Knockemout, #3
Things We Left Behind
by Lucy Score
Contents
46
Overview
Amid wedding-rehearsal prep, Stef and Jeremiah decide to move in together and get engaged, deepening the friend-family bonds. Lucian reports an FBI bribery probe implicating Judge Atkins and promising relief for Mary Louise. Power fails at Sloane’s home, where Atkins and Wylie attack; Sloane helps fell Atkins, but Wylie turns on her, confessing past crimes as sirens approach.
Summary
At Whiskey Clipper before Lina and Nash’s rehearsal, friends bustle while Lina battles nerves. Stef, rattled, blurts that he wants to move in with Jeremiah; Jeremiah answers by proposing marriage. The group celebrates the engagement, cementing their chosen family’s growth.
Driving home, Sloane tells Lucian the news. Lucian shares an FBI briefing: Hugo’s operation bribed officials to funnel inmates to private prisons. Judge Dirk Atkins is implicated, and Special Agent Idler will prioritize Mary Louise’s case, likely leading to overturned sentences and Mary Louise’s release.
Sloane and Fran video-call Mary Louise to share the hopeful update. As Fran outlines next steps, Sloane notices Mary Louise’s arrest report lists former chief Wylie Ogden. The power abruptly cuts, and Wylie appears at Sloane’s door with a box of books, followed by Judge Atkins with a silenced gun. They plan to kill Sloane and stage a fire.
In the living room, Wylie subtly cues Sloane toward a loaded library cart. She rams it into Atkins, and Wylie fires, mortally wounding the judge. Wylie then turns both guns on Sloane, seeking to erase loose ends and protect his reputation, admitting he added Nash’s name to Metzer’s hit list and killed Tate to protect himself.
Sloane hurls a hardback to disrupt Wylie and scrambles through the house under gunfire, using her familiarity with the layout to evade him. Meow Meow trips Wylie on the stairs, buying Sloane seconds. She reaches the second floor and collides with a hard, unidentified male figure who covers her mouth and lifts her as police sirens near.
Who Appears
- Sloane WaltonNarrator; celebrates friends’ engagement, learns FBI news, confronts Atkins and Wylie, topples Atkins, then flees as Wylie hunts her.
- Wylie OgdenEx–police chief; arrives with books, teams with Atkins, then turns on Sloane, confessing framing Nash and killing Tate.
- Judge Dirk AtkinsCorrupt judge implicated in prison kickbacks; invades Sloane’s home with a silenced gun and is fatally shot.
- Lucian RollinsCalls with FBI breakthrough implicating Atkins; arranges Mary Louise call; his protections are cut when power is killed.
- StefAdmits he wants to move in; accepts Jeremiah’s surprise proposal, solidifying their future.
- JeremiahCalms Lina’s jitters; proposes to Stef; celebrates with family and friends.
- LinaAnxious bride reassured about wedding-day nerves; joins in celebrating Stef and Jeremiah’s engagement.
- NaomiSupports Lina emotionally and celebrates the engagement at the salon.
- KnoxAt the salon, reacts to the proposal and joins the celebration.
- FranAttorney on video call; explains Mary Louise’s likely path to release.
- Mary LouiseHears that the FBI probe may overturn her sentence; moved to tears.
- WaylayHelps with scheduling software; witnesses the proposal celebration.
- Vernon QuiggSalon client; adds levity and calls for champagne after the proposal.