“Who else would be looking for you?” she asked, swords held ready.

“I don’t know. I’ve been so very careful to cover my tracks.”

She smiled. “Not careful enough, I guess. After all, a blind girl found you.”

He smiled back, even though she couldn’t see. This was his little girl. This was the Tabitha he knew, or should have known, if he hadn’t been a coward and run. He realized, “Could they be after you? Followed you…”

“Shhh!” she whispered. “I can hear them coming. They’re talking.” She tilted her head. “They’re readying guns.” She turned to him. “Get out. I can handle them.”

“No. I’ve just got you back. I’m not abandoning you again. Plus,” he said as his hands started to glow with a faint blue light, “I’ve got a few tricks of my own.”

The door exploded inward. He threw up his hands, putting a wall of light between them and flying debris from the door.

For the second time that day, a voice made him go cold.

“Knock knock,” a woman’s voice said. “Honey, I’m home.”

“Elizabeth?” he said.

“Mom?”