Free 0373447477 (R) by Shirlee McCoy

that.”
    “Or people who are trying to get in a locked door. I helped escort the CPS team to a vehicle that was waiting out back. When I tried to get back in, the door was locked. I’m Chance Miller, by the way. From HEART.”
    “Malone’s boss?”
    “I prefer to call myself his coworker. Unless he’s not listening to my instructions. Then I’m his boss.”
    “Does he usually listen?”
    “What do you think?”
    “No?”
    “Exactly. Take tonight for example. I told Malone to check on Kendal Anderson and go back to his vacation. Instead, he’s decided he needs to stick around.”
    “Jubilee,” she corrected, because the five-year-old needed some consistency in her life, some constancy. She’d lost her birth mother. She’d lost her stepmother. She’d lost the guy who’d been raising her with Tabitha. She did not need to lose her name.
    “Pardon?”
    “She goes by Jubilee now.”
    “Right. I got the memo. I’ve been hearing the other name for so long, it rolls out without much thought. Sorry about that.”
    “You don’t have to apologize to me, but someone sure does need to apologize to that little girl.”
    “You don’t think that’s your sister’s responsibility?” No edge in his voice, but she thought she heard a note of censure.
    “I don’t think my sister kidnapped your friend’s daughter, if that’s what you’re asking.”
    “I guess I might have been. Eventually Boone is going to need answers. Eventually Jubilee is going to be old enough and mature enough to need them, too.”
    “They both deserve to know the truth. I’m just not sure my sister is the one who has it.”
    “Sometimes a wait and see approach is best. How about we do that this time? Withhold judgment until we know the truth? You won’t assume she doesn’t know. I won’t assume she does.”
    “Sounds good.”
    “You’re an agreeable person, Quinn. I usually am, too. Which means we’ll get along well for the next twelve hours.”
    “Twelve hours?”
    “The drive up to Maine. That’s about how long it takes.”
    “You’re going to—?”
    His phone buzzed, and he glanced at it. “Looks like we’re ready to head out.”
    “To Maine?”
    “Malone said you wanted to find your sister. My company is going to help you do that.”
    “Because you want to talk to her?”
    “Because she might be in trouble, and getting people out of trouble is what HEART specializes in.” The sincerity in his voice was undeniable, and she didn’t resist as he urged her through the living room and out the front door.
    Someone had parked an SUV near the porch, and Chance hurried her down the stairs and into the backseat.
    She thought she’d be sitting near the door, but he nudged her farther in, taking the seat next to the window.
    She could have scooted over, but Malone was there, gazing out the side window, his attention so focused, she wasn’t even sure he knew she was there.
    She felt hemmed in and uncomfortable, sandwiched between two men who’d been strangers a few minutes ago. “I’m going to need my Jeep when I get to Echo Lake,” she said, hoping they’d switch vehicles. She could drive the Jeep. The men would sit where they wanted.
    “I’ve got another team member driving it up for you,” Chance replied.
    “You didn’t think you should ask my permission first?”
    “No.” There was nothing agreeable about that one word, nothing that made her feel as if they were going to get along. As a matter of fact, Chance suddenly looked as hard and unapproachable as Malone.
    “Is there some reason why we’re not all going together?”
    “The perpetrator knows what your vehicle looks like. We’d rather you not be in it, if he tries something while we’re traveling.”
    “You don’t want to risk my life, but you’re willing to risk someone else’s.”
    “It’s a calculated risk,” Malone murmured. “She knows what she’s doing, and she knows how to get out of trouble if she finds herself in