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.Dan knew what loneliness was.He’d been lonely for fifteen years.He’d hate to see the kid end up the same way.Dan valued family, and as far as he was concerned, Josh Compton was a part of his family, too.“Come on, I guarantee it’ll be a nice relaxing evening.We’ll watch the game, share a six pack and a couple of good steaks.”Josh nodded, though Dan sensed the reluctance.Still, the first step was taken.Chapter 20Ally was ready to call it a day.She’d had her hands full all afternoon, first refereeing an argument between Eric and Dr.Richison, and then assisting Kelly in the lab with the CCU’s samples.That was her role in life―assisting and refereeing, Ally had often thought that since joining the FBI.She often handled the biological samples, leaving chemical samples for others.Not exactly what she’d intended when first going to medical school.She’d had dreams of being a daring trauma doctor, saving lives with last minute answers.Being the heroine.Instead she was mom to her children and to the women she worked with.And she was ok with that.Ally had long known that life threw you curve balls, and Ryan and Aislin were the best curve balls she could have ever received.If she occasionally longed to be practicing medicine she suppressed it.At her age, she was really too old to try to switch careers even if she’d been of a mind to.She loved being able to get home to her children in time to fix them dinner and go over homework.She’d not trade that for anything in the world.She checked her watch; if she wanted to get home in time to start that dinner she had to leave within the next half hour.She’d finish this last report then go grab her current house-guest.Kelly was looking for an apartment that met her needs while still fitting into her budget.Ally knew Kelly’s secret―the younger woman was footing the bill for her sister Emma’s law school tuition while juggling her own student loans.Money was often very tight for Kelly.And Ally didn’t mind having another adult in the house with her anyway.Someone to talk to about something other than Dora or Pokémon.It took her less than two minutes to find Kelly, the St.Louis layout very convenient.Ally’s office in Indianapolis had been clear across the building from the lab where most of the processing had been done.She’d never understood that.Kelly was ready to go, having passed her on-going analyses on to one of the lab techs.He’d watch them for the overnight hours and Kelly would read the results in the morning.They walked through the lobby together.“Kelly! Kelly!” Female voices rang out over the lobby and both Ally and Kelly paused.Two redheaded girls waited next to the information counter.Ally recognized the younger girl as Grace, Kelly’s sister.Emma was probably the older one.Ally stayed one step behind Kelly as she rushed to her sisters.“Emma! You’re supposed to be in school, and how did you get Gracie?” Kelly’s greeting wasn’t welcoming, was more worried than Ally had ever heard her.“Does Mother know?”“No.” Gracie shrugged, then readjusted the black backpack over her shoulder.She was at least two inches taller than Ally, but still had the body of a young girl.Her hair was a shade darker than Kelly’s―more red than blond.Closer to the color of her father’s.She was dressed in clothing typical of the average fifteen-year-old girl.Emma was a more feminine copy of Kelly.No black and dark purple clothing for the middle sister.Her hair hung nearly to her waist and it curled softly.She wore a dress of flimsy white and lavender material, the cut slightly risqué but still aware of her young age.She was absolutely beautiful.Through the face she looked enough like Kelly for them to be twins.The Reynolds sisters were flat out the most beautiful trio of girls Ally had ever seen.Emma was drawing the attention of several of the younger agents in the lobby, as well.She didn’t even appear aware of the looks as she placed her hands on her hips and looked up at her slightly taller sister.“I simply told the school secretary that there was a family emergency and I needed my sister.”“She was new.Didn’t know it was Emma and not you.” Gracie pushed her glasses up her nose and grinned wickedly.“I’m sure by the time they realized Em wasn’t allowed at my school we were already across the state line.”“Great.Making it a federal kidnapping case,” Kelly said.She wrapped her hand around Emma’s arm.“When Mother finds out she’ll never let either of us see Gracie again.Did you think of that when you were hatching this little scheme?”“By the time the old crone realizes I’ve taken Gracie, little sister will be safely instilled in Daddy Dearest’s living room.” Emma shrugged.“Absolutely nothing she can do about it.”“Except charge both him and you with kidnapping [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]