In the beginning, he’d planned to expose her naughty arsonist ways, humiliating her daddy. It would destroy the SOB, like he tried to destroy me.

But that wasn’t enough anymore. Mary had tried to deal a different game, leaving those glass balls behind. She was no environmental activist, not that he’d believed for a moment she ever had been. Now she was a multiple killer. That fire had gone way wrong tonight. He’d listened to the story on the radio until he’d lost the signal. Innocent people had died.

The police weren’t going to care for it too much either. Especially given the incident with Detective Kane. The cops would be looking for someone to pay. He’d much rather that someone be Albert or Mary. Or both.

Trouble was, he wasn’t exactly sure how to make that happen. He glanced at his GPS again. Almost there. He’d get rid of Austin; then he’d consider his next steps.

Wednesday, September 22, 3:15 a.m.

David showered and changed at the firehouse, called Olivia again only to get her voice mail, then drove to the hospital where Jeff’s fiancée, Kayla, sat in the waiting room.

He sat next to her, suddenly afraid to ask her about Jeff. “Zell?”

“His back is broken, his hip is crushed.” She recited this as if reading a phone book. She was barely holding on. “He’s still in surgery. David, what do I do?”

“Be there for him, for now. Did you talk to him before they took him to surgery?”

“No. He wasn’t conscious. He won’t walk again, will he?”

“You don’t know that. A broken back doesn’t mean paralysis. And even if that’s the case, people come back from injuries like that. My brother did,” he added.

“The same as before?” she asked through her tears.

“No,” he said honestly. “Max was a professional athlete. It ended his career. But he found a new one and if Zell comes to that place, he will, too.”

She shuddered on a sob. “God, I’m sorry.”

He slid his arm around her shaking shoulders. “Why?”

“Because I’m sitting here, wishing he’d pulled you out.”

It startled him, but for just a moment. “I can understand that. My…” What is Olivia? “My friend’s a cop. Her partner died tonight. I’m… I don’t know. I can’t believe he’s gone, but I’m relieved she wasn’t there when the shooting happened. So I understand.”

She wiped her face with her fingers. “You’re on shift soon, aren’t you?”

He glanced up at the clock on the wall. “In a couple hours, yeah.”

“Then get some sleep. I’ll tell him you were here. Thank you. I do mean that.”

His heart heavy, he walked back to his car, checking his phone as he walked. He frowned, recognizing the number. Noah. Who was watching over his mother.

“Noah, what’s wrong with Ma?”

“Nothing. As far as I know, she’s asleep.”

“What do you mean, as far as you know? Where are you?”

“Following Olivia who just exited north. I’m headed into the precinct. Did you hear?”

“About Kane, yeah. How is Olivia? I tried to call, but she wasn’t picking up.”

“She’s holding, barely. I told her to go home, but the exit she took wasn’t hers. She’s headed north.”

North. Relief flooded him. She’s coming to me. “I know where she’s going.”

“I thought you might. Look, try to keep her from calling in.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“We have the name of the kid we’re looking for-the one who saw Weems get shot. Kid’s supposed to be home in Duluth, but the state cops just called to say they can’t find the kid. Looks like he saw them coming and bolted through a rear window. We hope.”

“You hope?”

“Olivia knows Kane’s shooter has the kid’s address. If she finds out he’s gone…”

“She’ll drive up there to look for him.”

“Exactly. She’s hanging on by a thread. She needs to rest.”

“She’s not gonna like that you decided that for her,” David said quietly.

“You gonna tell her?”

“If she asks, I won’t lie, but I won’t offer. If you’re working, who’s watching Ma?”

“She called that old firefighter friend of yours.”

“Okay, thanks.” This was becoming weird, his mother and Glenn. But his focus right now was Olivia. She’s coming to me. He wanted to fix it so that she wouldn’t leave any time soon. With a grimace for the late hour, he dialed Paige, unsurprised when she answered on the first ring. “Where are you?”

“At Olivia’s, waiting for her to get home. Where are you? Did you hear about Kane? Do you know where she is? I’m worried sick.”

“I’m headed up to the cabin. I think she’s gone up there. And yeah, I heard. I don’t know if she’s got anything for work tomorrow. You know, clothes. Makeup. Stuff.”

“I’ll pack her a bag,” Paige said. “You want me to bring it up there?”

“No. Her house isn’t too far out of the way. I’ll swing by to pick it up.”

David hung up. He had one more call to make. He pictured Paige waiting for Olivia to come home and pictured his own mom, waiting by the phone. He hit the speed dial for Eve and Noah’s house. Sure enough, it was answered almost before it rang.

“David?” It was his mother and her voice was shaking.

“I’m okay, Ma. Not a scratch.”

Her breath shuddered out. “Thank God. I’ve been sitting here, trying not to worry. Glenn’s been on his cellular phone, trying to find out what’s going on.”

“I’m fine. My partner, Jeff, not so good.” And Olivia’s partner is dead, he almost added, but didn’t. His mother had never met Kane, and Eve needed to hear that news from Noah. “If you would, say some prayers for him.”

“Of course I will. Where are you going now?”

“Up to the cabin.” To Olivia. “I’m going to try to get some sleep. You do the same. Love you, Ma.”

“And I love you. Thank you for calling me. I needed to hear your voice.”

Wednesday, September 22, 4:00 a.m.

This was bad. Really, really bad. The kid was gone. There had to be twenty police cars parked on the highway shoulder, on either side of the driveway that led to Austin Dent’s tiny house. He’d passed by slowly, watching the action.

State and local cops congregated in groups and as he looked in his rearview mirror, he could see the crisscrossing beams of flashlights as search parties took to the woods. That meant they didn’t have him either. Yet.

The boy was on the run, obviously not trusting the cops. Smart kid.

He kept going until he could no longer see the blue glow of flashing cop car lights, then pulled onto the shoulder, opened Kenny’s phone, and started a text to Austin.

Cops grilled me all night in Oaks’s office. He didn’t know if that was true or not, but Austin wouldn’t know it either. They know about U. Want to arrest U. B careful.

He closed the phone. That would keep the kid from trusting the cops a little longer. He could search for the kid, but who knew where he was? He did a U-turn and headed back the way he’d come. I need to bring him to me.

Wednesday, September 22, 4:05 a.m.

Olivia heard David’s truck coming up the road but didn’t get up. She sat at the end of his dock, her knees pulled to her chest. She heard his truck cut off and waited. Eventually he’d come outside. She wondered if he knew about Kane.

After leaving the school she hadn’t had the energy to listen to any of her voice mails. She’d simply sat here, listening to the sounds of the night. After a few minutes she felt the dock rumble as he approached. He ran his hand over her hair. “Hey.”

“Hey.” It came out a whisper.

He took her hands. “Your hands are like ice. Why are you sitting out here?”

“I locked your house when I left earlier. I forgot I didn’t have a key.”

“I can fix that,” he murmured. “I wish I could fix everything else.”

“You can’t. Nobody can.”

“Come inside. I’ll get you warm.” He lifted her to her feet, his arm solid around her. “I couldn’t let you be alone.” In the cabin’s living room he swung her up into his arms and settled her in his lap on the sofa, covering them with a blanket.