As the kid ate, Hawk walked onto the deck to check the lights in the other three houses. It was Saturday, so Bull and Frankie were probably sleeping in. Same with Caz and JJ. Gabe had planned to go into the station early—and there was a light in his house. Audrey might be up.

In case Kit woke up, Hawk wrote out a note and taped it to his sliding glass door. “Aric’s at Audrey’s.”

Finished, he told Aric, “Let’s go see Audrey.”

Never unwilling to visit—as long as Hawk went along—Aric slid off his booster chair. Onto bare feet. Hell.

Hawk made the “want to ride” gesture, and Aric nodded. After setting the kid on his shoulders, Hawk jogged to Gabe’s house, the first in the line, then tapped on the sliding glass door.

In the kitchen, Audrey waved for him to come in.

“Good morning, you two. What’s up?” She looked confused for a minute then laughed. “Let me guess. You’re dying to go running and want me to watch Aric?”

“Yeah. If it’s okay?”

“I like company.” She smiled at Aric and probably noticed the way the kid’s hands tightened in Hawk’s hair.

Maybe a run wasn’t a good idea. Or he could put the kid on his back and—

Audrey tilted her head. “How about we climb up to the…the…”

“Sniper’s nest?” Hawk guessed.

“Yes, that, and we’ll be able to watch you as you run. Okay, Aric?”

The grip on Hawk’s hair relaxed. “’Kay.”

Setting Aric down, Hawk pointed to the hallway. “Mind if I leave through there?”

“Go ahead.” She took Aric’s hand and led him toward the stairs. “You’re going to like this. You can see everything.”

After Hawk went out the garage’s side door, he took a minute to stretch out. He wasn’t a young pup any longer to be able to bust out running. Injuries and age had taught him the benefits of warming up.

He started off at a slow jog down the dirt and gravel road toward Swan Avenue.

After passing the strip he used for his plane in the off seasons when he couldn’t land on the snow or the water, he stopped and turned to look back at Gabe’s house.

No way to spot motion up in the tiny attic space. That’d been part of the design. The logs and shingles concealed sliding hatches at various locations and heights. Each house had a sniper’s nest that provided an excellent field of fire.

Mako had insisted.

Assuming Audrey and Aric were watching, Hawk held up his hand in a wave, then resumed his run, picking up the pace as he went.