to keep me apprised of everything that happens.â
âYouâre an essential part of this, sir. Without your help, nothing is going to happen.â
âYou were Megâs bodyguard. I expect you to protect her the way you did before.â
âYou can count on that, sir.â
Megâs gaze swung to Dirk. He would be there for her, the way he was before. She had known she could count on Dirk. He was solid as a rock. Why hadnât she understood how important that was?
Meg walked her father to the door. He looked as haggard as she felt. She watched him all the way to his black Mercedes sedan, parked at the curb, watched him climb in and drive away.
As she closed the front door, she felt Dirkâs presence behind her, turned to look into his hard, handsome face. Dear God, she had missed him. Until sheâd seen him today, she hadnât realized just how much.
âYou okay?â he asked.
She took a shaky breath. âIâm all right. What can I do to help?â
âNot much either of us can do till Luke gets back or we hear from Sadie. If you wonât go upstairs, at least lie down on the sofa and get some rest. You wonât do anyone any good if youâre too exhausted to function.â
Meg thought of her son, forced herself to stay positive. âYou really think itâs Pam?â
âWeâll know more when we hear from Luke.â
As if the mention of his name had brought his return, Luke walked silently into the living room. She hadnât heard a sound as heâd returned through the kitchen. She wondered how he could have gotten inside with the doors locked, then remembered the way Dirk had managed to get into her hotel suite unnoticed on the tour.
âThe girl, Pamela, wasnât there,â Luke said. âI looked around inside. Looks like she packed up before she left.â
Meg made a sound in her throat. âYou think she has Charlie?â
Luke shook his head. âI didnât see any sign of a kid. She didnât take everything, but some photos were gone from the wall, a few spaces looked empty on the dresser in the bedroom. I figure sheâs planning to take her share of the money and split, start over somewhere else.â
She could almost see Dirkâs mind working. âTheyâre sure theyâll get away clean,â he said. âI donât like it. Itâs like they know something we donât.â
âWhatever it is, sooner or later, weâll figure it out.â Luke ambled over to the computer on the dining table, looked down, saw the photo of Pamela Vardon Dirk had pulled up on the screen.
âBeautiful girl. Too bad about the wrong turn sheâs made. Sheâs gonna look real sweet to those big bull dykes down at the state correctional facility.â
Meg felt the blood drain from her face. Pam had always seemed like such a nice girl. She felt sick to her stomach.
Dirk must have noticed. He flashed Luke a look of warning and for the first time that night actually touched her. She felt the heat of his hand at her waist as he drew her against him. It was all Meg could do not to slide her arms around his neck, lean into him, and start to weep.
Dirk caught her chin and tipped it up, forcing her to look at him. âHey. Pamela Vardon isnât your problem, okay? If sheâs involved, sheâll get what she deserves. Right now the only person you need to worry about is your son.â
She bit her lip. âI liked her. I paid her more than I should have. I knew she worked two jobs. I wanted to help her.â
âMaybe sheâll remember that. Maybe sheâll take extra good care of Charlie, yeah?â
Meg swallowed, nodded. âMaybe itâs good that Pamela is the one whoâs with him.â
âWe canât be sure of that,â Luke reminded her. âBut at this point itâs a better than good possibility.â
âIf we could find her,â Meg said,