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something bad could happen to her? That would remove her from the equation when it came to the custody of her daughter.
    Cassidy drew in a breath and faced her boss. It was a gamble. But it was the only way she could see to keep Amanda without putting her daughter in the position to choose.
    A twelve-year-old should not have to choose between her mother and her brothers. It wasn’t fair to ask a child to make such a choice. But Amanda would have to, if it came down to that.
    Cassidy squared her shoulders as if she were still at attention in lineup. Then she met the analytical gaze of Donald Tully.
    â€œIf I do this, will you put in that recommendation for my transfer to DC?” she asked.
    Tully’s mouth went tight, but the glimmer in his eyes showed he knew she had won. “You know we do some good work here, too.”
    â€œAnswer the question.”
    â€œYes, damn it. I will.”
    â€œAll right. I’ll do it.”
    * * *
    H IS BROTHER ANSWERED on the first ring.
    â€œI got her!” he said, his voice full of jubilation.
    â€œYou sure?” asked his brother, Johnny.
    â€œGray Volvo station wagon, right?”
    â€œThat’s what I said.”
    Johnny had tailed her the day she’d shown up in court to testify on a big case. She’d lost the tail easily but now they knew the make and model of her personal vehicle.
    â€œShe heading to the hospital?” Johnny asked.
    â€œDon’t know,” he said.
    â€œDamned, I hit her dead center. Should have knocked her down, at least. Then I would have had another shot,” said Johnny.
    â€œWe need to get that tungsten ammo.”
    â€œWe don’t. Common caliber will get the job done.”
    â€œIf it’s a head shot.”
    â€œIt was a head shot,” said Johnny. “She moved. Jumped on him.”
    â€œWhat about a bigger caliber or a hollow point?”
    â€œWe buy that and we might as well wave a red flag in front of the Feds’ eyes. No reason to buy that ammo but one.”
    â€œNo guts, no glory,” he said, using Johnny’s favorite expression.
    â€œHey, I’m all about hitting the target. Just don’t want a spot next to Brett’s.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œIn the cemetery, stupid,” said Johnny.
    â€œRight,” he said. Johnny was always the smart one. “She’s heading for the interstate.”
    â€œHeading home, maybe. That’d be a break. Get her address if you can,” said Johnny.
    â€œSure. Sure.”
    â€œHey, kid? Finding her car? Ya done good.”
    He basked in the praise. Truth was, he didn’t mind a cell next to Johnny’s. Just so long as he took care of business first.

Chapter Four
    Seemed you only needed to get shot to get the rest of the day off. Cassidy’s boss sent her to the hospital. But she didn’t go. Instead, she went home to her daughter. The drive from Tucson to Phoenix took three hours, but it didn’t matter. She made it in time for supper.
    She arrived with pizza and found Diane waiting with the table set. Amanda bounded off the couch and accepted a kiss and then the boxes, which she carried to the kitchen dinette.
    Gerard’s mother retrieved the milk from the refrigerator for Amanda and then took her seat. Diane had many good qualities. Cooking was not one of them. But she was the only other family Amanda had. Cassidy gritted her teeth at the lie. The only family that Cassidy wanted her to have. Was that selfish?
    â€œFinally,” said Diane. “I’m starving.”
    Diane was sixty-three, black and didn’t look a day over fifty. She had taken an early retirement from UPS five years ago when her only son had been killed in action. Her skin was a lighter brown than her son’s had been and she chose to straighten her hair, instead of leaving it natural, as Gerard had.
    When Cassidy had transferred from California to Arizona, Diane had joined them. Her decision