Sunshine and the Shadowmaster Read Online Free PDF Page A

what you’re saying then, is that he behaved strangely, but you ignored it—until now, when it’s too late to do anything.”
    Heather decided she’d had enough of his sideways remarks. She cut to the point. “Are you accusing me of not watching out for Mark?”
    He lifted a black eyebrow at her and looked at her as if he wanted to burn a hole in her with his eyes. “ Did you watch out for Mark?”
    Though the power and intensity of the man intimidated her, Heather steadfastly refused to cower before him. She remembered the first rule of dealing with an overbearing male: never let him see you sweat. She’d learned that rule early on, having grown up in the rowdy family known locally as the Jones Gang.
    She told Lucas, “Yes, I did watch out for Mark. And I’ll do everything I can now to find out where he went. In fact, I think I’m doing pretty well here, all things considered. If anyone’s guilty of ignoring Mark, it certainly isn’t me.” She paused, just a moment, to let that sink in.
    Then she continued, “Besides, as far as I can see it, our job right now is to find out where Mark went, not sit around discussing who’s to blame that he’s run away again.” Heather put both hands on the table and pushed herself to her feet. “And now what I’d like is a cup of coffee. I’ll make some for you, too, if you’ll stop acting like a jerk.”
    Lucas looked up at her for a moment, his gaze watchful and measuring. Then he said, very gently, “I’d like that.”
    She nodded. “Good, then.” She carefully pushed her chair beneath the table and went to the counter. She was scooping coffee grinds into a filter when Lucas spoke from behind her.
    â€œI apologize. You’re right. You’re not the one to blame here.”
    Heather kept scooping coffee. Otherwise she surely would have cried. If she’d ever wondered how much Lucas Drury really cared for his son, she never would again. The raw truth had been there in his voice just now.
    â€œApology accepted,” Heather said without turning, because she sensed he didn’t want her to see him right then. She poured cold water into the reservoir, slipped the filter basket in place and switched on the coffeemaker before she faced Lucas again. By then, he looked as composed and aloof as ever.
    â€œThough it’s a slim bet, I should call my housekeeper in Monterey, see if maybe Mark has been in touch with them there.”
    â€œYes, of course. Go right ahead.”
    Heather waited while he made the call, then looked at him questioningly after he hung up.
    â€œNothing,” he answered bleakly. “Any ideas about what to do now?”
    â€œYes, I think so.”
    â€œI’m listening.”
    Heather hesitated. What she had in mind was the next logical step, but it wasn’t an easy one to take. “I think we’re going to have to call the sheriff’s station.”
    Lucas rubbed his temples, then he turned and walked over to the window that opened onto the backyard. He stuck his hands into his pockets, planted his legs slightly apart and stared out at the new day.
    Heather tried to soften the seriousness of it all a little. “Actually I can just call my uncle Jack at home. He’s a deputy at the station now.”
    Lucas didn’t turn. “Who the hell’s your uncle Jack?”
    â€œHe’s my father’s half brother. Grandpa Oggie is his dad. Didn’t you meet him last winter?”
    â€œIf I did, I don’t remember him. And I never heard of Oggie Jones having a son named Jack.”
    â€œNeither did we. Until last fall. It’s a long story, but now Uncle Jack lives here in town. He’s head of our local volunteer search and rescue team and he’s a sheriff’s deputy, too.”
    â€œI see,” Lucas said. And then he was silent. He went on staring out the back window.
    Behind Heather,