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family around here. What affects one of us affects us all.”
    How nice that Atkins had family here when he’d so deliberately ignored his own. Her words shouldn’t have hurt but they did. They sliced like a knife inside Riley’s chest. Unfortunately they didn’t diminish the need for him to talk to the old man.
    Since the Atkins and Hot Zone merger, Riley had done all his agency business over the phone. He hadn’t wanted to risk running into his father. Now that was exactly what he wished to do.
    He needed to reach Atkins and ensure the man’s silence, as he’d promised his mother when she’d called in a panic earlier. Which meant he also needed Sophie and whatever connections she had.
    He had no choice but to spill his guts. “Whether or not he’s ever acknowledged the fact, I am Spencer Atkins’s son. Actually, I’m just another of his dirty little secrets, but this secret affects more than just him. I need to talk to him as soon as possible.”
    Sophie’s expression softened. “I would tell him if I could. Unfortunately, Spencer has been out of touch for three days. And while we’re sharing secrets, I should add if we don’t get in touch with him soon, the agency will lose the first-round pick in the football draft.” She expelled a frustrated breath. “So can you help me?”
    Apparently she needed him, too, putting them on more equal ground. The notion eased the vise squeezing his chest. “I haven’t been in contact with Spencer in the past few days, either.” He deliberately left out his lack of a relationship with the older man up until now. “But I can make some calls and see if anyone in my family has any ideas about where he might go.” Starting with his mother, Riley thought. It may have been years since she and Spencer had spoken, but maybe she remembered some relatives or someplace he liked to hide out.
    “Feel free.” Sophie gestured to the phone on her desk.
    He strode over and sat down. A howl sounded loud and shrill in his ears at the same time he jumped off something warm and soft. He glanced down. A white curly-haired mutt glared at him from Sophie’s desk chair.
    Sophie laughed, a light, carefree sound, so opposite from her normally uptight voice he was astounded. It made him want to see her loosen up in every way.
    “Something funny?” he asked.
    She shook her head. “I just didn’t realize Noodle had switched seats.”
    “Better to sit on the dog than on dog—”
    She cleared her throat, cutting him off.
    “Sorry. Didn’t mean to offend your delicate sensibilities.” This time he chuckled. “How do I get an outside line? Need to dial nine?”
    She shook her head. “Just pick up the phone and press any free line.”
    Resigned, Riley dialed his mother and had mixed feelings when she wasn’t home to take his call. On the one hand he was grateful he wouldn’t have to upset her by discussing Spencer again, and on the other hand he was aggravated he’d have to spend more time on this search.
    “Hi, Frannie. Come on in.” Sophie’s voice interrupted his thoughts as an older woman with gray hair walked into the room, a piece of paper in hand.
    “Spencer has two sisters and a niece who live in Florida,” the other woman said.
    Sophie nodded. She knew he had family in Fort Lauderdale.
    “He’s always calling them and sometimes he goes there to visit. Number’s on the paper here.” Frannie waved the yellow sheath in her hand. “He also owns a time-share in Aruba but it’s rented now, so I can’t see him going there. Then again if we knew whether or not he took his passport…”
    Sophie shook her head. “No way of knowing that. Let’s start with family.” She glanced at Riley through half-lowered lashes.
    “Oh my! I didn’t realize you had company. I should have knocked.”
    “That’s okay. This is an emergency. Besides, Mr. Nash is a client of Uncle Yank’s.” She paused. “He’s also a client of mine and we can trust him.”
    Frannie smiled. “Okay