Free Pack Investigator by Crissy Smith

provided by the Pack to make sure he was ready. He still had a few years so Tom’s help would come in handy. Especially if the worst happened and Randy wasn’t found soon and wouldn’t be coming home to Nick.
    “Then Julie said she’d play some board games with me. She has them all!”
    Julie laughed. “Maybe not all but we do have a lot. We host a lot of barbecues with the Pack.”
    “Maybe I can come next time,” Nick said.
    “You’ll be the very first invited,” Julie told him.
    “Thanks!” Nick bounced in his chair. “You wanna play?” he asked turning toward Lily.
    “I’d love to but I have to go to work,” she replied. She made a pouty face. “If I don’t, my boss will show up here looking for me.”
    “They can play too,” Nick offered.
    “That’s very sweet,” Lily ran her hand over Nick’s hair. He was such a kind boy. She wanted to meet Randy and tell him what a fine job he was doing raising Nick.
    Tom’s cell rang, drawing their attention. He pulled the phone from his back pocket to glance at the screen. “I’ve got to take this,” he told them before he stood and exited the kitchen.
    “Is there anything that you need, now that you’ve had time to go through the bags I brought last night?” she asked, getting to the purpose of her visit.
    Nick shook his head while Julie smiled at her.
    “I think we have everything we need. I washed the clothes you brought earlier so he’ll have plenty of clean ones. I always wash new items since there is no telling where the store kept them. He loves his stuffed wolf,” Julie said.
    “When I got scared last night I hugged him like Garrett told me and I felt better,” Nick said.
    “That’s good.” Lily patted his hand. “That’s why I brought him to you.”
    “I think my dad will like him too,” Nick said.
    Tom entered the room, and Lily could easily pick up the scent of excitement. “Hey, buddy, why don’t you wash up and meet me in the living room.”
    “’Kay,” Nick said as he climbed down from his chair.
    “What is it?” Lily asked after Nick was gone.
    “That was Garrett. They think they’ve found the guys. They’re getting ready to go after them,” Tom said.
    Lily jumped up. “Really?”
    “That’s great.” Julie was next to her.
    Tom strolled closer. “Hopefully Randy will be there. They found an abandoned property that would be perfect for hiding someone,” Tom said quietly.
    Lily glanced back toward the doorway that Nick had gone through. “Let’s pray.”
    Tom nodded. “I’ll stay here and make sure no one comes after the boy. They’ll call as soon as they know for sure.”
    “Can you stay?” Julie asked her.
    “Of course,” Lily replied. “We’ll want to see how Randy is doing but our first priority is to reunite Nick with his dad.” She would have to call into the office but she had no doubt that her boss would want her with Nick while the cops did their job.
    “I’m going to try to keep Nick and myself distracted. I’m going to go ahead and work with him. We don’t know what condition Randy will be in,” Tom said.
    “Yeah,” Lily agreed. No matter what, Nick would need to see his father to know that he’d really been found.
    “I’ll make some more coffee,” Julie offered.
    “Thanks,” Tom said before he went to join Nick.
    Lily walked back to the table and sat. “I hope this is really it.”
    “Garrett wouldn’t give us false hope. They must have something solid if he’s calling Tom,” Julie stated.
    Just hearing Garrett’s name had Lily’s body flushing with heat. Julie laughed, making her glance up.
    “I used to react the same way when anyone mentioned Cooper. Should I ask what your intentions are toward my brother?” Julie teased.
    “Depends,” Lily joked back. “Are you asking about the next forty-eight hours or long-term?” Because she knew how she wanted to celebrate with Garrett. Her plan would involve the closest flat surface and her and Garrett naked. She