Kill Alex Cross

done to the children? Maybe something got to me — something about Cross’s kids, or his wife, or Cross himself? His passion is inspiring.
    “Or is it this: I know I can’t stop myself and I want Cross to do it for me?
    “No. I don’t think so. I don’t believe I want to be stopped. I’ve won … and I rather like that.”

WHEN I GOT home that night, I could hear the kids going at it down in the basement. Ever since Ava had come to stay with us, the three of them were getting on like a house on fire, and they’d turned the downstairs into their own makeshift all-in-one clubhouse, boxing gym, and movie theater.
    Bree and Nana were in the living room, stuffing envelopes for Southeast Children’s House. That was the name of the charter school Sampson and Billie were still struggling to start up … without much help from me these days.
    I flopped down on the couch with my plate of leftovers and a Budweiser.
    “What’s the good word?” Bree said, sliding me a sideways kiss, then another. She smelled good, felt even better. I’d missed her.
    “All bad,” I finally told her. I couldn’t get Mahoney’s offer out of my head, but this was not the time or place to talk about it. I was home now.
    I reached down and picked up a tattered paperback copy of Precious , which someone had left on the floor. It was the movie tie-in version, with the amazing lead actress, Gabourey Sidibe, on the cover.
    “Is Jannie reading this for school?” I asked. “Tough story. Good one.”
    “Actually, I got that for Ava,” Nana said. “I told her she needed some meat and potatoes to go with those comic books she’s been gobbling down.”
    “Speaking of Ava,” Bree said. “We got a call from Anita at Child and Family Services today. Just checking in to see how things are going.”
    “I guess that means they don’t have a placement for her,” I said, forking up a mouthful of meat loaf and sweet potato.
    “I think Anita’s hoping they have one,” Bree said. “She thinks Ava’s going to make it.”
    I looked up from my plate to see both of them staring at me.
    “Don’t look so surprised, Alex,” Nana said. “You knew they’d push for this.”
    “Let them,” I said. “We still need to get Ava into a real foster home before she gets too settled here. Or too attached.”
    Nana threw down the flyer and envelope she was holding. “Well, isn’t that just typical!”
    “What?” I asked.
    “Apparently, it’s obvious to everyone but you that Ava is already attached to this family,” she laid into me. “And most of us are attached to her!”
    I set down my plate and rubbed my eyes. The last thing I needed right now was a lecture from my grandmother. Or a fight. I was home .
    “Nana, I can’t tell you how bad the timing is.”
    “And, Alex? I can’t tell you how little I care what you think right now. Why do you suppose Ava never smiles at you?” she said. “Why do you think the conversation always drops off when you come into the room? It’s because you’re never here! You think she’s that way with everyone?”
    “Excuse me, but I’m trying to help bring two kids home to their parents,” I said, barely holding onto my temper.
    “Oh yes, because nobody else is working on that one. Excuse me , but those Coyle children have thousands — thousands — of people looking out for them right now. What does Ava have? She’s got us, that’s what.”
    “That’s not fair,” I said.
    “Well, someone let me know when everything gets fair around here.”
    She snatched the copy of Precious off my lap like she didn’t even want me touching it and she left the room. A second later, I heard the basement door open.
    “Who wants ice cream?” she called out, like nothing had happened, and a small army of feet started up on the stairs. “I’ve got Chunky Monkey, Mint Chocolate Chunk, Cookie Dough …”
    I took a deep breath. Then I took another.
    “What a great day,” I said.
    Bree gave me a sympathetic smile. I could tell whose side she was on, but she wasn’t going to beat me up about this. Not right now, anyway.
    “Come on, tough guy,” she said. “Let’s go put some Mint Chocolate Chunk on it. You deserve it.”

SLEEP WAS APPARENTLY out of the question that night. With Bree off working another graveyard shift, the bed seemed way too big and I was left alone with my thoughts. Including thoughts about poor Ava.
    Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ethan and Zoe’s dirty, emaciated faces. And