In Jada’s opinion, Piper’s work was even more interesting. Dove Investigations now specialized in background checks and fraud investigations for a bunch of companies, and Piper had enough business to hire two employees. But that wasn’t the fascinating part. The more Jada had talked to Piper about child sex trafficking, the madder Piper had gotten until she was even more passionate than Jada. Now she used her computer skills to put pimps out of business and find the men who preyed on the girls. Among other things, she posed as a fourteen-year-old in online chat rooms. She also built phony Web sites that the police used to set up stings. Eric, who was a lieutenant now, took over from there. Piper said it was dirty, stomach-churning work, but she’d never felt cleaner.

Jada heard the caterer clanking dishes in the kitchen. Tonight was Coop and Piper’s anniversary, and they were throwing a big party to make up for what Coop called their bargain-basement wedding. Piper and Jada didn’t think it had been bargain-basement. Piper said it was the most beautiful wedding ever, and Jada loved it because it was the place where her mom had stolen Eric from Piper’s friend Jen. That worked out, though, because Jen met a really great guy plus got this big meteorology award. As for Eric... He was the coolest stepdad. Jada could talk to him about anything, and he loved her mom. Jada hardly ever thought about what had happened with Hank. Maybe it was bloodthirsty, but she was glad he’d gotten killed in a prison fight.

***

As the caterers set up a small table in the hallway, Coop stopped inside the living room door. While Jada had watched Isabelle and Will, he and Pipe had gotten dressed for tonight’s party. They’d also managed to sneak in a quickie, a luxury since the twins had been born.

He gazed across the living room. Piper had dropped to her knees in the sleek red party dress she’d undoubtedly found on a sales rack somewhere. The twins were throwing themselves at her, one on each side. “Come on, monkeys,” Piper said into their necks. “It’s bedtime.”

He went over to join his family. “I’ll put them down,” he said. “You relax before the guests get here.”

“I’m very relaxed.” He sincerely hoped Jada didn’t pick up on the mischievous light in her eyes. “I’ll take care of them,” she said.

“It’s okay. I’ll handle it.”

“No need. You go talk to Jada.”

“I already talked to Jada,” he said firmly.

Jada laughed. “You guys are ridiculous. You know you’ll both end up putting them to bed.”

He looked over at her. “You’re my witness. You heard what Piper said. Once they came out of the chute, I was supposed to take care of them. Piper and I had an agreement.”

“Which I honored,” Piper said piously.