A flush of anger swept over her. Didn’t he know how frightened and worried she’d be at his sudden disappearance? How could he have done this to her? Just as quickly she was filled with remorse. She shouldn’t be mad at him. Obviously, he wasn’t thinking clearly. He was in trouble. Desperate and feeling alone. Pretty much like she was feeling right about now.
Sophie steadied her trembling hands. She needed to stay levelheaded. She refused to believe her dad was dead. If he was, she’d know, wouldn’t she? There’d be a huge, aching void where her heart had been. Instead, all she felt was pain, fear and confusion.
He had to be alive. Nothing else was acceptable or comprehendible. She had to find him before his words came true.
She drew in a deep, calming breath and tried to remain patient while the investigator continued reading. His body language indicated he was intrigued by the document in his hand. Subtle movements. Chewing his lower lip as he read. Fingers drumming a steady rhythm against the arm of his chair. A slight squinting of his eyes, fanning lines across his skin. How many times was he going to read the letter? She could recite it for him if he wanted. She knew each word by heart.
I am enclosing this gift as a token of my love.
Sophie’s hand flew to the hand-carved wooden heart hanging around her neck. Her fingers traced an idle path along the intricate design.
I know you don’t understand why I left without a word. But for your safety, I could not tell you then and don’t dare tell you now.
For my safety? Mine?
Oh, Dad. What’s going on? What do you mean you’ll be dead? You can’t be dead. You can’t.
They’re coming. I must hurry and say good-bye.
I am ready, princess. I am ready to go on that last great adventure each one of us inevitably takes.
Just know that I love you…with all my heart.
Her breathing quickened and her eyes flew to Cain Garrison. Was he going to take the case? She didn’t know what she’d do if he turned her down. Would he be able to help? She’d tried everything she could think of and he was her last hope. She fidgeted in her seat. How much longer would he sit there staring at that rotten piece of paper that had caused her nothing but sorrow and anger?
Dear Lord, help me be patient. After all, I’ve had time to digest this nightmare. This man’s had about six minutes.
The prayer came automatically, almost as if her mind didn’t remember that she had stopped talking to God. He didn’t answer prayers…or, at least, He didn’t answer hers.
Sophie brushed her hair off her shoulders, letting it fall in waves down her back, and sat straighter in the soft leather chair. She could almost hear her dad’s scolding voice from childhood. “Sophie Joy Clarkston, what’s wrong with you? You’re full of itches and twitches, girl.”
Itches and twitches.
Sophie chewed on a fingernail and thought about the last time she’d seen her dad. After a late dinner they’d sat together on the front porch, listening to music, gazing at the stars, sharing idle conversation. She’d kissed him good-night and gone up to bed. The next morning she’d found a bag filled with money—a huge sum of money—lying on the table by her chair. He was gone. Without warning or word of any kind. Until two days later when the letter had arrived in the mail.
Her breath came in short, quick gasps and she felt like she was going to crawl out of her skin. She needed to distract herself. Fast.
Crossing to the window, she raised a slat and looked outside. Main Street consisted of four blocks of mom-and-pop stores, a restaurant or two, an insurance company, a pharmacy. A handful of passersby bustled past the window as they hurried about their business. A few people stood together on the sidewalk chatting.
Nothing scary.
Nothing ominous.
So why couldn’t she shake the feeling that someone was watching her every move? Her nerves were shot. She hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in weeks and it was starting to show.
“Forgive my rudeness, Ms. Clarkston,” Cain said as he placed the letter on his desk and stood. “Can I offer you a cup of coffee or a soft drink?”
“Coffee would be wonderful. Cream and sugar, please. And call me Sophie.”
Blinking hard to hold back tears, she returned to her chair. She admired the professional yet welcoming atmosphere of the office as she looked around. Two brown leather chairs faced a highly polished mahogany desk. The tall cabinet on the far wall looked more like a fine piece of furniture than storage for files. A variety of plants and a large silk tree added an outdoor ambience to the room. Two framed professional investigator licenses hung on the wall to the left of heavy hunter-green drapes.
Two? In such a small town as Promise?
The deep, rich aroma of freshly ground coffee wafted from behind a silk screen standing in front of a small kitchen area. Sophie’s stomach growled, reminding her she hadn’t had any breakfast…or dinner the night before.
“One sugar or two?”
Sophie liked listening to the deep resonant tone of his voice. He seemed sure of himself, in control. And that’s what she needed right now, someone to help control the chaos surrounding her.
“Two, please.”
She watched him approach. His thick chestnut hair tumbled in an unkempt wave across his forehead, almost obscuring his vision, and she had to sit on her hands to control the absurd impulse she had to reach up and swipe it out of his eyes. He was handsome, sort of a young Johnny Depp look-alike, late twenties, maybe early thirties. If he was as good at his job as he was to look at, then she was definitely in the right place.
Cain winced as he carried the coffee mug to his client. The stiffness in his left leg shot a wave of pain into his hip. He could feel her eyes boring into him as he limped across the room.
“Don’t worry. It looks a lot worse than it is.” He grinned and handed her a mug.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stare.”
“Don’t sweat it. You’re simply wondering if you’re spending your money wisely or if you’ve made a mistake.”
“It’s not that,” she stammered.
“Of course it is.” He grinned and perched his hip on the edge of the desk. “Never apologize for considering all the facts when making a business transaction.” He slapped his leg. “I could joke and say it’s an old war injury. In a way it probably is. A war wound from my undercover narcotics days when I worked for the Charlottesville police.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. You didn’t do it.” He slid off the edge of the desk and went back to his chair. “After my injury, they offered me a life behind a desk but that wasn’t the life for me.” He rapped on the desk. “Unless I own the desk, of course.”
Her smile made him happy that his words had had their desired effect.
“How long have you been a private investigator?” Sophie asked.
“Three years now. My partner and I opened Garrison Investigations shortly after I moved back home. I decided I’d had enough of big-city living and wanted to return to my country roots.”
“Pardon my rudeness, but I’m surprised you have a partner, Mr. Garrison. If I remember correctly, Promise is a very small town.”
Cain grinned. “That’s so true, Ms. Clarkston.”
“Sophie…”
He nodded. “Sophie. My sister, Holly, is my partner. She runs the diner across the street. Serves the best home-cooked meals you’ve ever tasted. But every now and