LITMIR.BIZ

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into going out for the baseball team.”

      “I didn’t, exactly. He’s going to be my assistant.”

      “Assistant? That’s even more of a surprise.”

      Gabriel chuckled. “I sort of backed him into a corner.”

      Rebecca slanted another look up the stairs, her heart beating normally again. Her vivid imagination had conjured up all kinds of trouble for Peter. “Did he say anything to you about why he left the house?”

      “No, not exactly. For a second I thought he was going to tell me about someone letting him down.”

      “No doubt me for moving here.”

      “I think it’s someone else. Talk to him tomorrow. Maybe he will be ready to tell you.”

      “Maybe,” she murmured, knowing in her heart that her eldest wouldn’t talk to her about what was troubling him. In the past year their relationship had unraveled, and she didn’t know how to stop it from coming completely apart. “Thanks again for all your help.”

      “It’s part of my job. I’m just glad it ended okay.”

      “Yeah, but you’ve lost several nights of sleep because of my family.”

      “I wasn’t in bed yet. I was trying to read a book and not getting very far.” He started to turn away and stopped. “I was going to call you anyway tomorrow.”

      “You were?”

      “Jenny, our file clerk at the station, decided to elope last night. I got a call from her late this afternoon. She and her new husband are going to live in Oklahoma City. We could use a new file clerk, sometimes a dispatcher. It doesn’t pay much, but I hope you’ll apply.”

      “File clerk? I think I can handle that.”

      “There’s some computer work involved, too.”

      “That shouldn’t be a problem. If I don’t know your programs, I should be able to pick it up quickly.”

      A smile flashed across his face. “Then call the station and set up an interview with my secretary, Mabel.”

      Rebecca watched Gabriel stroll away, both elated and apprehensive. With a job on the horizon, she had to work out child care for Josh. She didn’t want to leave him, and yet she had to earn some money to support her family, to pay the bills. Craig wasn’t reliable, and Josh’s care was expensive. If she got the job at the police station, at least she would be staying in Oakview. As she closed the front door, she pushed her doubts to the background and made a promise to herself. Gabriel Stone would not regret giving her this chance.

      Chapter Four

      Rebecca heard the back door slam. Peering into the kitchen, she saw Peter go to the refrigerator. He took a jug of ice water out and poured himself a tall glass.

      “How was practice today?” Rebecca came into the room, hoping that her son would finally say more than two words to her. She’d never had the talk with Peter because he’d avoided her, and she knew the uselessness of having a conversation with him when he was in a rotten mood.

      “Just great,” he mumbled. “One of my favorite things is to run laps around a baseball diamond.” The frown carved into his features belied his words.

      “I thought you were the assistant.”

      “Yeah, well, it seems the assistant runs along with everyone else, even the coaches. Something that Coach Stone forgot to tell me the other night.”

      “I guess you couldn’t very well stand there watching everyone run.”

      “Right, and he knew that I’d feel awkward.” Peter’s frown deepened as he trudged to the sink and put his glass in it.

      Rebecca looked at her son’s dress shoes. “Where are your sneakers? You didn’t run in those, did you?”

      “Yes.” Peter stared at the sink as though he had never seen it before. “I forgot them, but he didn’t believe me. He made me run anyway.”

      “Did you really forget them?”

      Peter whirled. “Yes, of course!”

      “But you never wear your dress shoes to school.”

      “Well, I wanted to today.” He glared at her, daring her to disagree.

      “Let’s talk, Peter.”

      “Now? I’m beat.”

      “Then have a seat at the table.” Rebecca gestured toward it. “We’ve put this off too long. We need to talk about Saturday night.” She made her voice firm, no-nonsense sounding.

      Peter loudly sighed but walked to the table and plopped into a chair, slouching against its caned back.

      “Chief Stone thinks that you’re upset because you feel someone has let you down.”

      “He should mind his own business,” Peter mumbled, picking at the bright yellow place mat in front of him.

      “Lately you have been his business. When you disappeared the other night, you became his business.”

      “Only because you called him.” He stabbed her with a defiant glare.

      “I was afraid something bad would happen to you. Nine-year-old boys don’t go out at midnight.”

      “I’m gonna be ten soon.” Peter dropped his gaze and began to roll the place mat at the corner.

      “Ten-year-old boys don’t, either.”

      “I’m not a baby anymore.”

      Rebecca grasped his hand. “I know that. Both Josh and I depend on you, honey. That’s why I can’t have you leaving the house late at night. I don’t know what I would do without you.” Emotion welled in her throat.

      Peter kept his head down, his shoulders slumped.

      “Promise me you won’t do that again.”

      He mumbled what she thought was a yes.

      “And as long as you’re involved with the baseball team, I won’t extend your grounding. I think it’s important you do something like that.” She realized the second she said those words that she might be dooming Peter’s participation with the team. Lately he seemed to go out of his way not to do what she wanted. “Now, speaking of your birthday, what do you want to do for it? We could have a party and invite—”

      Peter’s head shot up, and he yanked his hand from her clasp. “I don’t know anyone in Oakview to invite. All of my friends are back in Dallas.”

      “Then what do you want to do?”

      Chewing on his lower lip, he glanced away then at her. “I want to go fishing with Dad like we used to.”

      The tightness in her throat spread. Her lungs burned. Craig and Peter used to go fishing at least once a month. Her son loved to fish and hadn’t been since Craig had left them. “Then we’ll call him and see what we can set up.”

      His face brightened. “We can?”

      “Yes, let’s call this evening after he gets home from work.”

      “Great!” Peter jumped to his feet. “I’d better go do my homework.”

      As he ran from the kitchen, her grandmother came into the room. “My, who lit a fire under that young man?”

      “Granny, I’m so afraid he’s going to be disappointed.”

      “Why, child?”

      “He wants Craig to take him fishing on his birthday.”

      “Oh.” Granny sank into the chair that Peter had occupied.

      “I told him we’ll call him

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