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“You say that like it’s agoodthing.”

“You say that like it’s not. Try being on enforced leave for eight weeks because some asshole jumped you.”

“I wouldn’t hang out in the middle of Bumfuck Nowhere with a bunch of squirrels and trees, I’ll tell you that,” Charlie retorted. “I’d go somewhere with martinis. And lots of hot men. And a beach… real or no.”

Nick grunted in amusement.

Hesitating, he went on more cautiously. “Morley tells me you know those guys. The ones who picked me up. Rick and Rob? Are those their real names?”

“Oh, the rapey bros? Yeah, I know them. And sadly, yes, those are their real names.” Disgust filled the female detective’s voice. “I’m not unique in that, Nicky. Every woman on the force knows them, at least the ones under fifty. They’re gross, handsy, rapey, pushy, obnoxious dickheads. Marilee thinks Rob, the guy with that shitty mustache, tried to put something in her drink once, at a fundraiser out in Brooklyn. She tried to report him, but the surveillance was ‘inconclusive.’ We figure they have to be someone’s shitty nephew or cousin or they would have gotten booted a long time ago.”

“Sounds about right.” Nick clenched his jaw briefly. “Given that, I hate to ask, but––”

Charlie burst out in a laugh.

Nick didn’t know if he should be annoyed or amused.

Then again, Charlie never did miss much.

“Jesus. You need something from them. And you’re calling me. What? You think my magic pussy will get them to do favors for me? That’s gross, Nick.”

Nick winced.

“Magic pussy aside,” he muttered. “I just hoped you could get some information off them. Marley and I want to know if they sent anyone out to check on the other Tanaka house. The one in their jurisdiction. In Amityville. Morley and I both think––”

From next to Nick, Morley grunted.

“––Someone should be keeping an eye on the place.”

There was a silence.

Nick didn’t interrupt it that time. He could hear keys clicking through the line. She was in the system, likely looking up the records on the other Tanaka residence.

“How many are left?” Nick asked. “In the house?”

She exhaled.

“Three more adults,” she told him. “Two teenaged kids. And a baby. Turns out they had a pretty big household out near one of the old canals. Two nuclear families, plus the other grandparent. Huge house, broken out into wings. Jesus… that’s a lot of square footage. I guess the property’s been in the family for a long time.”

Nick grimaced. “A baby. You’re sure?”

“Positive. About eight months old.”

“And they’re home? They’re not traveling?”

“I can’t know that for sure, but nothing’s been logged.”

Nick felt physically sick.

It couldn’t be a damned coincidence.

It just couldn’t be.

“Okay,” he said, swallowing. “Could you put in that call? Ask them if they’ve got someone out there watching the place?”

“Who should I say is making the request?”

Nick looked at his human boss, grimacing.