Stonebrook Cottage Read Online Free PDF Page B

up Zoe West's call checking Kara's story. Let Kara tell her brother two weeks after the fact that she was one of the few who knew Mike Parisi couldn't swim.
    "Dad!"
    The panic in Ellen's voice instantly brought Jack to his feet, Sam a half beat behind him. Susanna rose unsteadily, grabbing the back of her chair, her dark hair catching the glow of the white dinner candles. Her face was pale, as if she were back on that day six months ago with her daughters at the mercy of a killer.
    Jack caught Ellen by the shoulders in the doorway, strands of dark hair matted to her cheeks. Her breathing was shallow, rapid. "Dad, it's Aunt Kara. Some-thing's wrong—"
    Jack swore and pushed past her into the family room, but somehow Sam reached Kara first. She was standing, ashen-faced, Maggie Galway at her side. Sam managed not to touch her, but she clutched his upper arm, her fingers digging into his flesh, her dark eyes wide. "Sam…"
    "Kara," Jack said sharply. "What the hell's going on?"
    She shifted her gaze, focusing on her brother. "Henry and Lillian Stockwell are missing." Kara took in a breath, obviously trying to calm herself, but she maintained her death grip on Sam's arm. "They took off from the dude ranch late this afternoon. At first everyone thought they were hiding somewhere, or misunderstood instructions—"
    "The ranch is about an hour from here," Sam said.
    Jack nodded. "These kids are what, twelve?"
    "Henry's twelve, Lillian's eleven." Kara's voice was tight with fear. "Allyson called me a few minutes after I left work. I was south of town, anyway, meeting friends. I decided to head straight here, in case you'd heard anything."
    "We haven't," Susanna said gently. "Kara, why don't you sit down? Tell us what you know."
    She seemed to give herself a mental shake, some color returning high in her cheeks. She released her grip on Sam. "I held it together all the way down here and sort of fell apart when I walked in the door." She brushed her hand through her hair, pulling out the turquoise comb she'd worn the night of the opening. She gave no sign she remembered him taking it out of her hair. She cleared her throat. "I'm sure they're fine."
    Sam glanced at Jack. "The two preteen kids of the governor of Connecticut on their own in Texas—I don't like it."
    "Sit," Jack told his sister, firmly but gently. "Catch your breath. Tell us everything. Goddamnit, I was just saying I didn't like any of this business."
    Ellen started for the kitchen. "I'll get her a glass of water."
    "Come on, Aunt Kara," Maggie said, taking her aunt's hand and pulling her onto the couch beside her. Maggie had her mother's build and her father's temperament, her Dunning grandparents' creative flair. She was wearing one of her bizarre outfits, a vintage loud-striped dress from the 1960s and turquoise sneakers. "It'll be okay. Ellen and I ran away once. Mom, Dad, you remember, don't you? We were going to take a bus to Hollywood, but we got hungry and came home."
    Sam didn't share her optimism, possibly because of Zoe West's call. Susanna smiled reassuringly. "Maggie has a point. Kids don't usually run off for long. It's barely nightfall now—"
    Kara nodded, calmer. "Allyson said someone would call me if they turn up. There's still time."
    Jack grunted. "How the hell could this dude ranch lose two kids? Did they have the same schedule?"
    "No, and they were in separate cabins," Kara said.
    "They must have had a plan to meet and sneak out. The ranch isn't superremote. Allyson said there's no reason to suspect foul play or think they're lost—"
    "I'll drive out to the ranch and see what's going on," Jack said. "We can put out an alert—"
    Kara frowned. "Allyson doesn't want law enforcement to get involved at this point."
    "Not her call. She's the governor of Connecticut not Texas."
    Sam could sense the escalating tension between brother and sister. So, obviously, could Susanna. She licked her lips and touched her husband's arm. "Kids this age do impulsive