But first he had to find the safe house. He had been unsuccessful in discovering who the protective woman in the news video was, the one who’d guarded Michael as they’d walked into the police station.

But Michael’s mother might know her identity. And even if Stella Brewer truly didn’t know, she could still be useful. She’d said that she wanted to get her little boy back, that she’d fight for custody. That would take a while, but a sympathetic judge might grant supervised visitation in a neutral location. If that happened, all he’d need to do was follow her to that location, then follow the five-year-old back to the safe house.

It was a plan. One way or another, he’d find Michael Rowland.

Chapter Thirteen

Cincinnati, Ohio
Sunday, March 17, 8:15 p.m.

Dani was hiding in the kitchen because the troops had, apparently, arrived. Neither Kendra nor her burly boyfriend, Trip, could come, because they were working tonight, but Scarlett and Marcus had come right away, bringing their three-legged bulldog, Zat, and their old sheltie, Baby Bop.

Kendra and Trip had apparently asked Kate and Decker to come in their stead, because the two federal agents had just arrived along with Kate’s dog, Cap. Dani knew Kate had brought Cap for the boys, Michael especially, because the aging dog was a therapy animal. Which was nice and all, but Hawkeye had Michael covered. Dani’s dog hadn’t left the teenager’s side all day.

That left all the other dogs for Joshua to pet. The little boy was in heaven, all smiles and giggles.

Yet Dani was hiding in her kitchen, washing pots and pans. Normally she loved socializing with their circle of friends, although they rarely came here. Usually they hung out at Meredith and Adam’s place or with Marcus and Scarlett in their big yard on top of the hill with its barbecue grill, gazebo, and horseshoe pit, plus a magnificent view of the city.

But today they were here, and her little house was full to bursting with people.

All except the one who was supposed to be here.

Diesel was gone. Abruptly. And, she feared, maybe finally.

She had no idea if he’d come back. He’d left to go to the casino to investigate Michael’s stepfather. Without a good-bye. Or a wave. Or a smile or a hug.

Certainly without a kiss. Which wasn’t a surprise. She’d been psyching herself up to tell him to find someone else, once and for all, but she hadn’t been able to speak the words. She’d tried, several times, as they’d sat at her table sorting through Brewer’s financials and the tangle of LJM, but the words got caught in her throat every single time. Her body language must have been sufficient, however, because he was gone.