Page 6 of Dead Man's List

“Yeah.” Harlan’s throat worked as he tried to swallow. “I hate him,” he whispered.

“Me too. What security are you having installed?”

“Cameras along the property line and around the house. An alarm system on doors and windows. Cartridges for my shotgun.”

“Anson?” Kit ignored that last one.

“Of course.”

Anson was one of the fosters who’d passed through McKittrick House the year before Kit had arrived. He owned a security firm up in Anaheim. He’d do an excellent job.

“You might also consider a dog for Rita and the other girls.” Emma and Tiffany were the newest foster children at McKittrick House, and they and Rita had become best friends. She lightened her tone, needing to lessen the tension on her father’s kind face. “They might feel safer with a dog. And then they won’t always be ‘borrowing’ Snickerdoodle from me.”

Harlan lifted a bushy eyebrow. “Did the girls put you up to this?”

“Nope.” Kit forced a grin. “All my idea. Every girl needs a dog, Pop.”

He chuckled, but it was also forced. Still, it was a chuckle. “I’ll take the kids to the animal shelter this weekend. We’ll see if we can find a dog who’ll suit.”

Kit rested her head on his broad shoulder. He was the strongest, safest person she knew. He’d been her rock since she and Wren had snuck into this very barn as twelve-year-old runaways. Harlan and Betsy McKittrick had found them hiding and given them shelter. And so much love.

“Thanks, Pop. For everything. For me and for Rita and all the others. Love you.”

“Love you too, Kitty-Cat.” He kissed the top of her head. “Have fun on your date.”

She sighed, letting the Rita problem go for now. “I’ll try. But if there’s a murder, I’ll have to cancel.”

Harlan snorted quietly. “You sound almost hopeful.”

She kind of was. But wishing for a murder was wrong, and Sam deserved better. “I’m not hopeful. I’m just…”

“Scared,” he supplied gently.

“Yeah.”

“It’s okay to be scared, Kit. But other things scare you and you push through. You’ll be okay. I know it.”

Kit wished she were as confident.

And she still wished for a murder. Just a small one.

Chapter One

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Borrego Springs, California

Saturday, January 7, 12:30 p.m.

“Be careful,” Sam said, pointing to a shrub next to the trail. “That’s a catclaw. Its thorns are sharp.”

“Okay,” Kit said, giving the bush a wide berth and tugging on Snickerdoodle’s leash to make sure that she kept her distance as well.

Their hike so far had been filled with similar safety callouts from Sam and not much else. It was…

Awkward,Kit thought with a wince. This date was notbadbut just so awkward, and she had no idea what to do about it. The desert itself was beautiful in a stark way, and Sam had chosen a less traveled trail. They’d had complete solitude, not having seen another hiker for miles. The weather, while unforgiving in the summer, was perfect during the winter. The skies were clear, the cool breeze refreshing.

But as pretty as the landscape was, this day had been uncomfortable as hell.