Sergeant Warren caught up with him in the school entryway Jason wasn’t surprised. He was tired and ragged, so of course she was going to press her advantage.

“Leaving so soon?” she called behind him.

“I need to get my daughter.”

“You finally found someone worthy of babysitting?”

He turned, keeping his face composed, refusing to rise to the bait. “She is with the home ec class. I understand they’re baking cookies.”

“She misses her mother, doesn’t she?”

He didn’t say anything.

“Gotta be tough. Being only four years old, and the last one who saw her mother alive.”

He didn’t say anything.

D.D. crossed her arms, moved closer to him now. She had an aggressive walk, with her long, denim-clad legs. An alpha, sizing up game. “How’s your cat?”

“Very cat-like.”

“Mr. Smith’s reappearance must’ve made your daughter very happy.”

“Actually, she cried for her mother.”

“And there goes your one line of defense—that a warm, loving father such as yourself would never harm his child’s pet.”

Jason didn’t say anything.

D.D. moved two steps closer, jerking her head back toward the principal’s office. “So what do you think of your competition? He might be young, but apparently Ethan Hastings spends more time with your wife than you do.”

“You should talk to Mrs. Lizbet,” Jason said.

“Oh yeah? She knows about Sandy and Ethan’s relationship?”

“The true nature, yes.”

“And what is that, Jason?”

“Student crushes are an occupational hazard. Ask any teacher.”

“Sounds like more than a crush to me.”

“Maybe for Ethan Hastings it is.”

“You find out, Jason? Get jealous? Feel a need to put Sandy in her place?”

“I can honestly say I am not the jealous type.”

D.D. arched a brow, openly skeptical. “Everyone’s the jealous type. Even thirteen-year-old Ethan Hastings, to judge by the lump on your head.”

“He had a textbook,” Jason said automatically. “He caught me from behind.”

D.D. smiled at him now, the very picture of friendliness. “Come on, Jason. This has gone on long enough. Tell us what happened Wednesday night. Couples fight, we all understand that. Especially a young couple, juggling work, parenthood. And of course Sandy, being young, beautiful, and very alone most nights … So you got mad. Maybe said some things you shouldn’t have said. Maybe did some things you shouldn’t have done. Sooner you tell us, sooner we can put an end to all this. Get some closure for you and your child. Imagine how scared Ree must be feeling right now. Imagine what it must be like, waking up each morning with her mother’s last words running through her head….”

He didn’t say anything.