Abe looked around abruptly. „Where’s Rachel?“

Ruth put a steadying hand on his shoulder. „She’s in the bedroom with the kids.“

„Where is Kristen?“ Kyle asked. „You shouldn’t have left her alone.“

„I’m here,“ Kristen said quietly. „I’m fine.“

Kyle raised a bandaged hand. „Come here.“

On trembling legs Kristen complied. Whatever he had to say wouldn’t be nearly bad enough. One look at Kyle’s face made her trembles start all over again. Purple and black bruises covered his face and a patch of thick white hair had been shaved, a bandage in its place. Both hands were bandaged, his right more so than his left. She sank to her knees at his feet and stared up at him, blinking back tears. He’d sat with her all night, playing solitaire, keeping her company. Making her feel safe. And for his kindness he’d been beaten within an inch of his life. She opened her mouth and he made an impatient noise.

„If you say you’re sorry, I’ll be forced to kick your ass,“ Kyle said through swollen lips and a hysterical giggle bubbled up in her chest. Kristen forced it back and responded the only way she knew would preserve his dignity.

„I was going to ask how the other guys look,“ she lied dryly.

His blue eyes gleamed with appreciative humor. „Not as pretty as me,“ he said.

Standing behind him, Becca smiled tremulously. „You didn’t cause this, Kristen. You’re as much a victim as anyone else.“ Kyle nodded, then winced in discomfort.

„Is anything broken?“ Kristen asked him.

„A few ribs. My pride.“ Kyle grew very serious. „You will not tell them anything, Kristen. You have to promise me that.“

Kristen huffed in frustration. „I don’t know anything. If I did, the killer would be in prison. If I thought it would do any good, I’d call Conti and tell him I don’t know anything.“

„It won’t do any good,“ Abe said and she looked up at him. „They called your cell phone while you were asleep. Said they’d be getting in touch with you every day until you had an answer. They don’t care how you get it, they just want to know who the killer is.“

Every day. She controlled the feeling of helpless panic and made her voice steady. „Can you trace the call?“

Abe shrugged. „I already made the request, but I can almost guarantee we’re talking about a stolen or disposable cell phone.“

„Can’t you pick Conti up?“ Aidan asked. „Use any excuse. You know it’s him.“

Abe’s lips thinned. „It wouldn’t do any good, and he’d sue us for false arrest. He’s behind this, but he’s not doing this himself. Spinnelli’s already been warned by the brass not to pick him up until they have something that will stick.“

Kristen stood up. „Well then, let’s find out who’s doing it for him. My first guess would be the man who was with him the day he pushed Julia up against her car. His name is Drake Edwards. He’s Conti’s right-hand man. Rumored to be one sick bastard.“ She looked down at Kyle. „Did you see any distinguishing marks on any of the men who did this?“

Kyle’s swollen lips twisted in a grimace. „Only the ones I put on ‘ em myself. I didn’t see any of their faces, but one of the guys should have a really bad bruise on his left cheekbone.“

„I’ll call it in,“ Abe said.

Becca waved her hands. „Enough of this sitting around. Sean, you get plates down to set the table. Aidan, you can carve the roast. Annie, I need you to help me peel some more potatoes. I’ve got to stretch dinner for four more plus the children.“

Kristen took a step back. „Becca, I – “

Becca silenced her with another hand wave. „Hush, Kristen. You and Abe I planned for. It’s the rest of my brood that I wasn’t anticipating.“

Becca’s insistence was reflected in the faces of the other Reagans. They weren’t throwing her out. She felt the knots in her stomach slide free. She was still part of this amazing family. „Then let me peel some potatoes.“ She glanced at Annie. „If you don’t mind.“

With an encouraging smile, Annie handed her a knife and they got to work.

Tuesday, February 24,

7:00 p.m.

The sun had gone down and still he sat, thinking, wondering, remembering in the darkness of his kitchen. The picture of Leah was to his left, the stack of bullets to his right, and in the center of the table, the fishbowl, still filled with names. So much evil in the world. He was only one man whose time was drawing to a close. Three cards sat in front of the fishbowl. He didn’t need to turn on the light to be able to see their names. Their names were permanently etched in his memory. A judge, a defense lawyer and a serial rapist. He closed his eyes, remembering the look on Leah’s face the last time he’d seen her alive. So very, very alone. Because of the judge, the lawyer, and the rapist. They all deserved to die.

And they would. But he’d have to be careful. Once he killed the judge, they’d start to narrow it down. Once he killed the defense attorney, they’d figure it out. The rapist himself would suspect and run away. And he’d be left without his vengeance.

That could not happen. So how to kill them all so that the others didn’t suspect they were next? But he wanted them to suspect, just a little. He wanted the lawyer to hear the judge was dead and be afraid. He wanted the rapist to feel hunted, to feel terror as had his Leah.

He wanted each man to know why he was being killed.

And he wanted each one to feel a great deal of pain.

He sat there in the dark, running through various scenarios, finally returning to his original plan. He would hunt down each one like the dogs they were, disable them, then bring them here. He would hunt them quickly, efficiently. But once captive, he would kill each one slowly, until they begged for mercy.

The mercy they received would be equal to the mercy they showed Leah.

In other words, there would be none.

Tuesday, February 24,

10:00 p.m.

Kristen’s eyes widened when they pulled into her driveway. The cruiser was conspicuously absent. „What happened to Truman?“

„They needed to pull him back onto patrol. Half a dozen guys called in with the flu and Central was scrambling to fill their shifts. I told them it was okay.“

There was silence for a moment from the passenger seat. Then quietly she said, „Because you said you’d stay with me.“ They hadn’t discussed it until now. In his mind it had been a given, but he could practically see the wheels of indecision turning in her head and he understood. The other two nights he’d stayed had been special cases. Both times she’d been attacked. Last night, his own father had stayed, a respectable guard. But tonight was different. Just a man and a woman alone in her house. To say he hadn’t fantasized the possible outcomes would be a lie. One part of his brain was fantasizing at this very moment and he was grateful for the darkness that surrounded them. „I’ll sleep on your couch.“

She leaned back, turning only her head to look at him. „You would, wouldn’t you?“

„Yes,“ he replied without hesitation. „Until you decide otherwise, yes.“

One side of her mouth lifted. „So it’s up to me?“

He didn’t smile. „Totally.“

„Will you at least kiss me good night?“

He did smile at that. „Just don’t ask me to tuck you in. My principles are only so strong.“ Without giving her time to comment, he helped her down, then reached for the laptop bag she had in one hand and the Marshall Field’s shopping bag in the other. „What’s in the bag?“

„Magazines,“ she said over her shoulder. „Annie and I were talking about redoing my kitchen while we were peeling potatoes. She loaned me the magazines so I could get some ideas. I’m thinking about tearing out a wall and doubling the size. Maybe doing a French Provincial style. You can take a look at the pictures and tell me – “