HOURS EARLIER. . .

     Anna had taken Ronnie to the park as his pediatrician from the hospital had instructed. She watched him play with a couple of kids from the neighborhood while reading a book. She got engrossed in a chapter that she decided to let the kids play all day.

     While she was oblivious to the surrounding, a man in a luxury suit strolled to the bench she sat on and cleared his throat.

     “Anna Hunt,” he said, and she lifted her head from the book. She tucked strands of hair blocking her view to see who had just mentioned her name.

     “Excuse me. Have we met before?”

     The man smiled. “I’m afraid no. You don’t know me, but I do know you. My name’s James Clinton, and I believe we need to talk.”

     He extended his hand and she shook it, looking puzzled. Withdrawing, she said, “Have a seat.”

     Clinton joined her on the bench and admired the scene of the kids playing in the vast park. He pointed to Ronnie. “Your son?”

     Anna nodded, grinned, and proudly said, “Yes.”

     “He’s handsome.”

     She was flattered by his remark. “Thank you.”

     Clinton glanced at her and sighed sharply. “I won’t waste much of your time. I’ve got quite a schedule and I believe you’re also busy. I want us to talk about Mr. Willows, your ex-husband.”

     Anna closed the book. A frown revealed itself before she put the book aside. She should have guessed this visit had something to do with him. Brusquely she said, “I don’t want to talk about him.”

     “I understand you’re—”

     Anna cut him off. “I’m not sure you do. I’m trying to forget about him, so the last thing I want to do is to talk about Ethan. I’m sorry to ask you to leave.”

     “I’m not your enemy, Ms. Hunt. I think we want the same thing. You want Ethan out of your life, and I want him. I believe you’ve been watching the news. He killed seven innocent people, a witness, and kidnapped a judge.”

     It was difficult to live in South Carolina and not hear the news of the veteran navy commander. It had been the talk of the town, and she remembered being looked at differently by some colleagues who knew about her past relationship with Ethan when the news first broke.

     For the past few days, Anna had made sure Ronnie never heard what was going on. She’d sequestered him from school with the principal’s permission and had hardly taken him out until today when Ronnie said he wanted to come to the park. It would be a disaster if he found out his father was a mass murderer. That’s why she hadn’t visited him in prison, or honored his request to see his son before he was given the lethal injection. Ever since he went on the run, he hadn’t called her or shown up in her house, and she prayed he wouldn’t dare show his murderous face.

     She didn’t deny the fact she kept herself abreast with the story of her ex-husband. She wondered why she’d want to know how it would all end. Perhaps there was still some part of her that cared about him.

     “Yes. I heard.”

     “He’s dangerous and at large. As long as he’s out there, no one is safe. Not you, not the judge, or your son. That’s why I need your help in finding him.”

     She’d want nothing more than to help him track down the fugitive, but she didn’t know how she could help. “I wish I can tell you where he’s hiding, but I don’t know his whereabouts. He hasn’t called me either.”

     She sounded genuine, and Clinton believed her. If there was anything he knew, it was that every man had a weakness and he figured out Ethan’s own would be his family. He’d exploit that and find out if his theory was true.

     “I have reasons to believe he’ll make contact.”

     “I doubt that,” she said assuringly. “Ethan knows I don’t want him around Ronnie.” She glanced at the section the kids were happily playing, then looked at Clinton. “I’ve threatened to file a restraining order several times, so he knows very well I’ll call the cops if he shows up at the house, especially now that he’s a fugitive.”

     Clinton didn’t believe that. “He’ll show up to see his son. Trust me.”

     Anna doubted it, but she didn’t want to contradict him. She said, “All right.”

     Clinton took out a card from his overcoat pocket and handed it to her. She collected it, studied the phone number, and placed it inside her book. “Call this number when he shows up at your house.”

     Anna wanted to ask why she should call the number he’d given her rather than the cops, but he answered her daunting thought when he said, “Ethan was once a commander. A seasoned one. If you call the cops he’s likely to take them down, and I know you don’t want your son to witness that.”

     “My men are experts. They will take care of him quietly.”

     She didn’t care what would happen to him. As long as Ethan was out of her life for good, she’d be fine, regardless of the methods used.

     “All right.”

     “We have an understanding then. Pleasure meeting you, Ms. Hunt.”