Free Pieces of the Past (Witness Security Book 1) by Jamie Hill Page B

called after her.
    Sh e paused, and smiled.
     
    * * * *
     
    Christine tossed and turned for what felt like hours. When she finally did close her eyes, she slept hard. The sun was shining brightly when she dragged herself out of bed the next morning. After a quick stop in the bathroom, she grabbed her robe and headed to the kitchen where she heard talking and smelled food.
    Doug was flipping pancakes and Ethan seemed to be gobbling them up the moment they hit his plate.
    “ Morning.” Her son’s mouth was full.
    “ Well hello there. That looks good.” She told herself she was speaking of the food, and not the handsome man preparing it. He was friendly and animated, not at all what she’d originally thought of him.
    “ Good morning, sleepyhead.” Doug smiled at her. “It’s almost nine. Didn’t you need to call a couple people?”
    She held her head in one hand. “Well, crap. Yes I do. Is there coffee?”
    “ Here you go.” He handed her a cup. “Strong and black. My phone is on the counter, help yourself.”
    “ Thanks.” She accepted the drink gratefully and took his cell to the other room, where she called in to work and both schools. Everyone was understanding and apologetic about her mother’s death, which made her feel lousy for lying. Christine drew a deep breath and exhaled. She had no other choice.
    When she returned to the kitchen, Doug piled some pancakes on her plate. “Hungry?”
    “ Yeah. I could eat.” She sat at the bar next to Ethan.
    “ They’re really good.” Her son confirmed.
    Doug glanced at her. “Everything go okay?”
    She nodded. “No problems. Any news yet today?”
    “ Nada. I told you, these things take time. Eat up.”
    She glanced at her son who continued to shovel pancakes in his mouth. “Ethan, don’t eat so fast. Slow down.” She picked up her fork and her gut churned. What was Ethan going to do after breakfast? What would they do all day? Time was going to drag.
    Doug refilled her coffee cup. “Should you wake Peyton for breakfast?”
    “ Thanks.” She took a sip of the hot brew. “Nah, let’s let her sleep. I can always fix her something later.” She glanced around. “What does she have to wake up for, anyway? The longer she sleeps, the less time spent being bored. And complaining about it .”
    “ True that. I vote for letting her sleep, too.”
    Christine smiled and finished her breakfast. A short debate with Ethan followed, video games versus math homework, in which video games won out after Doug offered to help with math after lunch.
    “I’m a whiz at math.” He smiled at Christine as Ethan ran off to play.
    “ Is there anything you aren’t a whiz at?” She tried to keep a straight face.
    He rubbed his chin. “Can’t think of anything off the top of my head, but I’ll let you know. Now if you’ll excuse me, after I clean up here I have some calls to make.”
    “ Go ahead.” She shooed him out. “You cooked, the least I can do is wash the dishes.”
    “ Why, thank you, ma’am.” He grabbed his phone and headed to the other room.
    It was several hours later, when she was watching The Price is Right and flipping through a magazine, that she heard Doug ’s phone ring. He’d been on and off it all morning, but he’d been the one placing most of the calls. This last conversation was brief.
    He entered the living room with a grim expression on his face. “Peyton?”
    Christine sat up and muted the TV. “She’s in her room. What’s wrong?”
    He hurried down the hall and stopped in front of the closed bedroom door. “Peyton, come out please,” he said loudly.
    “ Can it wait? I’m at a good part in my book.”
    “ No. Now, please.” His voice was firm. He returned to the front room. His face was red, and his eyes looked as if they could shoot darts.
    “ Doug, what is it?” Christine’s heart thumped wildly. She’d never seen him this way before.
    Peyton and Ethan both appeared in the doorway. “What’s wrong?” her son