parked her car across the street, in the lot of a small coffee shop, and waited. It felt like stalking, and a

a stiffness that spoke of deep aches and pains. He didn't head toward the construction

at a discreet distance. "What are you

een lawns and picket fences. It was a world away from his grim apartment

he could knock. Dori Duffy. His aunt. Genesis could just mak

e money? Your mother's m

lls Mitch Kowalski had thrown at him. The money he'd been

even more. "Is this it? Is this all? At this rate, that settl

ther, Barb Morrison, Cas

ay behind Dori. Dale Duffy, his uncle. He saw Cas and, without breaking stride, haw

you everywhere,

lent anger. These were his famil

ing. His voice was low, almos

d up? No. The doctor says she needs calm. Th

r mark. Genesis saw the flicker of pain in his eyes

jabbed a thick finger into Cas's shoulder. "Yo

, his silence more d

sistance, shoved him hard in the

ing himself just before he fell. He looked up, and for a second

open hand, the crack of it hitting Cas's

ke a gunshot to

oomed on his skin. He didn't make a sound. He just took it, hi

i grabbed his arm. "Not on the porc

get out of here. And don't come back

shut, the sound

long, long time, staring at the clo

r. And the very people entrusted with her care were the ones torturing her son.

ed. He didn't go ba

rted w

s shoulders slumped in defeat. He walked for miles, through manicured neighborhoods and past busy

every painful step he took, Genesis's res

-