Free Lisa Jackson's the Abandoned Box Set by Lisa Jackson

her stupid independence! His hands were shaking so badly, he stuffed them into his pockets. What was wrong with that girl? Downstairs in the lobby, two hundred of the most important people in the Northwest were milling through the hotel, sipping his champagne, toasting Montgomery Inns while Marnie could have lost her fool life! If she were here now, he’d wring her neck! Instead, he had to act as if nothing were wrong. As if his wayward daughter hadn’t walked out of his life. As if he weren’t worried sick about her.
    â€œProblems?” Kate asked, smoothing his lapel with her long fingers and offering him an encouraging smile. Kate was a good woman, he thought, trying to get a handle on his emotions. At least she had enough sense to do what she was told!
    â€œMarnie.”
    Kate raised an interested eyebrow and sighed. “She’s almost twenty-five.”
    â€œAnd therefore can do anything she damned well pleases, is that it?”
    â€œShe’s not a baby, Vic. You can’t tie her down forever.”
    â€œI can try, damn it!” He shoved a hand through his hair and wondered when he’d lost Marnie. And why? Hadn’t he given her everything money could buy? Hadn’t he put her through the best schools, hired the best nannies, spentas much time with her as he possibly could have? If only Vanessa were still alive. Maybe then…
    â€œSenator Mann’s waiting for you,” Kate reminded him gently. She refilled his glass and handed him the fresh drink.
    â€œI know, I know, probably hoping for a campaign contribution,” Victor grumbled.
    Kate chuckled deep in her throat. “Probably.”
    Still worried about Marnie, Victor took a swallow of the whiskey and waited for the fiery warmth to settle in his stomach. Maybe then he’d calm down. He thought about confiding in Kate but didn’t. He’d never confided in a woman except his wife. Even Marnie hadn’t heard his worries or dreams, not really. God, he missed Vanessa. She’d been gone so long…
    Pulling himself back to the present, he touched Kate affectionately on the shoulder. “Tell the senator I’ll be down in a minute and send in Kent, will you?”
    â€œOf course.” With another smile, she swept out of the room in a billow of familiar perfume and white silk. A beautiful woman, he thought. A gracious woman. A woman he could live with. If it weren’t for the memory of Vanessa.
    Adjusting his cuffs, he glanced in the mirror and frowned at his reflection. He was getting old. Not that fifty-seven was near the end of the line, but more than a few crow’s-feet were carved near his eyes and his hair was thinner and whiter than it once had been. His weight was starting to become a problem, and sometimes, damn it, he just felt tired.
    As he grew older, he wanted more from life than a string of hotels, not that the business wasn’t important. It was. But he wanted, needed, a daughter who worked with him, a daughter who was happily married, adaughter who would become the mother of the grandchildren he intended to spoil rotten.
    A quick rap on the door and Kent, not one hair out of place, strode into the suite. Shutting the door behind him, he turned back to Victor. “Kate said you wanted to see me.” He flashed his easygoing smile.
    Victor liked Kent. The boy was so eager. He reminded Victor of himself twenty-five years before. Waving the younger man into a chair, he said, “It’s about Marnie.”
    The all-American smile faded as Kent sat down. “I thought she left.”
    â€œShe did. And apparently she took the Marnie Lee with her.”
    â€œWhat!” Kent blanched and leaped back to his feet. Then he sank back into his chair. “But she couldn’t have,” he said, one hand rubbing the opposite forearm.
    â€œI just got a call from the Coast Guard—”
    â€œOh, my God, there’s been an