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cost them everything. His ability to face his job. Their marriage. Years of their lives.
    Beth nodded, seeming to understand. “She’s been asking for you, Ty. She was wondering where you were.” He detected the edge in her voice.
    â€œI know, Beth, I know. I had to go. Someone died.”
    â€œDid you see his family?” Jessie asked groggily.
    â€œYes, I did see them, sweetie. I had to.” He stroked his daughter’s hair. “He had a daughter, not much older than you. And a son. They took it pretty hard…”
    â€œGod.” Jessie closed her eyes and shook her head. “It was so awful, Daddy.”
    Beth said, “ Ty…”
    â€œI know, baby, I know.” He squeezed her again. “But it’s gonna be okay now. I promise…”
    â€œTy. ” Beth placed her hand on his arm. “Can I talk to you outside…?”
    â€œSure. I’ll be back in a minute, hon…”
    They stepped down the hall. Beth’s face had lines of worry in it. She asked him again, “You alright?”
    â€œI suppose.” He let out a long breath, finally shaking his head. “No. When I saw her lying there, all that blood, and at first she wasn’t moving…”
    She nodded. “I know. I guess that’s what I want to talk to you about.”
    Hauck leaned against the hospital wall. “What?”
    â€œMaybe it’s not such a good idea if she comes up here again so soon. I know you were expecting Thanksgiving—”
    â€œBeth…”
    â€œShe saw someone killed, Ty. She’s seen that before. She came within an inch of it being her.”
    â€œThis could have happened anywhere, Beth. This wasn’t because of me.”
    â€œNo, it couldn’t have happened anywhere, Ty…” Her eyes shone, both sympathetic and judging. “It just couldn’t.”
    Hauck pressed his back into the ER ward’s wall. He lifted his cap and ran a hand through his short, sweaty hair. “I want her to be with Karen and her family, Beth. I need a family. This doesn’t have anything to do with that.”
    Beth looked up at him. “She doesn’t want to, Ty. She doesn’t want to hurt you, but…”
    A doctor and a nurse went by. Jessie was the one thing in his life he could cling to.
    Beth placed her hand on his arm. “You’re a good dad, Ty. You really are. I know that I’ve made you feel otherwise at times…But please, hear what I’m saying. Just for a while…”
    Hauck swallowed back a final rebuttal and blew the air out of his cheeks. He nodded.
    â€œThank you. The doctors have given the okay. We’re goingto be heading back to Brooklyn soon. I’m going to go check her out.”
    â€œRight.”
    The intensity of what had happened started to rise in him again. The sting in the back of his eyes, of seeing Jessie there like that…The feeling it was happening all over again and that he could do nothing about it.
    â€œListen, Beth…”
    â€œTy, maybe you ought to call someone.” She squeezed his arm. “Angela…Or Warren?”
    His sister lived outside of Boston. She had two young kids, worked full-time, and had a husband she was divorcing. His brother, Warren—two years older—had a law office up near New Haven and was tight with a lot of the politicos up there. He was doing pretty well. They hadn’t been so close since high school. Basically, they just checked in with each other once or twice a year. This didn’t seem to fit the occasion.
    Hauck nodded. “I’ll just go in and say good-bye.”

CHAPTER TWELVE
    W hen Hauck got back to the station, Sunil and Munoz were sitting in interview room one.
    â€œI think Sunil’s got something to tell you, Lieutenant.”
    The manager of the Exxon station nodded sheepishly as Hauck stepped in. “Lieutenant…” He drew in a fitful breath, his dark, round