Free Target by Lisa Phillips Page A

time with Andrea without actually thinking about how soft her lips might be.
    “I’m going to head out.”
    Liam glanced back over his shoulder. “Fine.” He needed a quiet evening, and the only person he wanted to spend it with was Andrea.
    “Later.”
    He listened to Caisey leave and dished out the food.
    “Can I help?” Andrea’s cheeks were still stained with pink.
    “I got it. Where do you want to eat?”
    “The table is good.” She pulled open a drawer and got out two place mats. When they sat, Andrea kept her hands in her lap and looked up at him. “Do you mind if I say grace?”
    Liam didn’t begrudge her something that simple. His mom always prayed over her food and he actually sort of liked it. “Sure.”
    He listened to her voice as she spoke. The gentle words rose in cadence as she gained a rhythm that was like the chorus of a familiar song. She asked for protection for all of them and that the killer would be brought to justice. When she finished, she opened her eyes and gave him a small smile. “Thanks.”
    “No problem.” He picked up his fork, but didn’t take a bite. “You believe that God can do all that?”
    “Sure, I do. He’s God, isn’t He?”
    “But…does He really care that much? I’d think He’d be busy with all the famine and war, stuff like that.”
    Andrea took a bite of her food, chewing while she looked aside for a minute. “Jesus said God is like a shepherd who leaves his ninety-nine sheep to go search for the one lost one. He doesn’t just stick with the flock and write off His losses like we’d do, thinking at least He still has the majority. God pursues that one sheep and carries it home.”
    Liam didn’t know what to say. He’d never heard that before, or even considered that God cared about individual people. He’d figured it was more of Him generally caring for humanity—the greater good in spite of earthquakes and floods and such.
    She smiled. “Thank you for asking me if He cares. I needed to remember that.”
    “You’re welcome.” He returned her smile, and opened his mouth to say something when a phone rang. Liam pulled his cell out, but no one was calling.
    Andrea had hers in her hand. “It’s the office.”
    She went to get up, but he put his hand on her arm. He’d rather she was close by than risk not being near her if something happened, especially when it was only for the sake of politeness.
    She sat. “Hello?” A frown creased her forehead. “No, that’s not right…I know. Yes, thank you. I appreciate you calling…I’ll be there as soon as I can.” She hung up. “My office was broken into. The security guard thought I might have left it unlocked, but I’m sure I locked my door when we left after lunch.”
    “You did.” He worked his mouth back and forth. “Did they call the police?”
    “I have to go and look at it so I can tell them if there’s anything missing.”
    “Okay. Grab your coat and I’ll call Caisey.”
    Andrea hesitated. “Do you think it’s him?”
    “Whether it is, or not, either way we need to know.”
     
    **
     
    Caisey set her fork down and sat back in her chair. Grams’ smaller portion of dinner was gone, and Jake was already texting. Jenna was still taking her ridiculously dainty bites. “Are you going to be done some time this year?”
    Jenna didn’t react. She was used to Caisey’s moods. Anyone would be after more than twenty years of best friendship. Jenna cut a tiny piece of potato into two miniscule pieces, put it in her mouth excruciatingly slowly and gave Caisey a sugar smile. “What was that?”
    Caisey growled. “I would like to get up from this table sometime this year, that’s what. Are you going to be finished before we’re fifty?”
    “Or before I’m one hundred.”
    Caisey shot Grams a smile. The apple didn’t fall far from that tree.
    Jenna rolled her eyes. “Gang up on me, why don’t y’all.”
    Caisey gagged.
    Grams shook her head. “We don’t use that word, dear. You