I shook my head. “You’re not sorry in the slightest, Little Minx. You could at least feel bad for me.”
She bit her bottom lip. “I could come help…”
“Killing me,” I grumbled as I headed for the shower, her laughter following me.
By the time I was out of the bathroom and dressed, the scents of an amazing breakfast were filtering through the house. My stomach growled, but I ignored it and went looking for Luke first. His door was closed, and I knocked lightly.
“Yeah?”
I poked my head in. “Morning.”
Luke looked up from his desk but quickly averted his gaze. “Morning.”
I moved in and squeezed his shoulder. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine,” he mumbled.
“Luke, look at me.”
My son lifted his gaze. There was so much pain there.
“We’re not brushing things under the rug anymore. We’re talking about everything. Okay? I want to know how you’rereallydoing.”
Luke’s jaw worked back and forth. “I’m worried you’re pissed at me.”
I took a seat on his bed and spun his chair around to face me. “Nothing in me is pissed. Not at you. Worried about you? Yes. Pissed as hell at your mom? Another yes. Hurting because I know that the kid I love more than life is in pain? Yes again. But I’m not mad at you. Not at all. I’m glad to know what’s been going on.”
Luke swallowed. “Vi said you weren’t mad.”
“Sounds like you’ve got a smart girl there.”
Luke shifted in his seat. “She’s really been there for me when I’ve needed to talk.”
“I’m glad. We all need that.”
He looked up at me. “I like her.”
I grinned at him. “You’d be an idiot not to, and I’d like to think I didn’t raise any fools.”
Luke’s lips twitched, and he looked down at his shoes. “Could I invite her over, even though I’m grounded? I want to make sure she’s okay.”
I sighed. “All right. Invite her for dinner this week. I want to get to know her better.”
A smile split Luke’s face. “Thanks, Dad.”
How long had it been since he’d called me that? I didn’t remember. He’d avoided using any moniker at all for me. And now I wasDadagain. It left a burn, but it was the kind I loved.
* * *
I strode into the station,the wind swirling as I let the door close. Smith was back at his desk, and I greeted him with a nod. “You hanging in there?”
He swallowed hard as he nodded. “Who does something like this?”
I stopped in front of the desk. “A monster. But we’re going to find out who’s responsible and put him away.”
“He’s already killed two people, maybe more. Daniels said it’s gotta be the guy you picked up.”
My gut clenched at the thought of the missing persons that might be added to the unsub’s list. I’d put a call in to the FBI team who had worked Hallie’s kidnapping and let them know of the similar cases we were seeing. They’d promised someone would get back to me, but I hadn’t heard a word yet.
