Light from Her Mirror (Mirrors Don't Lie Book 3) by Becki Willis

daunting. “Listen, I know
you’re busy and I know you have a lot going on, but I thought you might could
run a plate for me.”
    “Why?
What’s wrong?” With just those few words, she could hear the immediate concern
in his voice. She could almost hear him straightening to his full five feet
eleven inches, knew he was squaring his muscled shoulders, could practically
see him tightening his stomach and flexing his sculpted chest. He was taking
his officer stance. Affection no longer softened his words. His voice was sharp
and commanding as he asked brusquely, “Makenna, are you in trouble?”
    She
could not directly lie to him, so she avoided the question. “I see a car that
matches the description of the one following Kenzie. I know there are a ton of
these cars in Austin, but I thought it was worth a shot.”
    “Absolutely.
I’ve told you to always trust your gut.”
    She
rattled off the license plate number and waited while Hardin ran it through the
DMV files. They chatted about the upcoming weekend while the computer searched.
Makenna pulled back onto the road, watching her rear view mirror as she took a roundabout
way home.
    “Anything?”
she asked after a while.
    “It
came back registered to a John Black from Galveston, so I did a search for that
name and address.”
    “And
got nothing, I’m sure.”
    “Other
than the fact that the plate belongs on a green ‘98 Tahoe, no. The address
doesn’t exist.”
    “So
this could be the car.” Makenna slowed down as she made the final turn toward
their apartment. No one seemed to be following her, but their address was
hardly secret. Raymond Foto had found them with no problem.
    “I
want you to be extra vigilant, Makenna.” His voice was stern.
    “I
will, I will.”
    “Why
do you sound so guilty?”
    Makenna
laughed. “Why do you know me so well? Okay, so I forgot to obsess about this
whole Joseph Mandarino slash Modern Power fiasco today.”
    “Makenna,
this is no joking matter. There are people who still want to keep your father
quiet. They will go to any means in order to do that, including hurting or
kidnapping one or both of his daughters. And that just happens to include the
woman I love. You cannot blow this off.”
    “I
know that, Hardin,” she said in a small, tired voice. “I was temporarily
distracted by my newest obsession.”
    “I’d
like to think that was me, but I hear the sadness in your voice. You’re talking
about your birth mother.”
    “I
can’t let it go, Hardin. I keep thinking about that picture. There was so much
love in her face. How could a woman who obviously loved her children that much
suddenly abandon both of them? She left me at a church, Kenzie with- with that
woman. How could she do that?”
    “I
don’t know, honey. I wish I had the answers for you.”
    “I’m
sorry, I didn’t mean to throw all this at you. I know you have a lot on your
plate right now and don’t need to add my problems on top of it all.”
    “My
plate will always be big enough for your problems. I want you to always come to
me when something is bothering you,” he said tenderly.
    “Even
when I obsess over crazy little things? Like what I’m going to take Friday to
your family’s celebration? Your mother is an excellent cook and I don’t want to
embarrass myself by bringing some Ellie Mae Clampit knock-off.”
    She
loved the sound of his warm, rich laughter. “Stop worrying about it. You don’t
have to bring a thing. Believe me, there will be plenty of food.”
    “That’s
not the point. It’s etiquette to bring something.”
    “What
about those mean little cookies you made the other night, the ones with the
cinnamon sprinkled on top?”
    “Those
came from the Kroger bakery.”
    “Oh.
Well, I like your chocolate chip cookies.”
    “Those
come from the Keebler elves.”
    Hardin
laughed again. “Maybe as a wedding present, I’ll buy you cooking lessons.”
    “And
maybe I’ll buy you -” Her words were cut short when she saw