Duh. Having a stranger follow you into your house shoulda been your first clue, Einstein.

Setting the man on his feet, Cade gripped his head and twisted, satisfied at the cracking sound. He then gave Akers a little shove, watching as he tumbled down the stairs, landing in a heap. Gingerly, he walked down himself, careful to touch nothing until he got to Akers’s body. He wouldn’t leave prints, but he might leave a mark in the dust that coated the railing and the walls. Pulling his trusty stethoscope from his coat pocket, he listened to be sure Akers’s heart beat no more. It did not.

He knew it would look like an accident. After all, he’d watched his father kill his mother in the exact same way.

Now to George Garrett’s house. And then I can sleep.

Chapter Seven

Cincinnati, Ohio
Saturday, March 16, 8:30 p.m.

Dr. Dani’s house looked nice, Michael thought as he got out of Coach Diesel’s truck. Opening the back passenger door, he unbuckled the safety belt on Joshua’s booster seat and started to scoop him into his arms, because Joshua had fallen asleep within minutes of leaving the newspaper office.

His little brother had chattered nonstop as they’d walked to Coach’s truck, telling Michael about the coloring and the treats and the toys and his trip into the basement to see the old-fashioned printing press. Coach Diesel’s friends had taken good care of him, the one named Marcus even buying the booster seat for Joshua because he was too young to sit in a car without one.

Michael was more than grateful. Joshua would never need to know any of what Michael had shared with the lawyer, then the cops. At least the cops were pleased with the sketch the police artist had done based on his description.

They’d seemed to believe him. It was a weight off his shoulders. But the bald man was still out there, still a threat to both Michael and Joshua. More so now if he found out that Michael had seen him so clearly.

A light tap on his good shoulder had him straightening his spine in a rush. His gaze jerked up, then higher still because Coach Diesel stood next to him, hands moving. He’d driven them from the police station to the Ledger office and then here, since Dr. Dani had left her own car at the clinic.

“Let me get Joshua,” Coach signed. “You go inside with Dr. Dani.” He looked up and down the street with narrowed eyes and Michael realized he was looking for someone.

The bald man? Reporters? Either way, Michael wasn’t going to argue. He pulled his hoodie up and hurried to Dr. Dani’s front steps. She’d opened the door ahead of him, but before letting him in, she abruptly turned to face him.

“Do you like dogs?” she asked. “Joshua, too?”

Michael nodded. “Yeah. Why?”