Free Summer Lovin by Carly Phillips

area and Zoe, Quinn and Connor needed clients.
    Although the hour was early for a business meeting, Zoe’s friend had to be at a rehearsal this morning. Zoe was also only too happy to avoid dealing with her family on her birthday. Normally she loved birthdays, and aging didn’t bother her much, but thirty was a milestone and she didn’t want to hear the family grumbling about how Ari had managed to marry while Zoe was still single.
    She sneaked out of the house and reached the office, which was freshly painted in a bright yellow, much to Connor and Quinn’s frustration. To appease them, she’d promised masculine accessories, even if they had to be purchased secondhand, which was all they could afford.
    The discussions between the parties took place around the only furniture they owned, a conference table left by the original tenant and bridge chairs donated by her family. Nobody seemed to mind as they drank coffee and hammered out an agreement, easily reached since everyone involved had an interest in working together. By 9:00 a.m., they’d decided on the preliminaries for a contract and Zoe, Quinn and Connor had officially retained their first client.
    Zoe arrived home, pulling up to the house to find a police car out front. She bolted inside, her fear overwhelming. In the kitchen, her mother paced the floors, muttering in Greek. Her father stood speaking to two uniformed officers, while Aunt Dee and Uncle John, who lived across the street, had joined them still wearing their pajamas. The room was in a shambles, and Sam was nowhere to be seen.
    Zoe glanced around. Finally her gaze settled on the half-open door of the pantry. A quick glance told her Sam sat huddled inside, no doubt with her new pet. The poor kid probably feared the cops would take Ima away for the same reason they’d had to find a new home for Spank the monkey. At a glance, the pig’s cage looked like a puppy crate, so there were no worries there.
    She winked at Sam, then stood beside her father. “What happened?”
    â€œSomeone broke in here and—how do you say—they trashed the place,” her father said.
    Now that she knew everyone she loved was fine, her heart rate slowed and she took in the damage for the first time. The kitchen drawers were in disarray, things had been pulled out and strewn everywhere. “What other rooms were touched?”
    â€œSam’s room and the whole downstairs. I was sleeping in my bed so he didn’t touch the master bedroom.”
    â€œAnd it happened this morning?”
    â€œIt was sometime after you left for work and your mother went for her daily walk,” her father said.
    â€œWithout his hearing aids, he doesn’t hear anything,” Elena paused her pacing long enough to chime in.
    Nicholas shot her a scowl. He hated any reference to the devices even though they made a huge difference in his hearing.
    â€œWhere was Sam during all this?” Zoe asked.
    â€œShe was asleep, too,” her mother said too quickly, her gaze darting away, a sure sign she was lying.
    Elena was protecting Sam. Had the young girl heard or seen something? Zoe wondered.
    â€œHas anyone called Quinn?” Zoe wouldn’t bring Sam and Ima out now in front of the police, but as soon as Quinn arrived, they’d sort things out.
    â€œDetective Donovan is on his way,” the youngest officer assured Zoe.
    â€œAnd we’ve gotten statements from Mr. and Mrs. Costas,” the other uniformed man said. “At first glance nothing seems to be missing, but let us know if you realize differently. In the meantime, we’ve dusted for prints and will keep you posted if anything comes up.”
    â€œThank you,” Elena said.
    â€œAnd Detective Donovan will talk to the girl?” He glanced down at his notepad. “Samantha.”
    Elena nodded. “Not that I see why,” she muttered.
    By not insisting they speak to Sam now, the officers were obviously