"It's okay. Not as nice as my mommy's. Can I call her? But I don't know the number."

"It's not as nice as my mommy's either," Kate said. "How about yours, Jack?"

"No," he muttered.

It didn't stop him wolfing it down, Kate noticed. But they were all hungry and eating a meal at a table instead of snacking in the car was a relief. Food and wine soon disappeared. Kate felt light-headed from the alcohol.

"I'll clean up while you run him a bath," Jack said. "There's a toothbrush and paste in that bag plus soap, shampoo, and a pair of pajamas." While Kate filled the tub, Tommy stripped.

"You look funny," Kate said. He was white where his clothes had covered his body and dirty everywhere else.

"Show me."

She hesitated. She'd never touched a naked child before but he held out his arms and Kate scooped him up so he could see himself in the mirror. Tommy burst out laughing. Kate put him down and tipped a little of the shampoo under the running water to make bubbles. Tommy immediately reached out for a handful and blew them at her. Kate did the same back at him.

Finally, she lifted him into the tub. He looked smaller without his clothes, more fragile. He was so cute. His skin was soft and even though he was dirty, he smelled sweet. She couldn't let anything happen to him. Kate took hold of his hand as he sat in the tub, marveling at each small finger. Tommy pulled away and splashed her.

"Do you mind having your hair washed?" she asked.

"I don't like soap in my eyes." Tommy screwed his eyes up tight. "If I keep them closed like this, then it's okay."

"Keep them closed then." Kate tipped him back so that he was lying with his head in the water. She felt clumsy, but managed to wash and rinse his hair without him protesting too much.

She turned to see Jack at the door. He'd shaved.

"Leave the water in the tub. We can use it. Are you all done, bud?" Tommy nodded. Jack picked him up, wrapping him in a fluffy blue towel and cuddled him dry in his arms. Tommy giggled as Jack made putting on his pajamas a tickling game.

"Ooh, cool," Tommy said when he saw his bed, "but I want to go on top."

"You're too little," Kate said. "I'm scared you might fall out."

"He'll be fine. We'll change it."

Again, Kate bit back the protest. She put a mattress on the floor under the ladder, so if Tommy did fall, he'd land on that. A wooden barrier ran the length of the bed so it wouldn't be easy to topple out, but Kate was afraid he'd forget he was high up. Tommy climbed the ladder and crawled under the comforter.

"Don't forget you're sleeping in the sky," she said.

"I'm sleeping in the sky," Tommy shouted.

"No jumping. Show me how you'll get down in the morning." She was relieved when he came down backward. He immediately climbed up again and snuggled under the covers.

"I bought you something," Jack said. "There's a light here you can have on all night. It's like the moon. And this will keep you company." Tommy wrapped his arms around the ugly, blue cuddly toy. "Ooh, thank you.

He's called...monster."

Kate smothered a smile.

Tommy lay down, his eyes already closing. "Story?"

"Tomorrow," Jack said.

Kate leaned over and gave Tommy a kiss. His arms moved around the back of her neck and pulled her close. The rush of love overpowered the pain. She had to keep him safe. She was all he had.

"Goodnight, sleep tight, and don't let the bedbugs bite," Tommy said.

Jack leaned over and Tommy kissed him, too. Stepping back from the bed, he put his arm around Kate's waist. "Our son is beautiful. Absolutely perfect." She let Jack lead her back into the bathroom, but her stomach churned so violently, she thought she'd throw up.

"I think your dress has had it." Jack took off her glasses and lifted the dress over her head.

Kate flinched as he peeled it off her skin. She heard the intake of his breath. He must have forgotten she was naked underneath. Vegas seemed a lifetime ago. She stood still, kept her shaking hands at her sides and didn't try to cover her body.

"Put what's left of the hot water in the tub," he said and began to strip.

Kate turned the faucet and kicked off her sandals. Her feet were filthy. She was desperate for a bath, although not for one with Jack. She had to pretend now, swallow her revulsion. She stepped into the water and sat down. Jack climbed in behind her and moved his legs around her body, pulling her back to his chest.

Kate tensed when she felt his fingers tracing the mark on her back. When the incoming water began to cool, Kate reached forward, turned the faucet and made herself lean back against him.

"You're looking relaxed, Kate. Warm water? Alcohol? Maybe you're trying to fool me."

She wasn't relaxed. Her heart thumped in her chest, but she was determined to make him believe she was coming around.

"This is a beautiful house. Why's it been left empty?"

"After my mother died here, my father never came again. He wouldn't rent the place out or sell it." He soaped Kate's stomach, his fingers smoothing the foam in a circle and the breath caught in her throat.

"Where does your father live?" she asked.

"He has homes in Houston and San Antonio."

"What does he do?"

"Aviation insurance . "

"Does anyone else live out here?"

Jack pinched her nipple and Kate yelped.

"Now you went and spoiled things with that question, Kate, but the answer is no, not at this time of year. Two other houses share the lake. They use a different access road. It's a long way around the water to reach them and I don't suggest you try it. I hope I don't need to remind you if anyone should come to see us, you'd better behave yourself. Maybe it's time we gave you some history."

"What?"

"When my father meets you, he'll want to know where you're from."

"Why not tell him the truth?" He wants me to meet his father?

Jack slid soapy hands over her breasts and she tried not to shudder. "It will be the truth, with a few extra details."

"Such as?"

"We met at Hoopers-a center for disturbed adolescents. We couldn't keep our hands off each other, only we were careless and you got pregnant. You left without telling me about the baby and I never saw you again until you came to visit your mother at Ashlands. Your parents died, then your apartment caught fire and you lost everything. I came to see you that same night and found you and Tommy sitting on the grass watching the firefighters trying to save the building.

It was the first time I'd seen him, but I knew he was mine."

"Did you start the fire?" Kate asked.

"Very funny."

He nipped her neck and Kate clenched her fists under the water.

"Was it at Hoopers where the doctor abused you?" she asked.

Jack tensed behind her. "I forgot I told you that. Yeah, it was there. He told me I could go home if I let him fuck me."

Despite everything, Kate felt a moment of sadness for an abused, vulnerable boy. "Did you tell anyone?"

"My father. He didn't believe me."

"I'm sorry."

"Are you?"

His voice was flat. Kate had no idea what he was thinking.

"Of course I'm sorry. It was a horrible thing to happen to you."

"Nearly as horrible as what I've done to you?"

Kate's heart sprinted. "You want us to be a family. I can understand that." His hands continued to roam her body. Kate wished she knew what was going on in his head.

"Play my game, Kate. There really isn't any choice. Make sure Tommy plays, too. If you say the wrong thing to anyone, they won't live to repeat it. You know I mean it."

Kate swallowed hard.

"Now, are you going to be good or bad?"

"I'm not the one who's bad," she muttered.

"I know." He laughed and slid one hand between her legs, the other around her neck.

Chapter Seventeen.

Hedley looked at Amy Howe and wondered if she'd be able to go through with this. The kid's party was in full swing and he thought how hard it had to be watching these little boys enjoying themselves. They'd set everything up in McDonald's to replicate the day Sammy had gone missing. She ordered and paid for the same food, sat in the same place. The chicken nugget Happy Meal sat on the next table. When she'd repeated the words she'd said to the man, asking him to keep an eye on Sammy, finally she cried.

He knew it had been harrowing, but the physical profile artist he'd flown in had sat next to her with a laptop and sketch book and this time she nodded at the image. Copies were made and police officers visited every shop on Sunshine Plaza armed with the likeness.

The reconstruction of the parking lot went pretty much as Hedley expected. A few people called to say it was too far to drive back, so the police obtained cars of the same make and color from local dealers and parked them themselves. Hedley doubted the kidnapper would risk walking far with the child, so it was likely his vehicle had been left close to the restaurant. By concentrating on the area immediately around McDonald's, particularly at the point where the dogs lost the scent, they had four vehicles unaccounted for. It was possible their owners hadn't heard about the appeal, but four vehicles had been seen in that area by other drivers, next to or near their own cars. Two were unidentified pick-ups, one a Chevy Suburban, the other a Lincoln. If they extended the area to include the whole parking lot, there was a minimum of twelve cars missing. However, it was entirely possible this guy had slipped in and out without anyone noticing. Hedley didn't want to think about that.

Nathan didn't sleep well after Thanksgiving at his sister's, but tossing and turning all night gave him chance to think. By the time the alarm went off, he'd made a decision. He spent Friday at the office canceling appointments and doing paperwork. On Saturday, he packed a bag, locked his Glock 17 in the trunk, and drove to his sister's.

Bob was out and Elisa opened the door. She stuck out her tongue.

"Sorry." Nathan pulled his hand from behind his back, producing a teddy bear with a red ribbon. "For you or Junior. You choose." Elisa smiled. "I'm easily bribed. Come in, cruel brother. Time for a coffee?"

"I'll get it. You sit down."

Elisa followed him into the kitchen. "You didn't just come to say sorry. What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

She sat down heavily on a padded kitchen chair and stared at him. "I'm waiting."

Nathan exhaled. Elisa knew him too well. He poured two coffees and handed her one before he sat down. "Did Dad say anything after I'd gone?"

"Let me think. Oh yes, how lucky he was to have such a thoughtful child, one with such a great personality who takes after him. How he admires such a sensitive nature, the great sense of humor. How he can't wait for you to live at home again with him and Mom, sharing-"

"That's enough."

"Or was that me?"

"Was he really pissed off?"

"Seriously. To sum it up-he thinks you should damn well grow up. No surprise there and for once, big brother, he's right." Nathan chewed his lip.

"What's all this about, Nathan?" Elisa dropped her voice. "Is it because you still love Alison?"

"No."

"Then what's the matter? You can't carry on like this. Why don't you go and talk to her instead of brooding about it."

Nathan could feel Elisa trying to catch his eye.

"I don't want to see Alison," he said to the top of the table.

"You're not in love with her and you don't want to see her, but I have a feeling you can't stop thinking about her. Sure you're not still in love with her?"

"Yes." He was sure about that.

"Do you want to tell me what really happened? I don't believe that crap about not wanting children for an instant. I never heard you say you didn't want kids.