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“We?” Bobby asked.
“We,” Corey said. “We’ll all go. We need all hands on deck for this one. Feldman’s not going anywhere. I hope she’s still breathing when we get back. You gotta learn control, B.”
Bobby shrugged unapologetically. “I didn’t kill her, okay?”
Corey sighed. “Whatever. What about Dianne? We need to make sure she doesn’t wake up while we’re gone.”
“I gave her some more booze and sleeping pills before you all started on the reporter,” Ed said. “She’ll sleep until late afternoon, at least. What are we going to do with Cardozo after he tells us where Bella is?” Ed asked.
At least that was an easy answer. “We kill him and frame the online assholes, just like we’ll do with Bella.”
“And his kid?” Ed pressed.
“We use the kid and the woman to get Cardozo to talk,” Corey said. “Then we’ll dispose of them. Cardozo gets a bullet, quick and easy. I get the woman, because she’s going to feel some pain for shooting me before I kill her. We’ll give the kid some of Dianne’s pills. He’ll just go to sleep and not wake up.”
Ed nodded grimly. “Okay.”
“I get a crack at the blonde, too,” Bobby said. “No fair keeping her all for yourself.”
“Fine,” Corey huffed. “What about the cops watching his neighborhood? If they search the van and find us, it’s game over.”
Bobby grinned. “Let me take care of that.”
Corey finished his coffee and pushed to his feet. “Then let’s do this.”
Mid-City, New Orleans, Louisiana
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 7:00 A.M.
Kaj hadn’t wanted to think about the panic room in his son’s closet. He had thought about it, of course. Phin’s constant hammering had made it impossible to forget.
But he hadn’t wanted to think about it. Hadn’t wanted to think about the fear Elijah was feeling all the time, even if he hid it well.
Because of me. Because I’m a prosecutor.
He and Phin had been quiet, hoping not to disturb Elijah’s sleep, but they needn’t have bothered. Elijah was sitting on his bed, dressed and tying his shoes.
He looked up with a tired smile that made him look far, far older than ten, and Kaj’s throat constricted. Dammit.
“Morning, Dad.”
Kaj had to clear his throat. “Good morning. How are you?”
Elijah slid his glasses on. “Fine. Sugar’s normal.”
Which Kaj knew, of course. The data from Elijah’s blood sugar monitor fed to Kaj’s phone and alerted him whenever the numbers were trending up or down. That his phone wasn’t constantly dinging was a miracle. “I’m glad. Phin’s going to show us the safe room.”
Elijah glanced at his closet, his expression going neutral.
Guilt grabbed at Kaj’s gut and twisted. Elijah felt the same way about the safe room.
It had seemed like a good idea three days ago. It still seemed like a prudent precaution. But not one that should have been required.
“Can I look at it later, Phin?” Elijah asked quietly.
Phin’s expression was not neutral, and the difference was striking. Gone was the stoic, I’m-an-island mask. Warm compassion had taken its place. “Maybe after breakfast? MaryBeth brought breakfast and some special cake pops for you. Y’know, for Halloween.”
Elijah perked up at that. “Cool. I didn’t think I’d get any Halloween this year.”
