Summer Kisses (241 page)

“So far so good.” He carefully placed her eggs, the last item, on the top shelf of the cart. “Thanks for asking.”

“Tell them we hope you all have a nice Thanksgiving.”

“I will. You too. Bye, Luke.”

Luka waved and grabbed the cart, intending to be ‘the man’ and show Tory he could push the cart.

Nicole fell into step behind Luka and didn’t see Tory’s cheery smile fade away when he picked up the milk carton they’d left behind.

~~~

Tory stared at the missing girl’s picture. He studied Becca Smith’s profile while she zippered up her son’s coat and then while crossing the parking lot, pushing her cart.

He needed to be sure.

“I’ll be right back. Ms. Smith forgot her milk,” he said to the cashier and rushed out the door. “Ms. Smith, your milk.”

She turned from lifting a bag into the trunk. “Oh, my. Thanks. You saved me a trip back here. I’m just about out.” She took the carton and tucked it inside a bag.

“No problem,” Tory said, studying her. Her eyes were the same and her nose.

She looked at him quizzically. “Is something wrong?”

It couldn’t be her. Ms. Smith was much older than the picture. “No. Again, have a nice Thanksgiving.”

“Thanks.”

Tory watched them as she pulled out of the parking space and headed east on Main Street.
What if he was wrong and it was her?
The ad offered a quarter of a million dollars for any information that would lead to her rescue.

Rescue from whom? As far as he knew, Becca Smith lived with her son and no one else.

He shook his head. He had to be wrong.

Disappointment edged in on Tory’s dreams as he headed back inside. He sure didn’t want to work here, bagging groceries for the rest of his life.

His family sure could use the money and going to college would be in his future again, if he was right. It was a phone call. That’s all.

Damn. With everything on her mind, she’d forgotten to stop for gas. Just one more thing she’d have to do tomorrow. Nicole shifted the bag in her arm and fished for her keys.

She barely had the back door open before Luka and Tommy raced under her arm and through the kitchen. “Hey, I thought you two were going to help carry in the groceries?”

“We will. I want to show Tommy the new truck Will bought me. We’ll be right back.”

And there went her help she thought, watching the boys tear through the living room and round the steps with Max barking on their heels.

She grabbed the milk from the bag and placed the carton in the refrigerator. “Bring the truck downstairs, Luke. You’re going to play in the basement and not in that bedroom, remember?” she called after them.

“Okay,” Luka yelled.

She closed the refrigerator and glanced at the clock. It was five forty-five. Hot dogs would be dinner tonight, and then she was going to attempt to make her stuffing and bake her first apple pie. Damn. She wished she’d helped her mother in the kitchen more. She really wanted to impress Will.

While walking to the car for the rest of the groceries, her heart grew heavy. She missed her family. She missed the traditions and festivities of the holidays they always participated in. She’d give anything to be with them again and to have Luka experience the love they would surely shower over him.

Maybe next year they would be together.

At six-thirty, the special ring for Gorgon’s mock hotline number buzzed. A grin bloomed on his face. He dropped the thirty-pound weights he curled, to the floor, swiped the sweat from his brow with the towel that hung around his neck and snatched the cell off the coffee table. Clutching the phone next to his ear, he cleared his throat, dispelling the angst coating his tongue and said in a professionally calm tone, “MP hotline. Gregory speaking. How can I help you?”

“Hi. My name is Tory Fisher. I’m calling about a picture I saw on a milk carton. Is this the right number?” The caller’s voice cracked the way guys’ voices did when they were becoming men.

His knees suddenly weak, Gorgon lowered himself to the couch, knowing in his heart that this was the call he’d prayed for every night. His Katrina and Luka would be found. His family would be one again. He swallowed the excitement rising in him. “Yes, sir. This is the missing person’s hotline. What MP are you identifying?”

“MP?”

“Sorry. Missing person.”

“Oh, right. I saw her on a milk carton. The name is Nicole, but I know her as Becca Smith. She’s a lot older than the picture though. And she has a kid. Maybe it isn’t her.”

Gorgon’s pulse drummed against his temples. He heard the indecision in the kid’s tone and bit down on his lip to keep the desperation churning inside his gut from expelling in a cry of triumph. He couldn’t lose this guy until he found out where in the hell Katrina and Luka were. “Really! A son?”

“Yeah,” the kid responded, fortunately not catching Gorgon’s slip of the tongue. The teen had never mentioned the child’s sex.

He had to earn the kid’s confidence. “Son of a bitch,” he bellowed between clenched teeth.

“What?”

He’d hooked the young man. Now to pull him in. “Look. Can I be honest? This job makes me sick. Too often these runaways get mixed up with the wrong people. They don’t realize who they’re dealing with until it’s too late. Before they know what is happening they’re doing things, drugs or illegal acts––something they would’ve never done before. Their lives become a living hell. They’re pimped out. They have no choice but to do as they’re told and sometimes the girls, they get pregnant. Makes me sick when we find them and it’s too late.”

“Ms. Smith doesn’t seem like that. She seems really okay. She’s always happy, smiling.”

Katrina was happy. He remembered the way his kitten smiled and laughed while playing with Luka. Gorgon’s molars ground together. How could she be happy without him? “Somehow she must’ve gotten out.”

“On second thought, I think I’m wrong. She can’t be the same person. I’m sorry for taking up your time.”

“Wait.” Gorgon shot off the couch, clenching the phone like a lifeline. “Nicole’s parents have been looking for her for years. If this woman you call Becca is her, don’t you think they deserve to know she is okay? Think about your own parents. I’m sure they’d walk through fire to learn what happened to you if you’d disappeared. Nicole’s parents have been in hell for a long time.”

Silence filled the phone. Gorgon held his breath, waiting for the dial tone to start up.
Had he lost the kid?

Finally, a sigh filled his ear and relief washed through him.

“I guess you’re right. What do you need? Will this take long? I’m at work and on my break.”

“Not long at all.” Gorgon switched ears, expelling the breath he’d held and then stretched the tension from his fingers. “You’re doing the right thing.” He grabbed a pen and pad. “Okay, for my records and so we can issue the reward money, if she turns out to be Nicole, I need to know your name and address and where we can find this girl. Um, woman.”

While writing down the information, Gorgon’s grin grew. He’d found his kitten and his son. They’d be home for Christmas just as he had said. He couldn’t wait to see his father’s face.

Baked apples and cinnamon scented the kitchen. Nicole smiled. The pie looked perfect, if she did say so herself. Just like Sharon’s—maybe prettier. She hoped it tasted as good as it looked. She wanted Will to enjoy every bite, if he did stop by. She hoped he would.

The phone rang.

Nicole glanced at the stove’s digital clock. Darn. Nine twenty. She’d told Tommy’s mom she’d bring him home at nine. She grabbed the phone. “Sue, I’m so sorry.”

A deep chuckle filled her ear.

“Sorry. I’m not, Sue. I can call back later, if you’re waiting for a call.”

Warm bubbles floated through Nicole at hearing Will’s voice. “No. It’s okay. I picked up Tommy on the way home. Luka wanted someone to play with, and I promised Sue I’d bring Tommy home at nine. I’ve been so busy and just noticed the time.”

“Oh. What were you doing?”

He sounded tired and she wondered what was going on that she hadn’t seen him in days. He’d tell her, if anything had to do with her and Luka. Otherwise, his work was none of her business. Will had other cases. Like the teenaged twins on the news that had disappeared in New York a few weeks ago. While not directly his case, she was sure Will was in contact with whoever was in charge.

And that poor little nine-year-old who also disappeared around the same time. Both sets of parents must be going nuts. Especially with the holidays upon them. Her heart broke for them.

“Nicole, are you there?”

“Yes, sorry I was just thinking.”

“About?”

“Nothing really.”

“So what have you been doing tonight that you forgot about the time?”

“Making stuffing for the turkey and I baked an apple pie.”

“You did.
Yum.
I love apple pie.”

“Well, if you come over, I’ll serve you a warm piece.”

“That sounds too good an invitation to turn down.” He exhaled. “But I’m just leaving work and need to be back here very early tomorrow. I think it would be in my employer’s best interest if I just head home to bed. I wanted to check in with you and make sure you’re okay.”

She couldn’t hide the disappointment she felt when she responded. “Is that the only reason you called?”

“No. I miss you.”

Warmth threaded through her. “You’ve seen me.”

“From a distance. Not the same as holding you. And not for a few days.”

“Luka will be fast asleep by the time you get here, if you did come over,” she said seductively.

He sighed. “You’re killing me, you know that?”

“Does that mean you’ll change your mind?”

“I can’t.” He yawned. “But I’ll see you Thursday.”

Joy lifted Nicole to her toes. “You’re definitely coming for dinner. What about your family?”

“I told them I had to work and wouldn’t be able to make the drive in time for dinner. It’s a good four- to five-hour drive so they understand. They know I’m having dinner at a friend’s house though.”

“Gary and Sharon’s?”

“No. They know about Gary. I told them I was seeing someone and I was having dinner with her.”

Her eyes widened, along with her grin. “You did?”

“Sure. And I can’t wait.”

Her entire being was like warm butter. She could just pour herself through the phone line and wrap herself in Will’s strong arms. “Me neither.”

“You better get Tommy home. I’ll see you soon.”

“Okay.”

“Nicole?”

“Yes.” The phone beeped in Nicole’s ear signaling another call was waiting. “Damn, that must be Sue.”

“It’s okay. I’ve got to get going anyway. See you Thursday.” Will hung up without giving her a chance to say something more, which was probably for the best, because with the energy she had flowing through her right now, she could talk to him all night.

She hit the flash button and said in response to Sue’s greeting, “I’m so sorry. I was so busy and then I got a phone call and lost track of time. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”

A few minutes later, Nicole rushed the boys and Max out the door and headed to the car to take Tommy home.

The sky’s deep velvet folds looked like they’d been dotted by an overzealous God. A half-moon positioned near the center was surrounded by a trillion twinkling stars. Nicole’s lungs hiccupped with her deep inhale of the crisp, late fall air.

Max rustled leaves as he sniffed the backyard like a dog on a search-and-rescue mission, crossing back and forth between the lawn’s edge and the dry mums bordering the back of the house.

Luka ran up the back steps and yanked the screen door open. “Can I have a cookie?”

“You and Tommy had a snack.” Nicole jiggled her keys, searching under the dim light for the right one to unlock the back door.

“I’m still hungry.” Luka turned the knob and the back door opened. “Can I? Please. I’ll brush my teeth right afterwards. I promise.”

The hairs on Nicole’s arms stood on end. She could’ve sworn she’d pulled the door tight. “Luka, stop.”

He slid to a stop next to the counter. “What?”

Cautiously she stepped inside. She held her finger up, signaling for him to remain quiet and looked around. “I thought I locked the door.”

“The house is falling apart. All the doors and windows need work.”

Nicole stifled the chuckle in her throat at Luka’s mimicking Will’s words. Everything was in its place. If someone were in here, Max would be too, hopefully tearing whomever apart. She was just being paranoid. “Go get ready for bed.”

“You’re being mean.” Luka stamped his foot.

“Hey. You don’t talk to your mother that way, young man.” The voice came from behind Nicole, causing her to jump.

The floor squeaked beneath her sneaker’s heel at her quick turn and she exhaled the breath caught in her throat. “What are you doing here, Sharon?”

“I’m sorry.” Through the screen door, Sharon’s brow knitted, looking at Nicole’s fist. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Nicole shook her fingers out and slid her purse from her shoulder and dropped the leather bag on the counter top. “It’s all right. Come on in. How is Gary, doing?”

“Getting better each day.”

“Luka, now. Upstairs. Get your teeth brushed and PJs on. I’ll be up in a few minutes.”

“One, Two…” Sharon added.

Luka glanced Sharon’s way before dashing from the room.

“Good boy,” Sharon called after him as she opened the door.
“Ooops.”

Max brushed alongside of her and trotted to his water bowl and began lapping.

Sharon’s brow furrowed as she looked at Nicole. “Is something wrong?”

She shook her head. “I’m jumpy. I thought I’d locked the back door and yet it was open.”

Sharon ran her hand over the door’s frame. “This looks okay. I’ll check the house?”

“That’s not necessary. I was in a rush to get Tommy home and thought I locked the door and didn’t.” She pointed through the archway, toward Max who’d found his corner of the couch and prepared to settle in. “Besides, if anyone was in here, Max would have him backed into a corner. So, why are you here?”