Looking for Sophie (Harlequin Super Romance #1459)

Julian Cavenaugh closed the folder and pushed his chair back from his desk. He and his partner, Rick Barnett, had finally cracked the case after four months of tracking leads, many of which had gone nowhere, leaving everyone frustrated. Even as a veteran detective in one of Atlanta's grittiest precincts, he felt good about putting another alleged murderer behind bars. His chief had suggested he take a vacation now before plunging into his next case. Rick had already taken his family to Florida for sun and fun. But Julian hadn't decided yet. Too much downtime could make him lose his edge.He was, however, toying with the idea of going fishing with his dad for a couple of days. Even though his family lived just thirty miles outside Atlanta, Julian hadn't seen them since Christmas. His crazy schedule hadn't allowed it.His phone rang, jerking him back to attention. "Cavenaugh," he snapped."Julian, it's Mom."He gripped the receiver tighter, thinking maybe he'd conjured up this call. "What's wrong?" Neglectful or not, Julian couldn't remember his family ever phoning him at the office. They left messages at his apartment or on his cell because no one wanted to bother him at work."It's your dad." Beth Cavenaugh's voice sounded odd."Is it his heart? How bad? Damn, we all warned him at Christmas to lay off the rich desserts." Julian glanced at the wall clock. "If I leave now, I can be in Mosswood in under an hour.""I'm sorry, I don't mean to frighten you.Your father is well enough." Beth lowered her voice. "He's done it again, Julian. Sam is positive he's recognized one of the kids on his route from a card. Oh, I shouldn't bother you. I did try Taggert and Josh first, but they refuse to talk to him.And he's not listening to me. I've reminded him he's only got six months until he can retire and the department will drop the earlier reprimand so he goes out with a clean record, but Sam claims this isn't about him. And...Julian...what if he's right this time?"Shutting his eyes, Julian rubbed the back of his neck. "Listen, I just closed a big case--the west-end serial murders. You've probably seen it on the news. Chief MacHale wants me to take some time off. Let me tie up some loose ends here, then I'll come down to see you tomorrow. Maybe I can reason with Pop.""Oh, would you? I didn't want to ask, but this is so much like the last time. He's a stubborn old coot when he gets it in his head that he's right. It's not like he's even seen this little girl up close. They're a fairly new family on his mail route. I just want him to be careful and not make wild accusations again."Julian tried to reassure his mother. "Don't worry. I have avenues to check that we didn't have before."Beth seemed relieved and before hanging up they arranged that he'd arrive around one the next day.Julian sat quietly for a moment, letting his thoughts drift back to the disaster that had his mother concerned even now. He'd been a high-school sophomore. Tag and Josh were in junior high and Celeste still in grade school. Tag had invited a new friend home for supper. After the boy left the Cavenaughs, Sam had pulled out a card sent by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Sam delivered one or two of the cards along his route every week, and he kept copies for himself. The whole family had agreed the new boy was a dead ringer for a kid listed as missing from a nearby state.But within hours of Sam calling the hotline all hell broke loose in sleepy Mosswood. An FBI team swept in and the scandal that followed their investigation was huge. Bigger than huge. Tag's friend wasn't the missing boy. And rather than praising Sam Cavenaugh for doing his civic duty, the boy's dad, rich as Warren Buffett, did his best to get Sam fired. Mr. Miller was so angry over the scrutiny and suspicion he and his family were forced to endure, he closed a factory he'd recently opened in town. A hundred residents lost theirFox, Roz Denny is the author of 'Looking for Sophie (Harlequin Super Romance #1459)', published 2007 under ISBN 9780373714599 and ISBN 0373714599.