He sighs, raking a hand back through his hair - and it comes away bloody, too, from what must be a bite somewhere on the crown of his head. "God, sweetheart, I'm sorry. It's just-"

"Daddy killed Sprinkles," Flo wails. "Daddy killed him with a knife in the kitchen!"

"And Sprinkles's friends," Mack chimes in, and Mike pinches the bridge of his nose, turning away and scanning the living room.

It's been a warm day. There's a window open. And the screen is torn.

He gestures at it. "Guess they were determined."