They looked like men who wanted strangers to believe they were law enforcement.
Nick stepped onto the porch.
"Can I help you?"
The taller man ignored the question.
He opened the truck's rear compartment.
Allison came outside with Logan in her arms.
"You can't just come onto our property," she said.
The second man glanced at her.
"We have authorization."
"From whom?"
Neither man answered.
Nick stepped down from the porch.
"We haven't received any inspection notice."
The taller man pulled something from the truck.
A brick.
Nick's stomach tightened.
"Put that down."
The man looked directly at him.
Then he threw it.
The brick smashed through the living-room window.
Glass exploded inward.
Allison screamed.
Nick lunged toward her.
But he was too late.
The brick struck Logan.
The baby went limp.
For one terrible second, everything stopped.
Then Allison dropped to her knees.
Blood spread across the pale blue blanket.
Nick stared at his son.
"No."
His voice barely existed.
"No, no, no..."
The two men ran.
They jumped into the pickup and disappeared around the corner.
Nick grabbed his phone.