BooksBarbecue
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Chapters (88)
  1. Cover Page
  2. Front Flap
  3. Title Page
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Dedication
  6. Contents
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. 61
  68. 62
  69. 63
  70. 64
  71. 65
  72. 66
  73. 67
  74. 68
  75. 69
  76. 70
  77. 71
  78. 72
  79. 73
  80. 74
  81. 75
  82. 76
  83. 77
  84. 78
  85. 79
  86. 80
  87. Back Flap
  88. Back Cover

Nora shook her head. “I’m not leaving. In for a penny, in for a pound, as they say. That Jody is a little pushy for my taste.”

“Mine, too. Karen really owes you one.”

“She does.”

“When is Dad getting down?”

“At about seven.”

“I don’t know when we’ll see you,” Regan said, then shrugged. “With any luck Cleo will call soon and tell us she’s fine.”

“I’m praying for her,” Nora said simply.

A chill went through Regan’s body. Hearing her mother say those words made the whole situation feel more dire.

“Okayyyy,” Edna said, stepping into the gazebo, the wireless phone in her hand. “That was my fella. He’s down in Atlantic City.”

“Everything all right?” Nora asked. “You look worried.”

Edna frowned as she took a seat. “He didn’t sound quite like himself. He said he wants to get back home and take a nap, which is unlike him. I’m sure he’ll be fine,” she said, trying to brush off her concern. “Jack, can I get you anything?”

“No, thank you. We’re on our way.”

Again, Regan quickly explained where they were going. “Edna, I know you didn’t see Cleo much. But if you think of anything she said, or anything you found around the house that might give us an idea of where she went, please let me know.”

“I will, Regan. I promise.” Edna’s demeanor had turned so serious, as if the worry over her boyfriend had finally made her wake up to the fact that Cleo could be in real danger.

Out in his car, Jack programmed the GPS for the Cammarizzos’ address in Seaside Heights. They started to pull down Edna’s street when Regan’s phone rang. It was Hayley.

“Regan, I’ve been dying to talk to you. I have something to tell you you’re not going to believe.”

“Same here,” Regan said.

“You first,” Hayley said.

“No, go ahead.” Regan was happy to put off delivering more bad news.

“Okay. Ready?”

“Yes.”

“Scott called and asked me out for Saturday night!”

“What?”

“You heard me. He actually had the nerve to tell me he’d been with his son last night.”

“I can’t believe it,” Regan said, shaking her head.

“I knew you wouldn’t. Of course I said yes. I have big plans for him. Now what’s your news?”

Oy, Regan thought. Here goes. “After I spoke with you this morning my mother called and asked me to come with her to a garage sale at the shore.”

“Don’t tell me. You bought something that is worth a whole lot more than you paid for it. I love those stories.”

“It’s not that.”

“Then what?”

“Scott’s fiancée was working at the sale,” Regan said, then wisely held the phone out from her ear.

“His fiancée?”

“Yes.”

“Where’s the sale? I’ll call a car service right now.”