Runs Deeper Read online

  “Is it my birthday yet?”

  Julie extricated herself from Steve with a smile. “You still have to sleep a few more hours.”

  “Oh.” Bess twirled her foot back and forth on the carpet, her little toes peeking out from the pink pajama pants with red hearts.

  Julie and Steve exchanged a look before Steve walked over to Bess. He knelt down in front of her. “You want to sleep with us?”

  “Yes!” Bess launched herself at Steve, wrapping her arms around his neck.

  Steve stood with her cradled to his chest, looking back at Julie.

  She smiled. “You two go on. I’ll be up in a few minutes.”

  Bess kept her arms wrapped tightly around him with a little sigh. This feeling would never get old. “All right, let’s go, almost-birthday girl.”

  Bess nestled into his arms, her eyes already closing. “I love you, Daddy.”

  “Not as much as I love you.”

  “Nuh-uh.”

  “Yeah-huh.”

  Bess giggled, snuggling in closer. She smelled like cinnamon and everything innocent in this world. Julie was right. This was what was important. Jack was his past. Bess, Julie, and their little family was his future.

  Goodbye, Jack.

  Chapter Four

  A light wind ruffled Declan’s hair as he stepped out of his Tesla on Morningdale Drive. He inhaled deeply. He could swear he could smell the ocean on the air even though Dover was miles and miles from the coast. There was something about Dover that screamed sleepy little seaside town, even though it was smack dab in the middle of Maine.

  Maybe it was the quaint Main Street with the hardware store, grocery, coffee shop, and half a dozen other small businesses, all in matching signage in white against brick buildings. Or maybe it was the houses, the preponderance of which had wide, deep porches.

  It felt like home.

  Declan could see what drew Steve and Julie here. It was the same thing that was pulling at Declan. He had a few months before he officially retired, but he’d built up so many sick days that yesterday had been his last official day.

  Now he was looking to the future. And Dover played a part in that.

  Across the street, two kids on bikes raced past, laughing. It was a nice, normal suburban street. Yet a chill slid over his skin. Because Declan knew that sometimes the most innocent of facades could hide an incredible evil.

  He shook his head, clearing it of those dark thoughts. The trip to Auburn yesterday had shook him. Even seven years later, Jack Kane still left a scar on him.

  He didn’t think that scar would ever heal. He’d had nightmares for months after the events in Millners Kill. He’d dream about Mel, Bess, and shooting Steve. If his bullet had hit a few inches over … It was a miracle Steve was still talking to him.

  His chest felt heavy, the familiar ache of anxiety and guilt building. Steve didn’t blame Declan, and Declan knew he shouldn’t blame himself. Jack had moved them around like the skilled puppet master he was.

  He shook his head. No, not today. He shut down that line of thinking. Today was going to be a good day, and he was not going to let Jack ruin it.

  He opened the back door of the SUV and pulled out the birthday present wrapped in bright-pink paper with yellow ribbons cascading over the side. Clutching the gift, he locked the car before heading across the street to the white house with the black shutters and the deep porch. Brightly colored balloons waved wildly from the mailbox. The sound of children’s laughter drifted from the backyard.

  Declan skipped the porch and headed around the side of the house. He peeked his head over the tall gate. Two dozen five-year-olds were running around playing some game he did not recognize.

  Julie stood watching them with a smile on her face. She caught sight of Declan, and her smile grew even wider. She hurried over to him. “Declan!”

  As he stepped in through the gate, Julie caught him in a hug. “I’m so glad you came.”

  “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Where’s the birthday girl?”

  Julie opened her mouth, but before she could answer, a squeal cut through the yard. “Uncle Declan!”

  A little girl with dark-brown hair in two braids and blue eyes wearing a bright-red sundress sprinted over. She bowled into Declan, wrapping her arms around his thighs.

  Declan leaned down with a laugh. “Bessie Baby!”

  She smiled up at him, and his heart lifted. His work might take him to the bottom of the human condition, but Bess’s smile reminded him of all the goodness that still existed.

  She peered behind him. “Where’s Uncle Russ?”

  “Right here.” Russ stepped through the gate, a giant teddy bear in his arms. He and Russ had split tasks. Declan had run to the store to grab wrapping paper. They’d just signed the papers on a house two doors down from Julie and Steve this morning, and they didn’t have anything in the house yet except their overnight bags.

  Declan winced, kissing him on the cheek. “Sorry, I thought you were already here.”

  “You’re forgiven.” Russ smiled before turning to Bess. “Birthday girl!”

  Bess squealed again. “Uncle Russ!” She ran to him, adding a little more joy to Declan’s heart, seeing Bess just as happy to see Russ as the giant bear.

  “You guys spoil her.” Julie shook her head, but her smile took any sting from the words.

  “As her uncles, we have earned the right,” Russ said before Bess grabbed him and the bear and dragged both of them over to her friends.

  Julia slipped her arm through Declan’s, her eyes clouding for a moment. “Yes, you have.”

  Declan knew she was thinking about what should have been. Bess’s Aunt Simone would never meet her niece because of Jack Kane. And all of them would make sure Uncle Jack never met her either. Declan patted her arm, keeping his voice light. “Hey, none of that.”

  Julie shook her head, taking a breath. “Sorry. It’s just tough this time of year.”

  “I know.” And he did. It was seven years ago this week that Jack had been revealed as Simone’s killer. Not to mention the killer of nearly two dozen more throughout the United States.

  Declan smiled at Bess. “But now, this time of year we have something better to focus on.”

  “Yes, we do.”

  Russ rejoined them, hugging Julie. “Sorry we’re late.”

  “You’re just on time.”

  A squeal went up around the back of the yard, and then all the kids were running for the porch, talking and pointing excitedly.

  “He’s here!” Bess yelled, grabbing Russ’s hand again and pulling him toward the kids.

  Declan looked at Julie, who just raised her eyebrows. “You’re just going to have to wait and see.”

  A person in a giant red bulbous dog costume came into view on the back porch. His mouth hung open, a tongue lapping out the side.

  Declan frowned. “Is that Clifford the Dog?” Bess was obsessed with the old book series. They’d been read to her so much that by age three, she could recite them from memory.

  “Yup,” Julie said, trying not to laugh.

  Declan studied the dog costume. “Who’s—”

  “Hey, hey, where’s the birthday girl?” Clifford said.

  “Here! I’m here!” Bess scrambled up the stairs.

  Declan’s mouth fell open as Clifford asked Bess about her birthday wishes. Declan turned slowly to Julie. “Is that …”

  “Yup. That’s Steve.”

  Declan smiled broadly, starting to laugh, feeling the heaviness lift. Life may be difficult, but right now, it was good. He moved closer to watch his best friend, in a giant red dog costume and oversized dog mitts, attempt to make balloon animals.

  Chapter Five

  The sound of children’s laughter drifted over the fence as Death stepped off the sidewalk, running his hand along Declan’s Tesla. The gang’s all here.

  Balloons in the color of pink, yellow, and red were attached to the green mailbox. They blew wildly in the wind.
Every once in a while, a stronger gust of wind would come along, creating a snapping sound from the balloons as they straightened.

  It sounded like a whip.

  He smiled as he imagined using a whip on the people in the backyard, adult and child alike. But that was a daydream. He would let them have their little fun. All tucked in the little cocoon of safety.

  Enjoy your time together. It won’t last. Just a few more pieces to put into place, and then I’ll show you what an illusion that safety is.

  Making sure there was no one around, he crossed the street, sliding the knife from his pocket. He reached the balloons and stabbed each one. Retracting the blade, he tucked it back into his pocket before sliding both his hands into his pockets and walking down the street, a smile on his face.

  Chapter Six

  Three hours later, Steve and Declan sat on the porch drinking a beer while watching Bess and a few friends play with the giant bear. The party had ended an hour ago, but the three kids left lived just down the street. Steve had offered to keep them a little longer so their parents could go out to dinner alone.

  Julie and Russ were sitting in the corner of the yard, each with a large slice of cake in front of them. Every once in a while, one of them would double over in laughter. Steve smiled as Julie wiped the tears from her eyes, a giant smile on her face.

  “That’s good to see,” Declan said, quietly watching the two of them.

  “Yes, it is.” Steve shot a glance at his oldest friend. “So, when are you planning on making an honest man out of him?”

  Declan spit out part of his beer, his eyes going wide. “What?”

  “Well, you two did just buy a home together. It seems like the logical next step.”

  “I just, I mean …” Declan spluttered. “Did Julie say something?”

  “She might have said a little something about some thing.”

  Declan shook his head. “I mean, I know it’s legal now, but we’ve both been in law enforcement for years. Russ still is. And they’re not the most open-minded of people.”

  “Russ is only going to be in law enforcement for another few months. Then it’s just you two in Maine, and not to sound like a bumper sticker, but I think you need to be you.”

  “This coming from a guy who changed his name?” Declan winced as soon as the words left his mouth. “Sorry, that came out wrong.”

  Steve shook his head. “It’s okay. Besides, I’m not Steve Kane. Steve Kane in people’s minds is, at best, genetically related to a serial killer. At worst, he’s a murderer himself who got away with it. Either way, he’s not me.” He spread his arms wide. “Now, Steve Davidson, he’s married, he’s a dad, he’s happy. That’s me. I needed to let go of my past so I could be me. Maybe you need to let go of who the world thinks you are so you can be you too.”

  Declan sighed. “What if he says no?”

  Steve laughed. “If you think there’s a chance of that, then I have greatly overestimated your investigative skills all these years. Russ is crazy about you. Just like you are him. His answer is not the problem.”

  “Maybe.”

  Steve wanted to push more, but he knew this was a decision Declan had to come to on his own. It was his career, his public identity, he was changing. It was not an easy step. He clapped Declan on the shoulder. “Look, Jack’s in supermax, he’s gone. And we’re now free. We all need to let that go and start over.”

  “Maybe I need to change my name.”

  “No, for me it’s different. The world decided who Steve Kane was when I was fifteen years old. And they were wrong. To be me, to really be me, I needed to be Steve Davidson without the shadows of Steve and Jack Kane.”

  “He still writing you?”

  Steve winced. He made sure he picked up the mail every day to make sure Julie never saw the letters from Jack. They’d tried to make sure the prison kept him from sending them, but Jack just sent them through his followers. It was like a giant game of whack-a-mole trying to keep the letters away. “Not as much. Maybe once every two months.”

  “Does he still want you to visit?”

  “Yup.” Jack had been asking him to visit ever since Auburn. His letters dripped remorse … and lies. Jack would never feel sorry for what he’d done. He just wanted to get Steve under his thumb again. But Steve would never let that happen. And now with him at a supermax, the letters and visit requests were hopefully done.

  “I take it you have no plans on going?”

  “Of course not. You didn’t think I would, did you?”

  “No. I just want to make sure you haven’t changed your mind.”

  “No. Jack … He’s a nightmare I don’t want to visit. He’s locked away, and that’s where he belongs. That’s better than he deserves. He killed so many people—Grandma, Mel, Simone, Dee, and all those other people before Millners Kill. No. There’s not much I can do to him, but I can at least keep him from being a part of my life. I can deny him that much. It won’t hurt him, but in a weird way, it makes me feel better, like it’s a small piece of his control I’ve wrestled away from him.”

  A shadow fell over them. Steve looked up to see Julie and Russ staring down at them.

  “You two are looking entirely too serious,” Russ said.

  Julie stood with her hands on her hips. “And the birthday girl has demanded your participation.”

  Declan stood. “For what?”

  At the same time, Steve groaned. “Please tell me she doesn’t want to play Fortnite dances.”

  “Oh, she totally wants to play Fortnite dances,” Julie replied.

  Declan started to sit back down. “Well, I guess I’ll just—”

  Steve tugged Declan back to his feet. “Oh, no, Uncle Declan. If I have to play, you have to play. After all, you’re the one who introduced my young innocent child to the most addictive video game ever created.”

  Declan squirmed. “I was curious. I kept hearing about it. But are you sure we shouldn’t maybe talk more about the looming specter of Jack?”

  Steve laughed. “Low blow and nice try. He’s gone, and we are very much here. Now let’s go look like idiots for the world’s most adorable five-year-old.”

  Chapter Seven

  Two Months Later

  Albany, New York

  “Last call,” Mitch Galen, owner and proprietor of the Halfway Saloon, called out. The half dozen patrons barely stirred. Although with the haze of cigarette smoke and dim lighting, it would be difficult to see if they did. Keith Hodgkins’s only response was to swirl his scotch with a pink stirrer.

  Mitch made his way down the long bar, stopping in front of him. “One for the road?”

  Keith grabbed the glass and swallowed down the liquid. He barely even tasted it. “Yeah, sure.”

  Without a word, Mitch filled his glass and headed to the other end of the bar. Keith stared at the amber liquid, looking for something. He’d been looking for it for years and still had yet to see a sign of it.

  The stool next to him jostled as a man bumped into it. The woman with him giggled. The man reared back, balancing unsteadily. He was about forty, with lines around his eyes and a dark stained T-shirt.

  “Sorry about that.” The man blinked a few times, staring at Keith’s face.

  “No problem.” Keith shifted away from them.

  The man reached out a hand, missing Keith’s shoulder and smacking into Keith’s arm. Scotch spilled over the edge of Keith’s glass, and he let out a low hiss.

  “Hey, don’t I know you?”

  “No.” Keith grabbed the napkin from under the glass and wiped his hand.

  The man came around the other side. “I do. I do. I never forget a face.” He snapped his fingers. “Got it. You’re that sheriff from that serial killer case. Kane, right?”

  Keith’s grip on his glass tightened, as he took a sip. In his mind, he reared back and slammed the glass into the side of the man’s head before stomping on his stomach.

  “What are you doing all the way out here? Taking a bre
ak?” The man leaned against the bar.

  “Honey, why don’t we leave the man alone?” The woman placed an arm on the man’s shoulder, giving Keith an embarrassed grimace.

  The man snapped upright, nearly tumbling off the bar. “Oh, wait, you got fired. You set up that kid, the killer’s brother.”

  Anger, hot and fierce, ripped through Keith. “I didn’t set him up. He was guilty. They were both guilty.”

  The man laughed. “Sure, whatever.”

  “Honey.” The woman tugged on the man’s sleeve. “Let’s go.”

  The man let himself be pulled away. “Sure. Let’s go.”

  Keith took a longer drink, picturing Steve Kane. That bastard. He’d fooled everyone into thinking he’d been the patsy. But Keith knew the truth. That man was just as evil as his brother. He had everybody fooled.

  Everyone but Keith.

  Keith stood, pulled two twenties from his wallet, and tossed them on the bar. He stumbled as he took his first step but righted himself quickly. He nodded at Mitch, who nodded back before turning his attention back to his phone. Keith wasn’t sure if Mitch even knew his name. He’d been coming here five nights a week for the last two years, but they never talked beyond Keith ordering a drink and Mitch delivering it.

  Keith pushed open the heavy bar door, stumbling once again as he stepped onto the sidewalk. He headed down the street, struggling to zip his jacket as he walked. It must have dropped twenty degrees since he’d arrived at the bar.

  He struggled with the zipper for another few feet before giving up. Damn thing must be broken. He ducked his head against the wind, clutching his jacket closed.

  It wasn’t just the cold that had him staring at his feet as he shuffled along the empty sidewalk. It was a habit that he’d developed after the notoriety of the Kane Killer had reached a fevered pitch. From that point on, most people seemed to know who Keith was. The Kane Killer had been major news for months. People had been fascinated by the entire situation: one brother incarcerated for the crimes of the other. Meanwhile, the free brother continued his killing spree, and all of it happened under the eye of a hapless small-town sheriff.