Urgent Pursuit. Beverly Long

kid ambled into the kitchen. He wore pajama pants and a faded green T-shirt. “Yeah,” he said, ignoring Bray.

      “Come here,” Summer said to her children. She led them over to the kitchen table and she sat down. She pointed for them to take chairs. “I have something to tell you,” she said. “I don’t want you to be worried or scared. I do want you to understand what’s happened.”

      “What, Mama?” Adie asked.

      “This is about your dad. He was expected at work this morning and he didn’t show up. Chief Poole is concerned about that.”

      “Maybe his alarm didn’t go off,” Keagan said.

      “He’s not at the house,” Summer said. “Do either of you know anything about where your dad may have gone? Did he say anything to you yesterday?”

      “He said, ‘’Bye, Adie,’” the little girl said.

      Summer leaned forward and gave her little girl a hug. She looked over Adie’s shoulder at her oldest child. “Keagan?”

      “He was mad that you weren’t there,” Keagan said. “Nothing too odd about that.”

      Bray could tell that it pained Summer to hear her child so coldly remark upon the relationship she had with her ex.

      “It’s possible,” she said, “that Chief Poole might want to talk to you about your dad. All you need to do is tell the truth. Whatever it is, just tell the truth.”

      “Did something bad happen to Dad?” Keagan asked.

      “I don’t know,” Summer said honestly. “But what I do know is that a lot of good people are concerned about him and doing their very best to find him. I think they will. I do.”

      Keagan looked at Bray for the first time. “I think it’s strange that something happens to my dad the same day you show up.”

      Bray didn’t take offense. In fact, he gave the kid some credit. Hearing that his dad was MIA but still being able to piece together information told him the teen was probably a good thinker.

      “Keagan,” Summer said, censure in her tone.

      Bray waved it away. “I’m a federal agent, Keagan. In New York City. I arrest drug dealers. I’m good at following clues. And I’m going to do everything I can to find your dad.”

      “Why? You don’t even know him.”

      “You’re right. But I’ve known your mom for a really long time and I’m doing it to help her.”

      “Whatever,” Keagan said. He looked at his mother. “Now what?”

      “Now we go on about our lives,” she said. “We don’t know that something bad has happened to your dad. Everything may be just fine and there’s a good explanation for why we can’t find him. I don’t want you to worry. In fact,” she said, looking at Trish, “we have to take Aunt Trish to pick up her car in Hamerton. After that, we can swing by the mall. We need to pick up a few things for Chase and Raney’s wedding reception, and I thought we might have dinner at Capaghetti’s.”

      “Spaghetti at Capaghetti’s,” Adie said in a singsong voice. “And garlic bread. Is Bray-Neigh coming, too?”

      Summer looked at him. “Not today, sweetheart,” Summer said. “Mr. Hollister is in town to see his family. I’m sure he’s anxious to get back to them,” she added, definitely letting him know that he wasn’t welcome on their little excursion.

      Summer’s pushing him away was a familiar pain. Trish was frowning at her twin. He understood. It had been the same way fifteen years before, when he’d come back to Ravesville only to learn that Summer had married Gary Blake. When Summer had refused to give him any reasonable explanation, he’d gone to Trish.

      “I don’t get it,” she’d said. “I love you, Bray. You know I do. But she’s my sister.”

      He’d left quietly fifteen years ago. He could do it again. He stood up. “Nice to see you again, Trish,” he said.

      “You, too,” she whispered.

      He looked at Summer. “Be careful.”

      “Go get your things, kids” was all she said.