The man could always read him easier than a large-print book. “Something like that.”

A pause. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thanks, Dad. How’s Mom?”

“Busy. Doing her thing. Cooking a lot.”

Cooking? His mother? “What’s up with that?”

“I think it’s stress.”

“Spill it, Dad. It’s not like you to hem and haw around something.”

His father cleared his throat. “Right, well, it’s your sister.”

Gavin refrained from releasing an audible sigh. “I haven’t called her. I’m sorry. I’ve just been caught up in this . . . thing . . .” Trying to keep Sarah alive. “. . . and I just—”

“Stop. I get it.”

No doubt about that. If anyone understood, it would be his father.

“But something’s going on with her, and your mother and I are at a loss to figure out what. I need you to talk to her, meet with her. Something.”

“Okay, I can do that.” He paused. “Can I have a few more details?”

“She’s . . . I don’t know. Being reclusive. She goes to school, then comes home and locks herself in her room. Comes out for dinner occasionally, says three words, eats even less, then heads back to her room for the night. Often she’s gone before I’m even up in the morning.”

Gavin frowned. “She’s always been reserved and an introvert, but that seems a bit extreme even for her.”

“This is her senior year of college. I know she’s stressed, but this has been going on since the end of August, and I think it’s more than just school stress.”

“I’ve only talked to her a handful of times since she started school.” Because he’d been working contract after contract, staying so busy he didn’t have time to think, much less worry about the baby sister who wasn’t interested in hearing from him. Guilt hit. “Have you followed her? Tried to find out what’s going on?”

Silence. Then a sigh. “Yeah. I think she’s involved with one of her professors.”

“Kaylynn? Seriously?”

“She went to his home and was there for several hours before she came out. I tried to get a look in the window, but no luck.”

Gavin frowned. “Did you ask her about it?”

“No. I’m still trying to figure out the best way to deal with it. I don’t want to say anything and have it make her mad enough to do something stupid.”

He could understand that.

“Can you come to dinner tonight?” his dad asked. “You’ll see what I’m talking about.”

“Tonight?”

“I know Kaylynn will be here for sure tonight.”

“I’ll see what I can work out.”

“Bring your girl . . . friend.”

“Dad . . .”

His father chuckled. “I’ll work on that job for her. I’m thinking Owen Grant could use another reporter on his team. He’s big in competition with Jefferson Wyatt, you know.”