Making a mental note of their names, he got back into his SUV before the cop reached him, grateful that he’d at least thought to change his license plates before he’d driven over here. He’d change them back once he got back to the city.

He glanced in the rearview mirror as he did a quick three-point turn in the gravel, skidding off the road a little before regaining control. The cop wasn’t following him. He blew out a relieved breath. Good.

“That was stupid,” he said aloud. And it was. Rushing over here had been idiotic. But he’d come away with a few pieces of information.

First, he hadn’t had to shoot his way out of there, so they didn’t suspect him. Or at least the CSU team didn’t suspect him.

Second, Akers was bribable. He hadn’t appreciated being dressed down by Agent Taylor. Cade would find him and get the name of the damn fisherman.

So although coming here had been stupid as hell, it might have been worth it.

Chapter Five

Cincinnati, Ohio
Saturday, March 16, 4:20 p.m.

Dani willed her hands to be steady as she checked Michael’s stitches to make sure they were intact after he’d raked his fingers through his hair. On the outside, she was confident and calm, just as a good doctor needed to be. Inside she was still trembling.

Michael’s sobs had rattled her, but it was the blood on the exam table that had left her shaken. She’d seen it as soon as she’d taken the boy into her arms as he’d cried his poor heart out. She’d felt helpless and angry at his mother and whoever else had hurt him. And then she’d seen the blood spreading on the white paper and she’d wanted to kill his stepfather.

She’d wanted to strangle the bastard with her bare hands.

She swallowed hard, focusing on his stitches, on her own breathing. In and out. Stay calm. Stay steady. But it was difficult. He’d hurt Michael. He’d put that hunted look in the boy’s eyes. And if Michael had killed the man while defending himself, she’d fight for him like a mother bear protecting her cub.

And now she had to ask him about it. In front of a nurse, an interpreter, and a cop. Both her nurse and the interpreter were bound to confidentiality, but Kendra would have to report it. Michael had been through enough hell already, and now she’d have to ask him about it in front of witnesses.