the new guys started walking toward Broker, Kit, and Nina.
Nygard and Barlow blocked their path.
“Mom, Dad…” Kit’s voice suddenly shuddered with a release of tension. As they drew closer, Kit’s voice trembled. “I’m scared…”
“It’s okay, it’s okay,” they said in unison as the alarm in her voice started to burst the tight stitches of control in their own faces.
“I’m worried about Ditech, she’s probably hungry being out in the cold in this strange place,” Kit said, pressing her face into the bundle of black fur in the hollow of her neck.
“She’ll be fine, just don’t squeeze her too hard,” Broker said.
“Got to hold her tight, so she don’t get away.”
As Kit said that, Broker and Nina’s eyes met in the firelight. Tearing up, blinking, he lifted his eyes to the tall column of smoke towering up into the dark sky. That’s when the adrenaline flamed out, leaving a terrible empty space in his chest. Griffin…
Broker raised his free arm, reaching out. “I…” The words faltered. His knees buckled.
“It’s okay. I hear you,” Nina replied softly, slipping under his arm; leaning in, taking some of the weight. A slender trickle of tears cut through the soot and blood on her cheeks.
Barlow jogged over, her hands gloved with smeared white latex, dark face shiny in the firelight. Her teeth flashed a smile that ended in a tense grimace. “They found some old pictures in the Nissan with you in them. The BCA guy thinks they might mean something,” she said to Broker.
Broker just nodded.
Barlow looked around, planted her hands on the heavy leather service belt strapped around her hips, and shook her head briefly. Her eyes came back to them. “You need anything, anything at all, I’m here.”
“Keep them off us a few more minutes, okay?” Broker said, hugging his wife and daughter. “We need a little more time alone together.”
