The cops swarmed the yard. Alex let out a vicious curse and kept going for another few seconds before Sean reached out and stopped him. Alex snarled in disgust and stood up, running a bloody hand through his hair. “Fuck, we needed him for questioning. God dammit.”

Marshall walked over and pointed to the remote. Alex’s gaze shifted up from the device into Marshall’s face. He shook his head in disbelief. “How the hell’d you get here, anyway?”

“Piggybacked,” he gasped out, jerking a thumb over his shoulder at the cop who’d helped him. The rest of them were securing the scene, taking possession of the body and questioning Sean. Alex would be next, but at Marshall’s wisecrack the team leader’s harsh features transformed into a broad grin.

“Hardcore, man.”

“Yeah.” Shit, he barely had the strength to stay upright now. “Give me…a ride back …so I can…see Claire?” He paused to wheeze in another breath, clammy all over and shaky as hell.