Free In Too Deep by Norah McClintock Page A

exactly the press, Dad. I spent today at the beach, handing out free copies of the paper to tourists and summer people.”
    â€œGood for you. It’s all about eyeballs, Robbie.”
    â€œIf you say so. What’s new with you, Dad?”
    â€œThat’s why I’m calling. I have to go out of town for a little while.”
    â€œHow long?”
    â€œA couple weeks.”
    â€œBut you promised Mom—”
    â€œHow is she anyway?” my dad said. “Have you heard from her?”
    â€œShe’s fine. She called from Paris.” You wouldn’t have known it by the conversation, though. All she wanted to talk about was road safety. “Dad, you promised her—”
    â€œI know. Something came up. You’ll still be able to get me by phone. I’ll just be a few days away from you instead of a few hours.”
    â€œA few days? Where are you going?”
    â€œSingapore.”
    â€œSingapore? What for?”
    â€œBusiness. I’ll be in a different time zone. Half the time I’ll be in a different day. But you should be able to get hold of me anytime. If something comes up and you need someone right away, call Dean. Okay?”
    I said okay. I considered telling him that I had run into Nick but decided against it. Nick wanted to do this on his own.
    Morgan and her crutches thumped down to the end of the dock after I had hung up.
    â€œWanna watch a movie or something?” she said. Her summerhouse was equipped with a satellite dish. “We can make popcorn.”
    â€œAren’t you waiting for Billy to call?”
    She shook her head. “He’s on a canoe trip. I won’t be able to talk to him until the end of the week. So, how about it?”
    â€œOkay.” I looked down at the business card I was holding. “Just let me make a call.”
    â€œI’ll go start the popcorn.”
    While Morgan made her way back up to the house, I flipped open my phone and keyed in the number on the business card.
    â€œMr. Wilson? This is Robyn Hunter. About that tune-up you offered me ...”

    Â Â .    .    .

    â€œI might be a little late getting back after work,” I told Morgan the next day. “You sure you don’t want to run me across to the marina? That way you’ll have the boat.”
    â€œI’ll be fine,” Morgan said. “I’ve still got a pile of magazines from yesterday.” I had picked her up after work and taken her into town for some shopping. She had loaded up on magazines, which, of course, I had to carry for her. “What’s up? Do you have to work late?”
    â€œI’m getting the car tuned up. At Larry Wilson’s place.”
    Morgan gave me a look. “Does Nick know?”
    â€œNot yet.”
    â€œDidn’t he tell you—”
    â€œNow that I know where he is, it’s torture not to be able to see him.”
    â€œBut you’re not supposed to know him.”
    â€œI’m not planning to talk to him. I’m just getting the car tuned up. That’s all.”
    â€œRight,” Morgan said. “That’s all.”
    â€œWell, plus I’ll be able to see for myself that he’s okay. Nothing’s going to happen.”

    Â Â .    .    .

    As soon as I finished work, I drove out to Mr. Wilson’s place. I stopped at the gate and pressed the buzzer attached to an intercom on the fence. The gate started to rumble open. I drove slowly up the gravel driveway to the garage. Mr. Wilson was working on a beat-up old car with two group-home residents. Bruno had a couple more with him. Nick wasn’t in either group.
    â€œRobyn, good to see you again,” Wilson said. He wiped his hands on a rag as he came out to greet me. “Hey, guys, you remember Robyn.”
    Most of the boys looked away as soon as I smiled at them—except Bruno, who grinned and asked me if I was managing to stay out of