Page 19 of Dead O’Clock

“I’ll see you in the morning, Ten.” Cisco gave his shoulder a squeeze and walked out the door.

Ten took a seat on the steps and set his head into his hands. He felt like his entire life was falling down around him. In all the years Ten had worked with Ronan, he’d never see his husband hurt people on purpose. Yes, there were times when he’d interviewed people he’d thought were suspects who turned out to be uninvolved with the crime they were investigating, but he’d never intentionally arrested or helped put anyone in prison who was innocent.

It was possible that Dan Rogers, or whoever the fuck he was, knew Ronan and had someone he loved sent to prison. He knew friends and family got upset by prison sentences even if the time was earned and the person guilty, which of course opened up a huge suspect pool of ex-cons, family, friends, and lovers.

How the hell were they going to be able to comb through all of these people quickly? Everly. As much as Ten hated to admit it, his daughter might be the only thing standing between Ronan and a deranged killer.

The thought of that scared Tennyson to death.

9

Ronan

Ronan was exhausted. He’d only gotten random cat naps through the night, instantly waking up at the slightest sound. A car on the street. Aurora getting up to use the bathroom. Ezra babbling in his sleep.

Before they’d gone to bed, Ten had told him about Cisco’s suggestion to ask Everly for help. Usually she let him and Ten know if she had heard or seen anything that might be helpful to a case, but, so far as he knew, his daughter was unaware of the ‘Ding! Dong! You’re Dead!’ letters.

As Ronan read the morning edition of the Salem paper, Ten moved around the kitchen making breakfast for the kids. The plan for the morning was to feed the kids and send them over to Cope’s house to spend the day in the pool. Once they were gone, he was going to help Ten pack bug-out bags for everyone.

Ronan was about to make a third cup of coffee when his phone rang. “Hey, Fitz.”

“Jesus Christ, Ronan. What the hell is happening?” Fitz sounded scared. “I read the paper. Two dead law enforcement officers in two days. Are you and Jude okay?”

Fitzgibbon’s kindness was going to be Ronan’s undoing. “Yeah, we’re okay. It’s going to take a long time for me not to see Jones’s front door open and him fall, nearly lifeless, into my arms. Cisco’s worried, which makes my own panic worse, but everyone is safe, I promise. Ten and I are going to add dowels to the windows to keep them from being opened from the outside. We’re gonna pack bags for the kids. If I get one of the letters, we’ll go into protective custody. At least Ten and the kids will. I have a feeling I’ll be used as bait.”

“I was thinking the same thing. Jace and I are scheduled to come back tomorrow, but say the word and we’ll leave now. We can be back in Salem in three hours.”

“Don’t cancel your plans yet. The mail doesn’t come until lunchtime, that’s when I’ll find out if I’m next.” Ronan took a deep breath. His life had been under threat in the past more times than he could remember, but never before had he known someone was coming for him. Someone he supposedly knew, but couldn’t remember.

“Cisco is still torn about releasing information about the letters to the public. Since the targets are law enforcement and adjacent, he’s thinking of sending bulletins to other cities and to the courts. Of course the problem with that is people who’ll send those communications to the media or post them on social media, so it might be better if the info comes from Cisco.” Fitz sighed heavily.

“Did Ten send you the pictures of his client from yesterday?”

“He did. I also called Carson and got him to send me all the video from the time that client arrived until he left. The man looks familiar, but hell, he could be anyone. The guy at the coffee shop, someone who delivers takeout, a teller from the bank.”

“You’re right. I spent half the night trying to remember how I know him, but here’s the thing, he might not be involved in this at all. We’re assuming he is because of the timing of it all, but this guy might just be some whack-a-doodle who wanted to get a rise out of Ten.”

“True,” Fitz agreed. “How’s Aurora?”

“Still sleeping. Ten’s gonna get them up soon so we can get to work. She doesn’t know anything about what’s happening. I don’t think Everly does either, but I’m sure she will the second she reads me or Ten.”

“I agree. Everly’s sharp. Sometimes I think too sharp for her age, but if she can save you and anyone else on this fucker’s hit list, then…”

“Yeah.” Ronan heard the sounds of footsteps on the stairs. “The kids are up. I’ll call you back if I get a letter.”

“Call me with any information. I mean it, Ronan. I won’t be able to relax if I think you’re keeping something from me.”

“You got it, Cap.” Ronan ended the call just as the girls walked into the kitchen. They wore matching rainbow shirts from Provincetown and blue shorts. “Good morning, ladies!”

“We need to talk, Daddy,” Everly said.

“What, no good morning, we need to talk, Daddy?” Ronan asked, pasting on a fake smile.

“Good morning, we need to talk, Daddy.” Everly took the seat beside Ronan. Aurora took the one on the other side.

Ronan felt surrounded by the eight-year-olds. “Maybe Aurora shouldn’t be here for this.”

“I’m not moving, Uncle Ronan. You and Everly need me.” Aurora patted Ronan’s shoulder.