“You hate what he did, right?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Focus on that then. Let’s see it.”

Scotty’s stare had a lot more menace behind it this time.

“There it is! Excellent. Now what will you do if he hits you again?”

“Hit him back?”

“That’s right. You’re allowed to defend yourself. But I don’t want you to ever throw the first punch. You got me?”

“Yeah. I can see the difference.”

“Now, give me a fist.”

He rolled his fingers around his thumb and held up his hand.

“Dude, that is the fastest way to end up with a broken thumb. Like this.” She manipulated his hand into a fist. “Lead with your knuckles.”

“What if he comes at me from behind?”

“Stomp on the top of his foot,” Shelby said. “Then spin around and clip him under the nose.”

Sam nodded in approval. “Someone’s had self-defense classes.”

“When you’re barely five feet tall and living in a city, you can’t be too careful.”

“Is your belly feeling better?” Sam asked Scotty.

He nodded, showing more of his usual enthusiasm. “Thanks for showing me what to do.”

“You got it. Now go brush your teeth and comb your hair.”

“I did comb my hair.”

“The front looks good. The rest of it’s a problem.”

“Fine,” he said, running off.

“Do you think less of me, as a homicide detective, that I want to kill the kid who hurt him?” Shelby asked.

“Actually, I think more of you as a friend than I ever have before. Thank you for helping with that just now.”

“You’re a great mom, Sam. He’s lucky to have you in his corner.”

“That’s nice to hear, thank you. I need to get to work. Do you mind making the drop at school and sticking around for a few minutes to make sure he’s okay?”

“I’d be happy to.”

“I’m going out to get the papers,” Sam said. She was anxious to see if there was anything reported about Nick’s connection to Lexicore ahead of Graham’s statement.

Just as she was about to open the door, the doorbell rang.

She opened the door and was overtaken by a hulking form in a police uniform. Before she had time react, he had grasped her throat and was squeezing the life out of her.

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

The feral snarl from her attacker identified him as Stahl. Sam had been on the receiving end of that snarl often enough to recognize it. He had such a tight hold on her throat that she immediately saw stars and couldn’t seem to get her hands to function properly to practice any of the self-defense strategies she’d just imparted to her son. The scene before her faded in the fog that filled her mind as she had enough capacity to wonder if she was going to die right there on her own doorstep.