The Bound Between Us

Herman basically told everyone to clear out.

Jason knew Herman was in a foul mood, and Anastasia was a mess herself. It

wasn't the right time to press for details.

So, he left.

It was already dark when he made it back to the station. The corpses of those four

men were still lying in the morgue, cold and forgotten.

Jason holed up in his office, combing through case files. Those four had to be

connected somehow—there was no way it was just random chance they all ended

up together.

They'd only recently gotten out of prison. What on earth had pushed them to

kidnap Anastasia? None of them had family, no ties, nothing to lose—but guys like

that usually kept their heads down, tried to stay alive.

Lately, the department was drowning in cases. Jason was running on fumes,

getting maybe four, five hours of sleep, practically living at his desk.

He had to keep tabs on Harry, the serial killer case was still nowhere near solved,

and now this new mess had landed in his lap.

Jason was barely keeping it together when someone knocked on his door.

"Come in," he said, gathering up the files.

The door opened. It was Chief Taylor.

blinked. "Chief? Didn't expect to see you

his fifties, always looked warm and approachable. He smiled. "Still

You working

pushing for progress. "Yeah.

breathe down your

a bite

you to

to say, just say it

always be more cases, Jason. But you're no use

Taylor chuckled. "But I already made

Jason couldn't refuse.

***

private booth at a diner. Food arrived, and

"Drink?"

what's this about? You didn't come out

just to eat."

Taylor laughed. "Always so

got some

Remember last time,

up your

There's another shot. Einsberg's

an anti-terror

you to head

the Salstrom case isn't closed yet. The

else will take over. This is a

Don't let it

a reward. They wanted him

especially Anastasia's.

his

but I'd rather stay.

serial

start. I want to see it

should pick someone

the squad."