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She frowned “That doesn't explain why she thinks he's going to run away"

"The kid's unhappy at home Hates his dad, who's an alcoholic and hardly ever houes constantly with his mom"

"Sounds like your average teenager to me"

Jake laughed softly “Yeah, I guess it does But lately, the kid's apparently been saying that he doesn't need them any more, that he's found someone who understands him" Nikki raised her eyebrows “The Internet friend?"

"Maybe"

"Has Mrs Kincaid asked Matthew about the friend?"

"Yeah,” Jake said, voice dry “And the reply is one I'rinned “Has she tried going into his computer when he's at school?"

"You need a password to get into his E-s"

"Clever kid"

"Too clever, apparently That's why he's so of an outcast at school" She snorted “I think the ears and the heightto do with that"

"On the Internet, looks don't matter"

"They do if you intend to meet the person"

"Yeah, but there's no indication Matthew's lied about his looks" There was no indication that he hadn't either, and she had a bad feeling the teenager had lied through his teeth while on-line Given his height, his coloring, and those ears, he would surely have been the butt of iven him not only anonymity but also the ability to reinvent himself

So ould he risk all that to meet his friend and reveal the truth? And why did she have a feeling that it could all go horribly wrong?

She glanced at her watch “It's close to eleven-thirty now Does histo happen?"