“William Chester is a powerful, resourceful, vindictive man,” Lou said. “Now his son is dead and his whole operation is about to be exposed. He’s going to do anything he can to get back at me. Anything. Until we get the police involved and he gets put away, we’re all in danger. Believe it or not, today is the second time his people have tried to kill me. I need you to get away and find someplace safe until I can straighten all this out.”

Renee took a seat next to him on the sofa that was the only piece of furniture he recognized from their years together.

“This isn’t the first time they’ve tried to kill you?” she asked. “Why haven’t you told me?”

Lou filled her in on the events following John Meacham’s murderous spree.

Her eyes widened at his description of the bellicosus termites. “You actually saw a man get eaten alive?”

“Two of them, as a matter of fact. After that, two more guys tried to kill me. If you want proof, the Mercedes I was driving is parked outside absolutely riddled, with the front and rear windshields both blown out.”

Lou lifted the bath towel Renee had laid across his lap, exposing the gash on his thigh from Stone’s bullet. She rose from the sofa, went to the bottom of the stairs, and called up to Emily.

“What is it?” Emily yelled back without materializing.

“Pack a suitcase, sweetie. We’re going to spend a few days with Nana.”

“What?” The teen bounded down the stairs as if teleported. “What are you talking about going to Nana’s? For how long? I have plans this weekend.”

“Cancel them and pack,” Renee said more sternly. “No arguments.”

Emily’s expression immediately became one of deep concern. “We’re gonna be okay, right?” she asked.

Lou hugged her again. “Thanks for not putting up a fuss, kiddo. We’re going to be fine. I just need time to straighten some things out.”

After exchanging anxious looks with each parent, Emily whirled and raced back up the stairs.

As soon as they heard her bedroom door slam, Renee asked softly, “Why do you think we’re in danger?”

“Gilbert Stone,” Lou said, clenching his battered hands. “He did a lot of research on me. My arrest, our divorce, my reinstatement by the medical board. I have no reason to believe all that information hasn’t found its way to Chester.”

“It’s not your fault,” Renee said. “This is the information age, and Stone is—was—the police, and Chester has boatloads of money. If they want us, they’ll find us eventually.”

“Eventually isn’t now. You can’t go to Nana’s, though.”

“Why not?”

“For all the reasons you just said. If they can get to you, they can get to your mother. What about Steve?”

“What about him?”