“Then we’ll have one of our undercover agents follow him when he finally decides to leave. We’ve got the neighborhood surrounded.”

Michael thought about it. “Why don’t you just move Joshua and me, too?”

“We’re going to. We’re securing a safe house for you both as we speak. If we can get you out without compromising your safety, we will. Otherwise, we’re going to sit tight until we can.”

“You could drive one of the cars into the garage and smuggle us out that way.”

Deacon grimaced ruefully. “Have you been in Dani’s garage?”

Michael shook his head. “No. What’s in it?”

“‘What’s not?’ is a better question. So many boxes. She gets donations for the clinic and the shelter downtown and keeps them in there. Clothing, toys, you name it. So unless we want to move it all out—which would basically be a neon sign that we’re moving you out—we need to do it a different way. You ready to pretend you’re camping?”

Michael took a deep breath. “Yeah. Thanks, Deacon.”

Deacon gave him a hard nod. “You’re welcome.”

Cincinnati, Ohio
Monday, March 18, 2:45 a.m.

Oh my God. Finally. Cade rolled his eyes as the SUVs began to pull away from Dani’s house. The Hummer was the first to leave, with two of the men who’d arrived in it. The third man had left earlier. This time it also carried a small blond woman leaning heavily on the arm of the more slender of the two men. The man kissed her cheek, then helped her up into the backseat of the Hummer before getting into the front passenger seat. The heavier man already had the Hummer started and they drove away.

They’d been just as quiet as the dog walkers had been. Were they all deaf?

The red Subaru was the next to leave. One of the adult dog walkers, along with a woman and Greg Novak, Dani’s brother. The Subaru’s license plate had been hidden by all the vehicles parked behind it but Cade would be able to see it once they’d driven past him. Hunkered low enough that they couldn’t see him, he waited until they passed, then lifted his phone to snap a photo of the plate, hoping he’d get a decent picture.

He checked his phone and nodded. It was blurry and off center, but he could make out the numbers and guess at the letters. It wouldn’t take him long to do a lookup. Greg being Dani’s brother, she might be open to a trade.

One of the Jeeps was the next to go. This was a big blond guy and a redhead. The man kissed her lightly before helping her into the car. Cade rolled his eyes.