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Kate patted his arone before we can blink I can’t believe Carson is six already”

“If we can just get past the colic” As

“Aher under her chin “We shouldcalled winter” A scraping sound diverted Lee’s attention

“Me too,” he said absently His ears strained for another odd noise The wind blew Clattering, winter-bare tree branches waved overhead

Head bowed against a sharp gust, Kate quickened her steps Lee grabbed her arm and pulled her to a halt

“What’s wrong?” She turned to hi her brow

“I don’t know” He scanned the dark street A dozen vehicles were strung out along the snow-edged curb The restaurant rode the edge of the co town The other businesses along this side street had closed hours ago A block ahead, the neighborhood turned residential The thin air sarlic, wood smoke, and snow

There was absolutely no reason for the unease brewing in his gut “So”

Kate lifted her head “The streetlight is out”

“I guess that’s it”

They started forward again Kate slipped, and Lee wrapped a steadying arm around her

A man stepped out from behind a truck and headed up the sidewalk in their direction Work boots, jeans, and a black leather jacket were normal attire Even the baseball cap that shadowed his face was ordinary But soe There was readiness in the set of his shoulders, unnatural purpose in the cadence of his stride, and though the y of his focus

He pushed Kate behind him and veered into the street They’d cross and continue on the opposite sidewalk Their car was barely twenty feet away Lee pulled out his keys, planning to get Kate locked into the vehicle and then deal with the man if necessary

But the man stepped into the street and cut off their path He raised his hand Lee’s attention locked on a seated by a silencer Pointed at Lee and Kate, the e as a manhole cover

“Wallet, keys, purse” Gloved fingers curled in a giesture

Lee dug his wallet and keys out of his pockets He reached back, took Kate’s handbag, and handed the iteun to tuck the purse under his ar robbed sucked, but it was the best possible outcome of this scenario

The gun calinted on h his skull with a searing blast of agony Then his brain disconnected from his body His knees buckled, and he did a slow-motion face-plant on the frozen blacktop Liquid dripped into his eyes, obscuring his vision But he felt nothing Absolutely nothing Not the pain fro into his eyes The patch of ice beneath his cheek should have been cold Kate’s screah he knew she stood just two feet behind him

The gun in Lee’s ears drowned out the words He strained to hear

“Stop screa and answer me,” the man said

But Kate couldn’t stop If anything, her shrieks grew louder, the pitch rising with hysteria, and then faltering with sobs Lee tried to lift his head to see as happening, but his muscles wouldn’t respond to his commands

His gaze fixed on a pair of tan work boots Blood speckled the toe He moved his eyes Kate dropped to her knees beside hina spilled out, to the roadside slush red No, Kate Run, hat he wanted to say, but nothing came out of his mouth Paralyzed, he was unable to react, unable to protect his wife