Free Nightwatch by Valerie Hansen Page B

sister.”
    The brown eyes opened, focused on her, then widened. “Where’s my mama?”
    â€œI’m Jill. You’re staying at my house, remember?
    â€œWhere’s Timmy?”
    That was a good question, one she was about to pursue. “I’m not sure. Let’s go look for him, shall we? He may have found Megan for us.”
    Although the five-year-old took her hand he lagged back, clearly unwilling to trust her to lead him anywhere. Rather than continue to struggle against his reluctance she simply scooped him up and perched him on her hip.
    Calling, “Timmy? Megan?” Jill made her way from room to room, checking carefully while also chattingwith Paul to keep him interested and hopefully distract him from sensing the depth of her anxiety.
    The farther they went, the more they searched, the more disheartened she became. It wasn’t a big house and she knew every inch of it. The children were simply not there.
    Heart racing and head pounding, she carried Paul out onto the porch off the kitchen. There was only one person she could go to, one person she could trust and always rely upon no matter what. Mitch Andrews. And right now she could hardly wait to rejoin him and at least feel a little less alone in this terrible mess.
    There was no sign of him anywhere in the backyard so she shouted, “ Mitch! Where are you?”
    His head popped through the open barn doorway. “In here. Did you find her?”
    Jill was so distressed she could hardly speak, hardly bring herself to answer. “No.”
    â€œThen why are you out here? I thought I told you to…”
    Jill saw his eyes narrow, his brow furrow. When he spoke again she knew he’d spotted her problem.
    â€œWhere’s Tim?”
    Her voice broke when she said, “I have no idea.”
    Mitch was beside her in seconds. Instead of berating her the way she’d expected, he circled her shoulders with one arm, steadied her and leaned closer to say, “Don’t panic. He has to be around here somewhere. When did you see him last?”
    She blinked to clear her head. “Um, when you did, I guess. You told us to stay together and I just assumed…”
    â€œYou figured he’d listen to me. I know. I did, too, orI’d never have left you.” He concentrated on the child she was still carrying. “How about you, buddy? Did you see where your brother went?”
    Paul rubbed sleepy eyes and shook his head.
    â€œHe was still napping when I went to get him,” Jill explained. “I don’t think he has a clue about what’s been going on.”
    As she raised her gaze to meet Mitch’s she felt a stray tear slip out the corner of her eye and trickle down her cheek. “What’re we going to do?”
    â€œWait for the sheriff. Meanwhile, we’ll start another search. Harlan can take over when he gets here.”
    â€œHa! Don’t hold your breath. The dispatcher didn’t take me seriously when I called 911. Who knows how long it’ll be before anybody shows up?”
    â€œI’ll take care of that.” Mitch gave her shoulders a parting squeeze, then took out his own cell phone and hit speed dial. “This is Andrews,” he said with authority as soon as his call was answered. “I’m at the scene of a crime and we need law enforcement out here ASAP. Got that?”
    Astonished, Jill waited until he was through briefly explaining the situation and telling the other party where he was before she asked, “What did you just do?”
    â€œUsed my influence,” he said. “Fire and police share the same dispatch center. The sheriff is on his way.”
    Her eyes misted. “Oh, thank you.”
    Once again his arm slipped around her shoulder and he drew her close, including the obviously confused five-year-old in their shared embrace. “It’ll be okay. Tim is just out doing his own thing the way he always does. I’m