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hold on for so long.
 Let s go then, Laura said, tugging at Finn.  I want to hear this theory, and I really want to be
there to see what Miles might say about Isaac. I ve had this weird feeling since Gabriel told us about
the files.
 What are you thinking? Murphy asked.
 I ve always suspected Isaac was up to something. Daniel said when they were boys, Isaac
would take these trips that would keep him away for days at a time. He was on one when their mother
was killed. Daniel said he continued taking them after she died, sometimes staying gone for weeks at
a time. Now, I m wondering what all the trips were about.
 Did he ever say? Did Daniel or Gabriel say? Murphy asked.
She shrugged.  I have no idea if they ever asked him about them. You all met him. He wasn t the
most loving of fathers.
 He was a right bastard, Murphy agreed.  Chances are he was up to lots of stuff we don t know
about. Yet.
 I m afraid you re probably right, Laura said.
They fell into step again, Laura at Finn s side, Gideon in front and Murphy right behind.
 I m sorry, Murphy murmured again.
Finn grunted.
 I m not, Laura said.  We needed to clear the air. Nothing would have worked as well as that.
I had no idea we d share such a link. I m glad we do. She held her free hand out to Murphy and was
grateful when he took it.  It s important to me for your brother to trust me, she told Finn.  I want him
to know just how much you mean to me.
Finn sighed.  I don t like feeling you hurt.
 I didn t either, Murphy agreed.
 That makes three of us, Laura said.  We re all in agreement. See. It s already made a
difference.
She s a feisty one. Murphy s voice filled her head.
 Keep it clean, gentleman, she warned.  Remember this is three-way channel now.
Finn laughed.  That she is, brother. I m a lucky man.
 You are, Murphy agreed.
Laura felt the emotion behind Murphy s words and knew he was still seeing the memory she d
shared with him. She got the distinct impression that the Finn she d left at the cabin hadn t been the
same one Murphy had found when he d arrived later.
They reached the house and headed toward Tah s office.
 Does any of it look familiar? Gabriel was asking Miles as they entered.
Gideon crossed to his mate, Vic, who was on the other side of the room, standing next to
Professor Mueller. Tah and Reno were in front of the big desk Tah used. Gabriel and Miles stood
slightly in front of them. Gabriel had a file opened and was pointing to one of the papers.
 Birthdates, maybe, Miles mused.  Some type of date&  He stopped midsentence, his eyes
obviously registering something as he read.
 What is it, Dr. Jensen? Tah asked.
 This date. It s the day my daughter left. These are her initials next to it. MQJ. Madison Quinn
Jensen. My Quinn. I don t know what this is though. This other notation. HL-FT.
 Your daughter left? Reno said.  Was Isaac searching for her?
Miles shook his head.  I don t think so. If so, he never mentioned it to me.
 Do you know why your daughter left? Tah asked.
 We d just lost her mother. Quinn wasn t handling it very well.
 Did she ever tell you why she left? Laura asked.
 I haven t heard from her since, Miles admitted.  She blamed me for her mother s death.
Rightly so. I m the reason both of them were around shifters. I d left them to head here. Quinn was
hanging out with friends. My wife, Sophia, was home alone when this group of hunters arrived. They
left a message for me that day. I packed up Quinn and contacted Isaac. He came immediately. I know
you all think poorly of him, but he was there for me when I needed him.
 I don t remember your daughter ever coming here, Gabriel said.
 She didn t. She left right after your father arrived. She d screamed at me about how Sophia s
death was all my fault. My daughter hated me that day. She wished I was the one they d killed.
 People say things they don t mean when they re hurting, Miles, Professor Mueller said softly.
 Anger has to leave the body, and those we love almost always suffer the brunt of it.
 I knew the risk when I agreed to work with Isaac and the rest of the shifters. Sophia and I made
the decision together. Quinn didn t. I don t expect to hear from her until she can find it in her heart to
forgive me. If she ever can.
 Ah, Miles. If only we had the luxury of youth, Professor Mueller said, coming over and patting
Miles on the back.  I lost my wife some time ago. Not a day goes by that I don t still think of her. My
daughter. She didn t leave me in anger. She went chasing her dream and was lucky enough to find it. I
miss her every day, but I can t blame her for choosing to embrace the life she always wanted. The
outcome is still the same though. She s there, and I m here, the same as you are. Let s go have a drink
and reminisce as only the old can.
The two men walked out, the Professor s arm around Mile s shoulders, leading the other man
away while the rest of those gathered watched.
 I didn t mean to bring up bad memories, Gabriel said.
 We all have ghosts we have to deal with, Finn said.
 We need to look at those papers again. Jot down the dates and see if we can link them to other
people. People who ve suddenly left, Reno said.
 That code, Gideon said.  HL-FT. I know I ve seen it somewhere before. He shook his head.
 I can t place it.
 Keep working on it, Tah said.  What are you thinking, Reno?
 Something just feels off to me, he murmured.  Her mom dies. Violently, I m sure. Then Isaac
shows up, and she leaves with no parting words for her dad. Anyone else find that a bit odd?
 I do, Gabriel said.  Are you thinking my father had something to do with her disappearance?
 She was enraged. Emotions high. Riddled with the pain of losing her mother. What if Isaac fed
that?
 And did what? Vic asked.
 A human girl. Young and angry. Probably hungry for revenge. Reno ticked points off on his
fingers.
 Oh, my God, Laura said.  He would have fed it the way he did mine when I first arrived.
Gabriel was always gone. Daniel was in town more than he was out here. Isaac would rant around
me, telling me what he would do if someone had done to him what they d done to me.
 Done to you? Murphy asked, and she saw Finn shake his head. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]