“Not yet. They’re trying to get a sample of Forrester’s voice from prison records.” Cooper tossed a look at Luther. “But apparently there’s been a bit of an incident at Grass Valley.” His eyes shone with admiration now. “So you’re some kind of badass, huh?”

“Cooper, please!” Lydia hissed. “You’re embarrassing me.”

“How am I embarrassing you?” her brother griped. “I’m just stating a fact. Everybody’s saying the same.”

“Yeah, but not to his face!” Lydia snapped, and immediately slapped her hand over her mouth. Ashamed, she lowered her lids. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry for me,” Luther said evenly. “I deserve everything people are saying about me. Nobody should have to whitewash what I am or what I did.”

Katie locked eyes with him across the table, trying to tell him with her eyes that she appreciated everything he’d done to help them find Isabelle. But Luther averted his eyes and instead looked at Cooper.

“I’m an ex-con, Cooper. There’s nothing romantic or admirable about that. Nothing anybody should aspire to.”

To Cooper’s credit, the kid didn’t back down. “Do you regret it?” He held Luther’s gaze.

Katie felt her heart pound out of control. Luther’s eyes shifted to her. They turned darker, became unreadable.

“Eat another slice, Coop,” Lydia said and broke the spell. “And don’t ask questions that are none of your business.” She turned to Luther. “I’m sorry. He’s only sixteen. He really doesn’t know when he’s getting on people’s nerves.”

“You’re one to talk,” her brother protested.

Katie reached for another slice. “And people wonder why I don’t want kids.”

“See what you did now!” Lydia ground out, glaring at her brother. Then she put her hand on Katie’s forearm. “Sorry, Aunt Katie. It’s just… well, we’re all under stress. And we’re all taking it out on each other. The waiting… it’s just killing me.” Tears formed in Lydia’s eyes. “Are we gonna find her?”

“Oh, Lydia.” Katie rose from her chair and pulled her niece into her arms, hugging her tightly. “We’re doing everything to find her. We’ll get her back. We will, I promise you.”

Pressing Lydia’s head to her shoulder and stroking her long red hair, Katie looked past her to Luther. His eyes shimmered golden now, and she recognized the promise that lay in them. Luther would do everything in his power to help them get Isabelle back.

“I’m sorry, I’m normally not such a watering pot,” Lydia wailed.

“That’s okay, honey.”

Unexpectedly, Cooper rose from the table and approached them. “Come on, sis, I’ll take you home.”

“Did you bring a second car?” Katie asked.

“No, we’re taking the bus home. No worries,” Cooper said and put his arm around his sister. “Thanks for the pizza. Maybe you could give Mom your recipe?”

Katie smiled and hugged him. “And lose the reason you like visiting me? Not a chance.”

He pressed a loud kiss to her cheek, then whispered in her ear, “I’ll tell you a secret: I’ve been to Pasquale’s, and their pizzas taste oddly similar to yours.” When he released her from his embrace, Cooper grinned from one ear to the other. Then he winked and looked over his shoulder. “Nice meeting you, Luther.”

Luther, who’d gotten up, nodded. “Bye, Cooper.”

“Take care, both of you,” Katie said and kissed Lydia on the cheek.

“Thanks, you too,” Lydia replied and glanced back at Luther. “Thanks for protecting my aunt. I know you’ll keep her safe.”

“Let’s go, sis.” Cooper walked to the door. “Or Mom’s gonna get worried.”

Lydia followed her brother, but pivoted at the door. “Oh, almost forgot.” She dug into her purse and pulled out a manila envelope, handing it to Katie. “Dad asked me to give this to you. He said you wanted copies of the letters.”

“Thank you, honey.”

With shaking hands, Katie accepted the envelope and watched her niece and nephew leave. For a long moment, she just stood there, staring at the envelope, before she turned around and found Luther standing right behind her.

36

“They seem like good kids,” Luther said and cupped Katie’s shoulders.

“They are, and they drive their parents crazy.”