Read Online Message Received by Rosemarie Naramore - Free Book Online

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as well.
    “Amanda, you’re not going to help the situation
by starving yourself.  Eat something, please,” Brady implored.
    She emitted a haggard sigh.  “I’ll try.”  She
noticed he wasn’t eating much either.  “You need to eat too,” she pointed out.
    He nodded.  “I wonder what they’re doing at this
very moment,” he said, absently taking a bite of his burger.
    “Well, they’re three hours ahead of us on the
East Coast, so if they do happen to be back there, it’s mid-afternoon.”  She
shook her head and groaned.  “If only we’d paid more attention to them, they
wouldn’t have left like this.”
    “Oh, who knows?” he said.  “Maybe they were
planning a getaway all along.”
    “So what do we do next?” Amanda asked.
    “I’m going to call a friend of mine.  It happens
he’s a detective—works in Atlanta, Georgia.  Anyway, I know him from my stint
in the military.  If our grandparents are on the East Coast, he’ll find them.”
    “Could we track them if they use a credit card?”
she asked.
    He nodded.  “I’m actually working on that as we
speak.”
    “How?”
    “As I said before, I started my business with a
buddy—also from my time in the military.  He’s like a brother to me.  Anyway, I
told you we provide security to celebrity or big name clients…”
    She nodded.
    “Well, there are other aspects to our work.”
    “Such as?”
    “Well, suffice to say, we’re trained in
obtaining intel.  I actually have my PI license too.  Anyway, I can find our
wayward seniors, but the question remains, what do we do when we locate them?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “We can’t exactly bring them back here kicking
and screaming.”  He ran a hand through his hair.  “My mom recently brought up
the subject of having Granddad sign over power of attorney to her.  I sure wish
he’d done it.”
    “He probably wasn’t ready,” Amanda said.  “I
know my mom isn’t comfortable talking about it with Grandma.”
    “But it’s important, and necessary,” he said
adamantly. 
    “You’re right, but it’s a delicate subject.”
    Brady eyed her speculatively.  “Hey, you haven’t
mentioned your job at all today.  What gives?”
    She shrugged.  “It’s funny, but since this
business with our grandparents, my mind is on them, rather than my job.”
    “Was it a problem taking today off?”
    She made a face.  “To be honest, it wasn’t
convenient, but what could I do?  I do know my boss wasn’t happy, but…  Grandma
is more important than my job.”
    “Well, let’s finish up.  If you don’t mind,
we’ll stop by my place and make a couple phone calls.”
    “It’s fine by me.”
      Soon, Brady drove them to his home.  A boxy,
modern structure, it sat high on a hillside, within a gated community.  Amanda
eyed the house as they approached.  It wasn’t her taste, but seemed to suit
him.  “Should I wait out here?” she asked, as they pulled into the drive.
    He gave her a startled glance.  “Oh, sure.  I’ll
just leave you sitting in the car.”  He laughed before he climbed out and met
her at her door. 
    “Thank you,” she said, as he closed the door
behind her.
    Together they strode up the steps to the front
door.  He hurriedly punched in a code on the keypad beside the door and the
door swung open.  “Home sweet home,” he said.
    He gestured for Amanda to step in ahead of him,
and then followed.  She noted that despite the modern appearance of the home,
the interior boasted comfortable furnishings.  “Nice,” she commented.
    “Thanks.  Have a seat and I’ll be right back. 
I’m going to my office to make a quick phone call.”
    Amanda eased into the overstuffed leather couch
and tipped her head back.  When Brady came back into the room a moment later,
he found her asleep.
    He gave a rueful smile as he grabbed a pillow
and tossed it onto the end of the couch.  He took her shoulders and urged her
to lie down.  She