Adam gave him a kind smile. “If you’re here? Absolutely. If you need to go anywhere, call me and we’ll get someone else to stand guard.” He pushed away from the table. “Meredith has her own car, so she can leave when she’s ready. I need to get back to work. Deacon and I have victims’ families to inform.”

Dani shuddered on his behalf. She knew the toll that speaking to victims’ families took on her cousin and brother. “How many?”

Adam suddenly looked older. “They’ve identified seven people from the parts divers brought up. I don’t know if there will be more. They haven’t identified all the parts yet.”

The thought of the bodies didn’t make her sick, but the thought of that man just walking into Joshua’s room? She had to steel herself so that she didn’t throw up.

“God,” she whispered. If the bald man who’d killed Brewer really was the same one who’d bought his house without paying for it . . . That man had killed six others? Why? Thoughts of all they’d learned the night before flooded her brain.

What did this have to do with LJM, the UC med student?

She stole a glance at Diesel and saw he was giving her a “say nothing” look. So he hadn’t told Adam what they’d uncovered. She wondered why.

She’d find out before she blew the whistle and told her cousin herself.

Walking Adam to the door, she reached up to give him a hug. “Take care of yourself, okay?”

“You, too,” he murmured in her ear. “And I don’t know what is or is not happening between you and Diesel and it’s not my business. But he’s a good guy, okay? Let him stay. I’ll feel better if he’s here to keep you safe.”

She felt her cheeks heat as she rocked back on her heels. “No, it isn’t your business, but I agree and I will let him stay.”

“Good enough.” Adam dropped a kiss on her forehead, then paused, his hand on the doorknob. “Oh, I almost forgot. Faith is bringing Greg over later. He thought he could cheer Michael up. He also said he’d gather his schoolwork from his teachers and bring it by tomorrow.”

Dani smiled, pleased. “Excellent. It’ll be good for Greg, too. Maybe they can do homework together and I won’t have to nag Greg so hard to do his.”

Adam laughed. “Good luck with that. ’Bye, Diesel!” he called over his shoulder.

Dani shut and locked the door behind him.

“Arm the alarm,” Diesel said.

She jumped a little because he was right behind her. “I didn’t hear you come over here,” she said, doing as he’d instructed. Now that they knew this killer could move faster than an alarm would sound, it was prudent to take extra precautions.