Reckless Pleasures by Tori Carrington Read Free Book Online

was to conduct a physical search for Finley Szymanski, she suggested they broaden the scope to include investigative angles, the aim being to assist in the physical search. The more people they talked to, the better handle they’d have on where to look for the little girl.
    Megan caught herself up short from adding, The little girl’s body.
    The more time that passed, the less likely they were to find the child alive. Statistics bore that fact out. It had been that reality that had weighed down on her day after day.
    “So are we clear on what each of us is going to do?” she asked, checking the board where the assignments were outlined.
    Jason would be holding down home base, while she’d go to the family’s church to speak to friends of the Szymanski family. She’d tried on a couple of occasions for direct family access, but the sheriff’s office had drawn the line at that, especially in light of recent events. After all, it only stood to reason that as frustrations rose, finger-pointing would start. The family was now under the glare of suspicion, making them even more difficult to get close to than when they were looked upon strictly as the poor, worried victims of a random crime.
    Her phone vibrated where it was strapped to her belt.
    Dari.
    And it was a phone call rather than a text.
    She knew a moment of hesitation.
    What was she doing? She hurried to answer. “Hello?”
    Too late. The call was redirected to voice mail.
    Damn!
    Her gaze was drawn to Jason where he spoke with a team member.
    She tried for a smile and then walked out of the room, checking her cell again. When it indicated a voice mail had been received, she quickly retrieved it.
    “I didn’t want to tell you this way, but the plane’s about to take off and this is my last shot. I’m coming home…”
    Megan’s heart dipped low and then boomeranged up.
    He’s coming home!
    She looked over her shoulder at where Jason was checking his own cell phone.
    He’s coming home….

    See you in a few hours, bro!
    The simple message from Darius froze Jason in his tracks when he read the text on his cell phone. He lost his line of concentration and completely forgot about the team member he was talking to.
    His gaze immediately sought out Megan as she was coming back inside the room. She looked as dazed as he felt.
    “You don’t like it?” Jonathon asked.
    “Huh?” Jason pulled his attention back to the conversation at hand even as he slid his cell back into his pocket. Jonathon Reece was an ex-army grunt who looked all of fifteen with his surfer-dude looks. He was one of the newest Lazarus hires and had been brought on board because of his firsthand knowledge of the area. “No, no, it’s fine. Run with it.” He patted the kid on the shoulder and maneuvered him toward the door. “Check in later and report the results.”
    Thankfully Jonathon didn’t linger any longer and exited the room. Which left him and Megan alone.
    “He’s coming home.”
    He knew he didn’t have to be more specific. Dari would have contacted Megan before Jason. And even if he hadn’t, he could tell by her expression that she knew.
    “He’s boarding a transport now.”
    Jason nodded, watching her face closely. He wouldn’t have thought her the type to wallow in guilt. But he saw traces of it there. And he felt it himself. Of course, he understood they would be inhuman if they didn’t experience something akin to the dark emotion. Neither of them had counted on Dari’s returning so quickly. In fact, had the word come in twelve hours ago, last night would have never happened.
    He never would have suggested what he had.
    And he knew for certain Megan would never have accepted.
    “Look,” he said quietly. “I’ve been knocked back on my heels along with you. But nothing’s changed. There’s no reason he ever has to find out.”
    He couldn’t even bring himself to use his friend’s name in the context of the conversation.
    He’d never lied to Darius. And he