Iluvgarretthedlund, you have a great point. I've been working up to that, but since you mentioned it I'll put more about Tyler in this chapter. Just for you. Everyone else, if you want to see something in the story then REVIEW and I'll see if it's plausible to work in. I'm coming very close to discontinuing this story because I haven't been getting any feedback.

Evelyn and I talked about Jack and myself for a while longer. She asked me about the drama of the night before and I explained my supposed stupidity to her. She just smiled and patted my hand, "Detroit is more crooked than most places. I don't blame you for something like that." The Saint was very forgiving; I suppose she had to be to deal with her four boys. Eventually the conversation turned to Tyler, my favorite subject.

I sipped from my refilled mug, "I hear your newest son likes to start fires."

Evelyn chuckled lightly, "Yes, but he's not a bad child. He's just been through some tough times. Children compensate for things like that with rough behavior. It's nothing we can't handle."

A Saint and a psychology buff, I'd have to keep my eyes on this one. "Was he abused before he came to you?"

She frowned and shook her head, "That's just it, nothing bad happened to him, but strange things happened to the people around him."

I frowned and leaned closer to her, "What kind of strange things Evelyn? Are you in any danger?"

Evelyn chuckled again, "I don't think so. When Tyler stayed with less than savory types they often had accidents. One couple's brakes went out, another family of known abusers refused to take him. They said that they had been given one warning. They wouldn't tell the police or his caseworker what the warning was. Tyler is an unusual case; every time he stayed in a group home he was never bothered, never touched. Coming from someone who's done this for years I can tell you, that is odd and unlikely. It's like he has a guardian angel watching over him. Tyler claims that he does anyway."

I leaned back in my seat and eyed her warily, "That is strange. So you haven't had any problems? Any warnings? Should I keep my eye out for anyone out of place around here?"

Evelyn smiled that motherly smile again, "Whoever it is obviously isn't trying to kidnap Tyler. They just want to make sure he's safe and happy, which is exactly what I want too. So you could say that we are all working together toward the same goal. I doubt we'll ever even meet the person."

"Thank god for small favors. Do you want more coffee?"

Two and a half hours later I was making some mandatory phone calls to informants and the bank. I needed to check my balance and redeposit the money that I hadn't used yet. I would have to call a taxi to get to the bank, but that wouldn't be a problem. I could take out what I needed for a new car. I just had to be more careful about throwing money around in front of the Mercers. I could invite them to go car shopping with me as a show of good faith. I know it would make them feel important and useful, and they could make sure that no one hid big bad guns in the car this time. I could work around that.

The real problem would be explaining my finances to them. I had already thought up a plan, but it wouldn't be anything close to the truth. How do you explain to people that your parents were assassins that amassed a small fortune before they were taken out? Murder pays well, but I don't think it was worth the final price. All the money in my bank accounts couldn't bring them back, and it couldn't get my brother and his wife out of jail. The only thing it could do is help me protect my nephew, the only family I've got.

After I finished my calls I checked my surveillance videos. They were all digital and fed right into my laptop, which is encrypted, and password protected. Three wrong entries and it completely erases itself. I had a backup system at another location though. Isn't modern technology beautiful?

When I was going over the videos I watched Bobby and Jack's interaction in the bathroom from that morning. It mainly consisted of Bobby teasing Jack about me and Jack calling him Booby over and over. They were so adorable.

That was all finished and hidden from prying eyes, and I decided to take a walk. I could hear the arguing from the Mercer home and knew whatever Jack had to do would take a while. I walked down the street for a ways and came to an ice rink. Not unusual considering the shear numbers of hockey fans residing in Detroit. I continued past the landmark and took a left. On foresight I understand that lefts are not lucky. I should have gone straight or right.

I came very close to being seen. Fortunately, I realized my mistake and backed up, hiding myself, quickly. Bobby had obviously seen fit to leave the parenting to his mother and brothers. He was in an alley interrogating my contact. Well, one of my contacts from inside the foster care system. I hate to jump to conclusions, but it looked like Bobby wasn't satisfied with the "this child has a lot of unusual things happen around him" spiel. He could prove to be problematic.

I watched silently as Bobby asked questions that were just stupid and a few others that were insightful. It didn't take long before my man broke.

"I don't know who she is!"

I watched carefully as Bobby leaned in, "Who is she?"

He definitely had my guy scared out of his mind, "I don't know who she is! She comes occasionally with a silver briefcase."

Bobby stepped back and the guy fell to his knees, "The next time she comes by or she calls, you tell me. Understand?"

The man remained in place and nodded. Bobby took that as a sign that everything was good and turned to leave, headed my way. I almost panicked, but Bobby wouldn't suspect me of anything, would he? I backed up, careful to step in my previous footprints and started forward again. Sure enough, just like I planned, I ran straight into Bobby.

"Jesus!"

I stumbled backwards after slamming into the mass known as Bobby Mercer. I landed right on my ass in the snow, successfully covering up any footprints that might have been askew. I began muttering to myself, "Christ, you really know how to knock a girl off her feet don't you? Asshole."

A hand reached down to offer me assistance. I put my own glove-covered hand in his and allowed myself to be jerked to my feet. Finally, I looked up and my mouth formed a perfect "o." Bobby just grinned at me, "Asshole huh?"

I wrenched my hand out of his, "Now you have three nicknames to choose from."

I tried to move my body around his, but Bobby kept moving in front of me. It was getting real old real fast. "What're you doing Booby?"

Bobby frowned at the name I chose for him, "Well sweet cheeks I was just wondering what you were doing in this part of town."

"Don't you remember what curiosity did to the cat?"

"Great, feed me a line about pussy and avoid the question. What're you doing out this way?"

I stamped my foot impatiently, "Bobby, it's really none of your damn business what I do. I just wanted to take a walk. Is that so hard to fathom?"

"It just might be considering you have a date with my little brother in a little while."

I stalked around his still form only to be grabbed and spun around by the arm, "Look asshole, Jack and I never set a definite time, and I'm a free woman. I'll do as I damn well please, date or no date."

Bobby still didn't release my arm from his iron grip, "You got one hell of a set of balls Kylie. You'd better watch those, they'll get you in trouble."

I looked anywhere but at him, "Wow, thanks for the talk Dad."

He continued to look at me; I could feel his eyes burning into my face. It was like being branded. I didn't like it. Bobby had none of the tenderness that Jack possessed. Bobby was hard facts and tough fight; he was masculine and feral, and completely unpredictable. I sometimes liked and admired that in men, but in Bobby it was just scary.

"Look sweet cheeks I'm gonna walk you home and you're gonna get ready for that date with Jack. Not just because I want you to, but because it would really hurt Ma and the fairy if you didn't show. No one hurts my family, get me?"

I looked into his eyes, and saw most of my own emotions reflected back at me. Maybe Bobby and I could get along after all. He and I both had an unnaturally strong desire to protect our families from harm. If nothing else I could let him live.

"I get you."

We turned and started walking home. Bobby had his hands in his pockets and made no attempt at conversation, but I couldn't tolerate the silence.

"What was the drama about this morning?"

Bobby stopped. He looked choked or something for a moment, and then he started laughing until his face turned purple. I stood and waited.

"Tyler lit Sofi on fire."