female officer. And Brenton, his head bandaged and hi