“Zoey.”
Beautiful blue eyes stared at him. “Never hesitate to call if something doesn’t feel right.”
The young girl bit her lip. She finally nodded, slipped the card into her back pocket, and walked out of sight.
David sighed. He hoped more of the students had listened. His stomach twisted at the thought of any of them lured into the trap of some sick and twisted creep.
His partner’s hand landed on his shoulder. “Relax, man. We can only give young people the information. The rest is in God’s hands.”
“Right.” Maybe a few years ago, he’d have trusted God. After his mistakes that had cost him everything, he wasn’t sure God valued the same things he did.
***
Thursday 6:00 p.m.
Each slice of the onion stung, causing tears to well. Jennie squeezed her eyes shut, hoping for relief from the offending food. She wiped the back of her wrist across her cheek, careful not to put pressure on her bruise, and hurried to complete the task. If her daughter didn’t love extra onions in her chili, she wouldn’t be in the kitchen looking like she’d lost her best friend.
“Mom?” Zoey yelled from the other room.
“Yeah, honey?” Jennie scraped the onions into the pot of meat and beans sitting on the stove, then rushed to the sink. She scrubbed her hands with soap and rinsed her eyes with water.
Her daughter burst into the room. “Look at what Aunt Emily bought me.”
Eyes closed, Jennie patted the counter and located the towel. Blotting her face dry, she pivoted and found Zoey spinning in acircle. The light green dress with coral and white flowers flared at the bottom.
“It’s beautiful. You look so grown up.” Jennie pushed the hair from her forehead with the back of her hand. She sighed. Where had her baby gone? Only a few more years until her little girl became a teenager. Time moved too fast.
“I want to send a selfie to Aunt Tina.” Zoey posed and snapped the picture with her new cell phone, one Jennie had purchased last week to stay in contact with her daughter.
Jennie’s heart ached at the thought of Tina, her best friend from Indiana. When she’d escaped her ex-boyfriend’s abuse, and the police put him behind bars for attempting to kill her, she’d broken all ties to that life. Except one. Tina.
“Sure. Go ahead.” She rattled off her friend’s number. “Why don’t you add her to your contact list while you’re at it.”
“Yes!” Zoey’s fingers flew over the keypad, paused, and then typed more.
A smile curved on Jennie’s lips. Tina must have enjoyed the contact with Zoey if the flying text messages were any indication.
Her daughter placed her phone on the counter and lifted the lid to the chili pot. Inhaling, she grinned. “Thanks for making my favorite dinner.”
Ruffling her daughter’s hair, she chuckled. “You know I love you if I’m willing to chop onions.”
Giggles erupted from her mini-me. The only difference between them was Zoey’s darker hair. The same color as her father Brad’s. A stab of pain clutched her chest. Her deceased husband had been far from perfect, but she had loved him all the same.
The cell phone pinged.
Zoey snatched the device and swiped open the text message. Her blue eyes widened, and a whimper escaped.
Jennie grabbed the phone and read the message.
You’re such a beautiful young lady. Do you have any more pictures?
A lump formed in Jennie’s throat. “Who did you send this to?”
“I-I thought I was chatting with Aunt Tina.”
“Well, it’s definitely not her.” Jennie’s voice cracked. Some stranger had a picture of her baby girl.
“I’m sorry, momma.” Zoey’s lips quivered.
