Page 124 of Homecoming

He muffled the sounds she made with another deep kiss as he joined her, panting and clinging to each other.

“Weak link,” he muttered as he nestled into the curve of her neck.

“Shut up.”

“Just sayin’…”

“Go to sleep, Dan.”

“Yes, ma’am. But first, I need to tell you that I love you more than anything in this whole wide world.”

“You’re forgiven.”

Kara fell asleep with her arms around her love and a smile on her face.

Dan’sfirst order of business—after a run and a cup of coffee—was to check in with Carter about where he was with getting video footage from the bar.

“I was just going to call you,” Carter said. “I’ve got the security film and am reviewing it now.”

“And you know who we’re looking for?”

“Yep, I got the photo Clarissa sent.”

“Great job. Thank you.”

“I’ll call you in a bit with an update. I also spoke with Tanya’s parents and brother yesterday afternoon, and they confirmed that the ex-boyfriend didn’t go quietly. They said she washandling it and there was no way he could ever have harmed her. They’d been together for years, he loved her so much, etcetera. Tanya and her parents had chosen not to involve the police because their two families are friends.”

Dan groaned. “That might’ve been a big mistake.”

“Your thinking matches mine.”

“If we can put him in that bar where she was dancing and kissing another man, this could be game over.”

“I agree. For what it’s worth, Tanya had never mentioned Keith to them or indicated concerns with anyone else in her life.”

“Keith said she didn’t mention him to them because they wouldn’t have approved of her seeing a much older man. Send me everything you have on the ex-boyfriend. I’ll get some people in my office looking into his whereabouts last weekend.”

“Texting it to you now.”

“Thanks, Carter.”

“No problem. I’m also talking to Tanya’s local friend Lauren this morning, to confirm that she was happy seeing Keith over the summer. I’ll be back to you as soon as I have you can use.”

“Great. Thanks again.”

The information Carter conveyed, combined with what they already knew and no new information from the prosecution, had Dan feeling optimistic about Thursday’s hearing. He sent a text to Chuck and Judith, updating them. At the end, he added,Please ask everyone to be there in support of Keith and Kirby. This is a time for a united front, and having the entire family there will send a message that you’re all behind them and believe in them.

Chuck wrote back right away.We’ll make sure everyone is there. Thanks for all you’re doing. I feel much better after reading your update.

Hang in there.

Thank you, Dan,Judith said.We’ll never forget what you’ve done for us.

Happy to help.

He got up, stretched the muscles that’d gone rigid while he was sitting and went to check on his sleeping beauty.

With her hands together under her cheeks, she looked like an angel.

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