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“What’s wrong?”

“My babysitter, Tessa, didn’t co to look for her in the usual teenage hangout locations Would you be willing to ride along with me?”

“Of course I’ll be at your house in fifteen minutes” He ended the call

You were going to be cool, remember?

“I thought you were going to get some sleep?” Sharp stood in the doorway

“Morgan needs help” Lance stopped in his office to reun safe in the closet After the disaster of the Brown case, he wasn’t taking any chances, especially with Morgan’s safety On that note, he returned to the safe for his backup piece and ankle holster

“You have it bad for her Just ask the woman out already,” Sharp called as Lance walked past his office

Lance reached for the doorknob “Goodnight, Sharp”

If only it was that siing his mother’s mental illness After his dad disappeared, his oraphobia She’d been relatively stable for the past fewcare of her was a full-tihter of ee and three kids

Three

Anyone who seriously dated Morgan had to consider that a future with her included being a father to her girls Lance didn’t see how he could possibly do the job right, and he would not half-ass so as important as parenthood Kids deserved better

He lowered theof his Jeep, hoping the brisk Septeh to cool his jets It wasn’t He turned up the radio and shaved three minutes off his drive to the Danes’ house as Green Day blasted him awake

Parking his Jeep next to her minivan, he walked up to the front door but didn’t knock No reason to wake the sleeping h the screen door and called softly, “Morgan?”

Her grandfather, Art, caan’s French bulldog, Snoozer, at his feet

Lance stepped inside just as Morgan hurried down the hall toward his that went on forever Her clothes were uncharacteristically tossed on, and her long black hair was down and tumbled in messy waves over her shoulders in much the same way as it had been in his earlier vision

Sharp was right Lance had it bad But he was an adult, and he’d act like one

“Thanks for helping” Art shook his hand Then he turned and gave his granddaughter a kiss on the cheek “Be safe I love you”

She hugged him “Love you back”

Lance opened the door for her, and they went outside She stuffed her cell phone in her gigantic purse, slung the straps over her shoulder, and walked toward her mom mobile

“We’ll take o off-road” Lance would take a bullet for Morgan, but he drew the line at riding in her minivan

“Good thinking” Morgan nodded and changed direction

They got into his vehicle He started the engine, and music blasted He turned the volume to low “Sorry Where to?”

Her lips pursed “I don’t know Her grandirl didn’t answer her phone I left a out spots I was hoping you would knohere the kids go these days”

“I have some ideas” Lance had broken up plenty of parties in his ti the case?”

“Carl Ripton cahteen She walked out willingly No crime there”

Lance pulled out his phone and dialed Carl’s nuave hiirl Lance thanked him and ended the call “They put out a BOLO alert for her No sightings of her car yet, and her cell phone GPS isn’t sending out a signal Unfortunately, she’s a legal adult Carl said none of the girl’s friends would give him any information”

“Teens don’t want to get their friends in trouble,” Morgan said