“His backyard is not going to work, people,” Annie said. “We need to load him up and go to Plan B. While the trees are in full leaf, they’re spindly at the top. Light shows through. His neighbors just might be the nosy types who can’t sleep, and one of us might make a noise that isn’t familiar to them.”

The gang moved with their usual efficiency and had Moss flexicuffed with his mouth taped shut. Espinosa threw him over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry and hustled out to the parking area outside the kitchen. He dumped him in the backseat and told Dennis to watch him. Dennis paled and was about to discuss the point, but one look at Harry and he changed his mind. He felt important when he said, “You got it.”

Isabelle was the last to leave Moss’s house. It was her job to turn off all the lights and the TV and to make sure the kitchen door was locked when she closed the door.

Plan B was now in effect. Plan B required a trip to Nikki and Jack’s farmhouse. Located across the fields from Pinewood, it was also known as the mud pit with the half-finished swimming pool that was full of muddy water.

A light rain was falling when the caravan arrived in Nikki and Jack’s driveway. Jack took charge of Moss while the others unloaded the Jeep. It was totally dark, the only light coming from small Maglites the group held low to the ground. The only sound that could be heard was the sucking sound when they lifted their feet out of the thick, smelly mud.

When the group reached the rim of the pool that was still under construction, Jack ripped off the tape on Moss’s mouth. He was rewarded with curses he’d never heard before. He casually backhanded Moss with a swat across the face. “The only thing we want to hear out of your mouth are your passwords and why you beat the living hell out of your wife. We aren’t going to make nice either, so be forewarned.”

“Screw you, whoever you are. What dark alley did my wife find you in? You can’t make me do anything I don’t want to do. And I am not giving up my pass codes to you or anyone else.” That said, Moss lashed out with his foot and connected with Dennis, who yelped in pain.

Dennis’s brain went into overdrive, and suddenly everything Harry had taught him about self-defense rose to the fore. He didn’t stop to think, he just went into action, and in the blink of an eye, Moss was facedown in the thick, gooey mud that smelled like vomit.

“Nice going, kid,” Harry said, clapping Dennis on the back. Dennis beamed his pleasure. Life didn’t get any better than a compliment from his idol, Harry Wong.