A Family Homecoming by Laurie Paige Page B

life from that of his work, especially watching his language in front of his wife and child. He felt a stab of guilt at the foul word but didn’t apologize.
    â€œHmm, what about Willie Sparks? Any word on him?”
    â€œNah, he hasn’t been seen in his usual digs, either, but that isn’t unusual. He sometimes takes jobs at remote ranches or hauling logs for some of the small operators around the county.”
    â€œOkay, keep me posted, would you?”
    â€œSure thing.”
    Kyle hung up and turned toward Danielle. She was wearing a green sweater of that real soft material that reminded him of a bedspread, sort of like velvet. Her slacks were gray flannel wool and flowed over her hips in an alluring curve. She was in her socks. As usual.
    Funny, the things he’d remembered while he wasaway. Her cold feet. The socks. The little silky summer thing, the long gown for winter. The sweet sounds she made when they made love—all those soft, crooning notes of desire that had driven him wild.
    Those things he’d given up. He had no right to the memories, either. They didn’t help the situation. He’d done what he thought was right. He’d done it knowing he might never see her again. But he couldn’t risk her life…
    â€œWhy are you interested in Dillon Pierce and Willie Sparks?” Danielle asked, breaking into the useless cross-examination of his past decisions.
    He hesitated, wondering if he should mention what could amount to nothing. Seeing her stiffen, he realized he had offended her with his silence. Again.
    â€œNever mind,” she said and walked down the hall.
    He followed, determined not to let the matter stand and fester between them. “I saw Sara’s face when Dillon Pierce’s name was mentioned. I thought I saw fear in her eyes, but she looked down, so I wasn’t positive.”
    Danielle turned after flipping on the computer in her office. Her forehead crinkled into a frown as she thought. “I felt her stiffen when we started talking about the assault on Angela and the kidnapping. Then she put her hands over her mouth….”
    Her voice trailed off. Kyle waited with the patience learned from years on the job.
    â€œWas that when that man’s name was mentioned? Dillon Pierce?” she asked. “Was that when you noticed she was frightened?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI thought so, too. It was just like when she was looking at the mug shots. I felt the jolt go through her whole body.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell me about that?” He subdued the impatience and gave her an eagle stare.
    â€œI didn’t think of it. Later, when we got home, I wondered if I should mention it to Rafe the next time I saw him. He was the one who showed us the mug shots.”
    â€œShe covered her mouth then, too,” he said. The pool of emotion shifted dangerously as she realized that Dani, his wife, hadn’t thought to tell him, her husband and an FBI agent, of her suspicions. That told him better than words that she had no trust in him to solve the problem. Or to look out for her and their daughter. The bleakness rippled through him like the head winds of a storm.
    â€œYes,” she said. “Yes. Kyle, there has to be a connection. There has to be!”
    His heart skipped a couple of beats when she looked at him expectantly, her eyes shining like young Sara’s. He looked away. He’d lost any rights to Dani when he had opted out of her life. But he could help her now. And he would. “Could they have been the two men in the parking lot?” Danielle voiced the question that loomed in his mind. “But how would the Pierce guy know Willie Sparks?”
    â€œHe could have followed Angela to town, then met up with Willie here. If Pierce didn’t want Angela to recognize him, he would need a partner to help keep an eye on her.”
    â€œWouldn’t it have been difficult to find someone to work with