“No!” Mike retorted sharply when Sage relayed Daw’s words. “Scare him, keep him from leaving, but do not hit him. It would be hard for us to explain later and he might try to claim the officers did it to him.” He smiled as he added, “If he happened to trip over his own feet while attempting to flee…”
Brody chuckled. “That could work. Tripped, fell, and hit his head on something.”
“As long as he survives to face trial,” Sage said. “I want to know why he’s doing this.”
“I’ll admit I do, too,” Daw replied. “I’d feel guilty if he’s done all these murders to cover up a reason for killing me. Doubtful, I suppose, because it’s been ten years since I left home. Even as crazy as she was, I don’t see my step-mother holding a grudge that long.”
“If she did set the guy on you, Daw,” Gene said, “then his mission is complete so he might not kill again, in which case we’ll never catch him.”