Read Online Sunshine and the Shadowmaster by Christine Rimmer - Free Book Online Page B

notice to go out on the national wire services about the million-dollar reward.
    Between calls, the phone rang. It seemed to Heather that every time Lucas hung up, the phone shrilled out again. Most of the calls were from reporters who’d managed to obtain Heather’s number from someone in town. Lucas spoke to them all, because he wanted the news of the reward to get out. After a while, Heather left him alone with the phone and went about taking care of a few household chores.
    She was down in the basement, putting a load of clothes in the dryer, when Lucas called to her from the top of the stairs. She started the dry cycle and ran up the steps to the kitchen.
    Lucas gestured at the phone receiver, which he’d laid on the counter. “Eden, I think she said.”
    Heather reached for the phone eagerly. Eden was her stepmother, and Heather adored her.
    â€œHow are you holding up over there?” The warm, vibrant voice lifted Heather’s sagging spirits a little. Eden was a wonderful woman. She’d taken Heather’s bitter, reclusive father and made him into a happy man.
    â€œThings have been better.”
    â€œYour father’s lurking by my elbow. He says to say we’re here if you need us.”
    â€œI know. And I’m glad.”
    â€œHow is Lucas doing?”
    Heather glanced at the man in question. Lucas is a wreck, she thought, but opted for saying, “Could be better,” so he wouldn’t guess they were talking about him and she could avoid getting one of his disdainful frowns.
    â€œWhy don’t you bring him over?” Eden suggested.
    â€œNow?”
    â€œYou bet. We’ll have coffee. Or something stronger, if you’d like. And we’ll talk. It helps to talk, at a time like this.”
    â€œYou know your stepmother.” Heather heard her father’s teasing voice near the mouthpiece. “She thinks talking solves everything. That’s why she never stops.”
    â€œOh, you...” Eden chided. “Go away. I’m doing the talking here.”
    â€œExactly,” Jared Jones growled.
    â€œDon’t listen to him,” Eden said to Heather. “Listen to me. And bring Lucas over here. Now.”
    Heather looked at Lucas. He regarded her through those hooded, unreadable eyes. She put her hand over the mouthpiece. “It’s my stepmother. She’s invited us to come over there.”
    â€œNow?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œNo. But tell her thanks.” He turned and went out through the dining room.
    Heather spoke to her stepmother. “I don’t think so, Eden. But thanks.”
    â€œAre you sure?”
    â€œPositive.”
    â€œThen promise me...”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œIf Mark isn’t found tomorrow, you and Lucas will come here for dinner.”
    Heather thought about that. The idea was appealing to her. It would be so comforting, to hold her baby half sister, Sally, in her lap and bask in the glow of the happiness that Eden and her father shared. But she was pretty sure Lucas would never go for it. And she knew she was not going to want to leave him alone if another day had gone by with no sign of Mark.
    â€œOh, Eden,” Heather started making her excuses. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. It would be very late. After eight.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter. You get him here. And yourself, too. You need family around you now. This is a hard time.”
    â€œBut I don’t see how—”
    â€œFind a way. Promise me.”
    â€œI—”
    â€œI’m not taking no.”
    Heather surrendered. Right then, tomorrow night seemed a million years away. She’d worry about getting Lucas to go with her when the time came. “All right. We’ll be there, if they don’t find Mark.”
    â€œAll right, honey. And don’t forget. We love you.”
    Heather told Eden that she loved her, too.
    Of course, the phone started ringing again the moment