Dani entered, Michael right behind her. Diesel brought up the rear, Joshua still clutching his hand.

Taking in the scene before her, Dani came to an abrupt stop. Kendra Cullen and Maddie Shafer, the social worker, were back. So was Maria, the interpreter. But they weren’t alone.

Adam and Deacon were there, too, looking grim. That wasn’t good at all.

None of them looked happy. This was so not good.

“Michael, the man on the left with dark hair is my cousin, Detective Adam Kimble,” Dani said calmly, signing as she spoke. “The man on the right is my brother, Special Agent Deacon Novak. Gentlemen, this is Michael Rowland and his brother, Joshua.”

Adam stepped forward, his brows knit in a scowl. He started to speak, but before he could, Michael broke the silence.

“Coach Kimble?” he voiced thickly.

Adam opened his mouth and closed it again, looking even unhappier than he had before.

“You know each other?” Dani asked, surprised.

Michael nodded and went back to signing. “He coached my baseball team a few years ago. I joined up because he could sign. That doesn’t happen often.” He sucked in a breath, his spine stiffening, sudden panic filling his eyes. He took a step back, his wild gaze swinging to Adam. “You’re a cop. Why are you here?”

“That’s a very good question,” Diesel said calmly. He gripped Michael’s uninjured shoulder with a steady hand. “Please answer, Detective Kimble.”

Adam seemed to brace himself as he met Michael’s gaze squarely. It was a small gesture, but Dani noticed it because they’d grown up together, for much of their childhood sharing the same house. It was why Adam signed so well. Greg had been more like a little brother to him than a cousin. He still was.

“We saw Officer Cullen and Miss Shafer at your house, Michael,” Adam signed. “They were talking to your mother about her throwing the bowl at your head. We were there to talk to her about something else. Your stepfather’s remains were pulled from the river this morning.”

Dani gasped, her eyes on Michael.

Who didn’t look as surprised as he should have.

Oh no. Oh God.

Joshua, on the other hand, was frowning up at Diesel. “What’s ‘remains,’ Coach Diesel?”

Diesel swung the little boy up into his arms and held him against his hip. “It means they found your stepfather’s body,” he answered quietly. “It means your stepfather is dead.”

“What?” Joshua shook his head hard. “No. He went away. Mom said so. Like, on a trip. Not to heaven, like our real dad.”

“Maybe you can take the boy into one of the offices, Coach Diesel,” Adam said.

“No!” Both Michael and Joshua cried out at once. Michael clutched Joshua’s hand.

“I’m not leaving Michael,” Joshua added mutinously.

Diesel leaned his forehead against Joshua’s. “Then you need to listen, okay?”