Tired

Kyle answers his phone while jotting down an order and tossing it back to a coworker. “Yo! …Hey, Katie….” His voice becomes solemn as he hears the hurt in her voice. “You just sit tight,” he directs gently. “Give me a couple minutes.”

Hanging up, he puts his phone back on his belt and takes off his hat and apron. “Larry, I’m taking off,” he calls to the back.

A large man in the kitchen looks at him with surprise and slight annoyance. “Your shift just started.”

“Family emergency,” Kyle yells over his shoulder as he makes his way to the back door.

“But Kyle!” Larry shakes his head as his employee disappears. “That boy,” he mutters and rolls his eyes. “Sometimes I think he’s got a screw loose.”


Kyle wastes no time, getting into his pickup and leaving the Pizza Box behind. Heading across town, he worries a little, replaying the tone of Katie’s voice in his mind. He knew it had to do with Jason.

Arriving at the jail, he parks along the curb, and waves to Katie for her to join him. He sees two other men…he recognizes the one from the other night after the fundraiser, but didn’t know the older one.

After Katie is in the truck, Kyle pulls back out onto the road and gives her a sidelong glance. “You alright? Somewhere you want to go?”


Reese looks after the pickup as it pulls away, and shakes his head. “I think I feel more sorry for that girl than I do Jason. She’s been through heck and back the way it is, and now this.” He sighs and looks to Nate. “Well…want to step across the street for a cup of coffee or something while we wait?”


As Katie is pulled away, Jason turns to rest is back against the bars, unwilling to watch her leave. He stands and waits, barely hearing Jackman and Lockheart.

Jackman eyes Lockheart’s papers for a moment, then hands them back to her, slightly annoyed. “Well…I guess you can take your time, Miss Lockheart.”

He grabs a key and unlocks Jason’s cell. “Alright, young man, no trouble and I won’t cuff you. Come on.” He takes Jason by the arm and leads him back down the hall, to a private room, showing Lockheart in as well.

Once they’re alone, Jason slumps into a chair, burying his face in his folded arms on the table. He was physically exhausted and emotionally rung out. He’d told Katie to be strong…could he be strong too?


Carson quirks an eyebrow at Misty’s comment about his kisses, and gives her a nudge with his foot that’s on the chair beside her. “Don’t tempt me to give you another one. I’m trying to eat.”

He shrugs, taking a bite of his sandwich. “Oh, I’ve just been snooping through personal files, hacking into computers and making deals with the enemy.” He catches Misty’s eye, a teasing glint showing in his own. “I’m a prisoner here, what am I supposed to be doing?”

As Misty sits back down and teeters just a little, Carson cocks his head. “Hey, you alright?”