Chapter 60

Families. Blood was all that held them together. Blood.

They’d had a fight just before the man came outside. He could hear it from the yard. The girls had been sent to a friend’s, and as soon as they were alone the shouting started.

The man had stormed out and was headed for his car. It didn’t take much to trip him up and get a few slices in. He fought hard, though. There was a lot of blood before it was over.

The yard was private, and the alley was empty. He had planned this well. Mechanic coveralls always made a good cover-up, and he could get them on in seconds. A careful wipe of the face and a baseball cap and he was in his van driving slowly and looking perfectly respectable.

He left his job a few weeks later. The money didn’t matter, of course. Another career change, another name, another town. He’d had experience now with lots of work. Neighborhood pizza parlor, country club. Each with opportunity to observe family dynamics.

But this resort was much easier. Now his families came to him.