Just One Kiss (Whisper Lake #4) - Barbara Freethy Page 0,6

floor with Brett, she headed into the bedroom and took out her phone. There was a part of her that didn't want to make the call. The note had been so specific about the police putting Brett in danger, but she couldn't see how that could happen, at least not with Adam. However, as soon as she officially reported the mother's absence, Brett would probably end up in a foster home.

She'd spent two weeks in foster care a long time ago. It had been one of the worst experiences of her life. Luckily, she'd been able to go home, to be reunited with her little brother, thanks to the kindness of her aunt who had left her home on the other side of the world to come and take care of them until her mother got better. Hopefully, Brett had someone else in his life who could do that.

But what if he didn't?

She picked up the note and read it once more. Clearly, the mother was in trouble, maybe danger, since she implied Brett wouldn't be safe if the police were called. What did that mean? Had she kidnapped the child? Was he even hers?

Jake stuck his head through the doorway. "Did you call yet?"

"No. What's Brett doing?"

"Watching TV." He walked into the room, giving her a quizzical look. "Why are you stalling, Hannah?"

"I've been in Brett's shoes. It's hard to make the call knowing what will happen to him."

Jake's gaze suddenly filled with understanding. He was one of the few people in her life she'd told about that terrible time. "You're thinking about what happened to you when your mom disappeared for a while."

"Yes. I was ripped away from my family, made to stay with people I didn't know, separated from my brother, my friends, anyone who knew me. It was awful. And I was lucky; it only lasted two weeks. What if Brett's mother can't be found for months? He's such a little boy. And he's so sweet. How can I do that to him?"

"What's the alternative? Are you going to take care of him? Can you legally even do that?"

She frowned at his questions. "Probably not. I just wish I had more information. Maybe his mom will be back really soon."

"We can wait, give her some time to return."

"Or I could wait. You don't need to stay."

"You have no working vehicle, there's a storm coming in, and phone signal is spotty. I'm not leaving you here alone."

"I can take care of myself."

"Well, then I'm staying for Brett, not you."

"I can take care of Brett, too," she said stubbornly. "I don't need you, Jake."

"You've made that abundantly clear," he said, meeting her gaze. "But I'm still staying. You can be stubborn; so can I."

"You are so annoying."

"Right back at you. Now, what do you want to do?"

She thought about her options. There was really only one choice. "I'll call Adam." Adam Cole was a detective and the brother of her friends, Lizzie and Chelsea. She had his personal number and could talk to him in a non-official capacity first. She punched in his number.

"Hello?" Adam said.

She could barely hear him with all the noise in the background.

"It's Hannah. Where are you?"

"Station Christmas party," he said. "Hold on a sec. I need to find a quieter place."

"Okay."

As Adam put her on hold, her gaze moved once more to the note, which she'd left on top of the packed clothes. As she picked it up again, she caught a glimpse of gold that she hadn't seen before. Moving aside a fuzzy sweater, she picked up the chain that had slid down between some clothes, her heart stopping at the sight of the small gold unicorn.

"Oh, my God," she murmured.

"Hannah? I'm back," Adam said. "What's up?"

She could hear Adam, but she couldn't find the words. That necklace was taking her back in time.

"Hannah?" Adam said again. "Are you there?"

"Sorry, Adam," she said quickly. "It's nothing. Never mind. I'll call you back."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Have fun at your party." She ended the call, her heart beating out of her chest.

"What's going on?" Jake asked in confusion, his sharp, questioning gaze seeking hers. "Why did you hang up on Adam?"

"Because I can't involve the police." She held up the unicorn. "I know who Brett's mother is, Jake. I know why she brought him here, why she left him for me."

"For you? I thought she texted the property manager."

"Actually, she texted my mother, whose phone number must have been on the agreement. But she