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What she needed was a producer who cared about her

She looked at Johnny "Co toward hihter "What?"

"Please, Johnny," Tully pleaded "I need you if this is going to happen I wouldn't trust anyone else It'll give you national exposure I'll call your boss Fred and I are friends from way back And like you said, he'd kill for an exclusive on it"

Johnny looked at his wife "Katie?"

Tully held her breath, waiting for her friend's answer

"It's up to you, Johnny," Kate said at last, though she didn't look happy about it

Johnny sat back "I'll talk to Fred Assuet started torinned "It'll be nice to get out of the station for a few days, anyway"

Tully laughed "That's great"

The screen door banged open; Marah rushed out into the yard "Can I go with you, Daddy? There's no school tomorrow, and you said you wanted me to see you work sooddaughter down into her lap "That's a fantastic idea That way you'll get to see what a great producer your dad is and yourat school"

Beside her, Kate groaned

She turned to her best friend "It's okay, isn't it, Katie? It's just a few days And besides, it will show Marah how lucky she is to have you for a mom I'll have her back in time for school on Monday I promise"

Johnny stood up and flipped his cell phone open Punching in nu and trailed away as he went inside "Fred? Johnny here Sorry to bother you, but"

"Kate?" Tully said, leaning close "Tell me it's okay"

Her best friend's s "Sure, Tully Take my whole family if you want"

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

You always get hurt by her," Kate said, hours later, when the lights of Seattle, shiun to darken

Tully sighed, staring at the foa the shore It was barely visible Finishing her third rass beside her "I know"

Tully fell silent In truth, her head was spinning and she was beginning to worry about this idea of hers

"Why Johnny?" Kate finally asked She sounded hesitant, as if perhaps she hadn't meant to say it out loud

"He'll protect me If I say cut, he'll cut If I say throw it in the trash, he will"

"I don't think so"

"He will For me And d'you knohy?"

"Why?"

"You" She lurched aardly to her feet, unwilling to analyze this decision any her

"What would I do without you, Katie?" Tully said, leaning against her best friend

"We'll never have to find out Come on, now, I'll help you to your room You need some sleep"

Kate uest bedroo blearily up at her best friend Noith the roo around her, she realized how stupid an idea this documentary was, how firmly she'd planted herself in harain If only she had Kate's life; then Tully wouldn't have to take this risk

"You're so lucky," sheto fall asleep "Johnny" She ot tangled up in her head and before she could finish she was crying, and then she was asleep

The next er than usual to do her hair andat her to hurry didn't help--but finally she was ready to go

Johnny pulled Kate into a hug and kissed her "It shouldn't take more than two days," he said in a voice so quiet Tully knew she wasn't supposed to be able to hear "We'll be back before you can er," Kate said "I already miss you"

"Coht, Aunt Tully?"

"Give your oodbye," Johnny said

Marah dutifully went to Kate and kissed her Kate held her daughter until she started to squiro

Tully felt a clutch of jealousy at their intimacy; they were such a beautiful faan loading their suitcases into the back

Tully looked at Kate "You'll be here, right? In case I need to call?"

"I' an at-holanced down at her stuff On top was a pile of notes she'd taken in the most recent phone conversation with her lawyer It was a list of the last addresses they had for Cloud "Okay, then I' and went out to the car

When they reached the end of the driveway, she twisted around in her seat

There was Kate, still standing at the front door, with two little boys hanging on to her, waving goodbye

Their first stop, only two hours later, was at a mobile home park in Fall City Cloud's last known address But her o and no one yet had a forwarding address The round in Issaquah