Lullabies and Lies - By Mallory Kane Page 0,73
knee. “How did you get the name Mia?”
“Mom said it was what I called myself. She said it was more like Me-ann, but she named me Mia.”
Sunny’s heart pounded. Me-ann. Marianne. Everything made sense. But she had to be sure. She didn’t want to hurt either Mia or Griff needlessly. “Look at me, Mia.”
Mia raised her gaze to Sunny’s. Her wide, dark-fringed eyes glittered in the harsh glow of the car’s dome light.
Glittered like amethysts.
“Your eyes—”
Mia smiled sheepishly. “I know. They’re weird. Mom says they’re angels’ eyes. Who ever heard of purple eyes?”
Laughter bubbled up from Sunny’s chest. Joyous, healing laughter. “Oh, Mia. Your mom’s right. They are angels’ eyes. And I’ve heard of them. I’ve even seen them.” She leaned over and hugged Mia, who looked at her quizzically.
A metallic voice sounded. The officer listened, then spoke.
“Yes, sir. On our way.” She cranked the car.
Sunny started. “No, wait, what are you doing?”
“I’ve got orders to take both of you to the hospital.”
“No! I have to talk to Griff—to Agent Stone.”
“Sorry, ma’am. I was told to tell you that Special Agent Stone will meet you there later.”
“But this is important.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The officer pulled out into the street and drove them away from Bess Raymond’s house.
It wasn’t until they reached the hospital that Sunny remembered she was holding the piece of evidence the police were after.
A DULL HEADACHE was hammering inside Griff’s skull by the time he got to the hospital. The call had come through about a half hour ago.
Sunny had Bess’s journal. She’d turned it over to the police officer who had driven them back to town. The officer had called Captain Sparks, and Sparks had told Griff.
They called off the search of Bess’s house.
Jane’s interrogation had to wait until morning, because she’d immediately demanded a lawyer. Griff needed to take a look at Bess’s journal, and he still had to file his report. But first, he wanted to make sure Sunny was all right.
He pushed open the door into the intensive care waiting room, where he’d been told Sunny was waiting with Mia.
Sunny had her back to the door and was holding Emily. Bess’s daughter, Mia, was sitting next to her, letting the baby grab at her finger. Both of them were laughing softly.
A shard of pain dulled by happiness for Sunny lodged in Griff’s heart. He couldn’t help but smile at her melodic laughter.
Dear God, he was going to miss her.
As the door swung shut behind him, Sunny turned her head. Her emerald-green eyes lit up when she saw him. She bent and kissed Emily’s face and handed her over to Mia.
Then she rose and turned toward Griff.
He smiled at her and gave a little nod as his throat clogged with emotion. This was what he had promised her. And no rescue, no triumph, no solved case had ever come close to how he felt now, knowing she and her baby were safe and reunited.
Sunny’s face lit in a tremulous smile and she flew into his arms, startling him with her ferocity.
He pulled her tightly to him, cradling the back of her head and pressing his nose into her hair.
“Oh, Griff, how can I ever—”
“Shh. You did it. You found Emily. You got your happy ending.”
He felt a sob shudder through her.
“Is everything okay? How’s she doing?”
Sunny pulled back enough to look into his eyes, and the sheer happiness that surrounded her like a bright glow sent his heart soaring.
Then before his eyes, she became somber.
“Sunny, what’s the matter? Isn’t Emily all right?”
Sunny nodded. “She’s wonderful. And she’s dying to meet her valiant rescuer.”
Then she put her palm against his cheek. “But there’s someone else you need to meet first.” Her voice quavered, but her eyes glittered with anticipation.
Griff frowned. “Yeah? Who?” Why was she acting so strangely?
Sunny stepped out of the circle of his arms and turned toward Mia. Griff followed her gaze.
The teenager had secured Emily in her infant carrier and was cooing at her.
“Mia. Come here. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
Mia looked up, then picked up the carrier and stepped around the couch.
Sunny took Emily.
Griff watched them with an odd sense of apprehension. He rubbed the aching spot in the middle of his chest as he looked at Bess’s daughter.
“Griff?” Sunny’s voice was choked.
He glanced at her and saw tears filling her eyes. She smiled.
“Sunny, what is it—?” The burning in his chest increased.
He looked back at Mia. She had the careless beauty of a teenager. Flawless skin, dark, shiny hair,