Jack Murray, Sheriff. Janice Johnson Kay
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Название: Jack Murray, Sheriff
Автор: Janice Johnson Kay
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
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When the clock chimed softly six times, Beth knew she couldn’t bear the silence anymore, the relentless tick of the second hand, the empty street. She reached for the phone. Only then did it occur to her that Jack Murray might not be at home waiting for her call.
Painful relief surged through her when he picked up after the third ring and said brusquely, “Murray here.”
“Sheriff, this is Beth Sommers. Your neighbor. Um, the one who…”
“Has troubles with her ex-husband. I know who you are, Beth. Is he there now?”
“No.” Her chest felt as if it were being crushed. “Ray had the girls this weekend. He was supposed to bring them home at one today. He’s…he’s five hours late. I called the Elk Springs police, but they can’t do anything until twenty-four hours has passed. I could tell they thought I was being hysterical. Maybe I am….” Her voice was rising and she had to swallow a sob.
“I’ll be right over.” She heard a click and more silence, but a different brand this time.
He was coming. He would find Ray and the girls. Her anger had long since been swamped by fear, but tears hadn’t threatened until this minute, when she no longer felt so helpless and alone.
The sheriff arrived in an unmarked dark blue sedan. Beth rushed to unlock the front door. At the sight of the tall, dark man striding up her walkway, she was shocked by her desire to throw herself into his arms and cry against his shoulder. She had always been so independent—too much so for Ray’s taste. Even when times were toughest, she’d never been so tempted to trust a man to take care of her.
He took the porch steps two at a time. “Any word?”
Beth shook her head, her lips pressed together. Hold me, her heart cried.
She stood back and said stiffly, “Thank you. For coming.”
“I told you to call me.” He stopped on the doorstep, his brown eyes searching her face. “Why did you wait so long?”
“I was sure he’d show up. It’s a game for him. No, it’s not,” she reversed herself. “He hurts, and somehow that’s warped him. He wasn’t like this. He loved the girls!”
Without a word, Jack stepped forward and enfolded her in his arms. Off balance, she had to wrap hers around his waist. It felt so natural to lean against him and lay her cheek against his broad chest. His heart drummed beneath her ear and for just an instant she felt…safe.
But she wasn’t. Steph and Lauren weren’t. She couldn’t assume some man would fix troubles made by another one.
Beth stiffened and drew away.
Briefly his arms tightened, then freed her. Without comment, Jack said, “Give me his address and phone number. We’ll start there.”
Beth led him into the kitchen. “I just left another message ten or fifteen minutes ago.”
“I’ll send a deputy to his place.”
“Thank you.” She swallowed and willed herself not to cry. “I don’t think he’s there, but…thank you.”
He reached for her but stopped himself. “You’re welcome.”
She listened as he made the call. Brewing coffee gave her something to do while they waited. When she put the cup in front of him, he looked up.
“Where else does he take them?”
Beth sagged into the chair. “Not much of anywhere. Just recently Steph was saying that he’s always promising something special and then reneging. They mostly hang around at his place. Play computer games and watch TV. They get bored.”
He watched her steadily. “Do they go fishing? For walks? To the softball field?”
A spark of hope flared to life. “Wait. A friend of his has a cabin on the Deschutes. I wonder…”
The phone rang. She pounced on it, her heart drumming. “Hello?”
“Sheriff Murray handy?”
Almost holding her breath, she passed the phone to him.
“Yeah?” He frowned. “Okay. Let me call you in a minute.” Setting down the phone, Jack shook his head. “No sign they’re there.”
“Oh, no.” She twisted her fingers together and tried desperately to think. “The friend’s name is Bill. Bill… Oh, what is it?” she exclaimed in frustration. “Why can’t I remember?”
Jack’s big hand covered hers. “Hey.” His voice was a soft rumble. “Calm down. It’ll come to you.”
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