Free Summer Lovin by Carly Phillips Page A

extending a courtesy to Quinn, an ex-detective, and Zoe was grateful they didn’t insist and traumatize her in the process.
    â€œWho is this?” the second officer, one who couldn’t be older than his early twenties, asked, pointing to Zoe.
    Nicholas wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “This is our daughter, Zoe.”
    â€œShe lives here?”
    Zoe nodded. “I do.”
    â€œI’m going to need to know where you were this morning and if anyone can vouch for your whereabouts.”
    â€œThat’s enough,” her father bellowed.
    â€œOf all the outrageous things!” Elena said, also clearly affronted.
    â€œThey’re just doing their jobs,” Zoe reassured her parents. “Relax.” Zoe supplied the officer with all the pertinent information and after they spoke with Aunt Dee and Uncle John, who hadn’t seen or heard a thing, they took off.
    Zoe sighed. “It’s okay, Sam. You can come out now.”
    â€œThe cops are gone?” Her voice sounded muffled.
    Zoe pulled the pantry door open wide and Sam stepped out, the pig in her arms.
    â€œYes, they’re gone, but that isn’t the question. Why would you hide from the police?”
    Elena pulled Sam into her arms. “My poor baby.” She squeezed the girl tight so her face was smashed into her chest.
    â€œI mmmbrrsffft.”
    â€œWhat?” Elena asked.
    â€œShe probably said something like, she can’t breathe.” Zoe released her mother’s grip and Sam ducked out from under her.
    â€œExactly.” Sam gulped in a breath of air. “I didn’t want them to tell me I have to give Ima away like we did with Spank.”
    Zoe nodded. “I thought so. Don’t worry. The laws about pigs are more lenient around here. Now tell me what you heard and saw and don’t leave out a thing.”
    Sam rubbed her hands up and down her bare arms. “I got up and was coming out of the bathroom when I heard a noise in my room. I knew Elena was taking her morning meditative walk, and you said you had an early appointment.”
    â€œHow’d you know it wasn’t Dad?”
    Sam rolled her eyes. “He was snoring and the sound shook the walls.”
    Zoe tried not to laugh. “I see. What happened next?”
    â€œI peeked into my room and saw a guy snooping around.” She shuddered, then began to skulk around giving them an exaggerated, charadelike description. “He opened the drawers, tossed things around, and then he started coming toward the door so I ducked back into the bathroom. I hid in the tub like this.” She crouched down, hands over her head like in an emergency drill. “So if he looked in, he wouldn’t see me.”
    Like most of the Costases’ relatives, Sam had a knack for the dramatic and despite her fear, which was evident in her wide eyes, she was still milking her moment now.
    â€œLooks like the kid’s got a future career as a spy.” Quinn walked into the room. A complete air of authority surrounded him as all eyes looked his way, and Sam beamed at what she took as a compliment.
    Quinn forced a smile and though Zoe could read the concern on his face, she admired his self-restraint in not shaking Sam to get the facts out of her faster.
    â€œKeep talking, squirt,” Quinn said.
    â€œQuit calling me that. Anyway, I finally heard him going down the stairs. I hung out at the top and watched him toss the kitchen and family room next. I was going to wake Nicholas up, but I got scared. I was too afraid to move because I might make noise. Then all of a sudden, Ima squealed from her crate in the kitchen and I guess he got nervous and thought someone might come down to check the pig and find him there. He left out the back door to the kitchen.” She finished out of breath.
    The door between the kitchen and family room banged open wide and Ryan Baldwin, the “social worker,” strode inside. “What the