Read CA 50.7 Little Girl Lost for Free Online Page A

She'd been married to Paul Thompson way too long to not have a few tricks up her sleeve. She knew the right ways to do an internet search. The best calls and visits to make to gather information available to the public, like the hall of records at the courthouse. "I know all I need to."
    That he didn't rebut right away worried her. What was he thinking? If she were totally honest with herself she would admit how good it felt to have him here. She'd always felt safe with Paul. She wanted to lean into those broad shoulders now. To have his strong arms around her and that deep voice of his whispering assurances.
    But he wouldn't give her the assurances she wanted to hear. He had given up.
    "I want to help."
    Those four little words took her breath when her heart was already shuddering. Once they had worked together night and day trying to find Sophie, but that hadn't happened in a really long time.
    "Why?" Her lips trembled. She bit them together. Don't get your hopes up. This is Paul...he's too logical to really believe there's still a chance.
    His eyebrows shot upward. "Seriously?"
    When she made no effort to amend her demand, he made a dry, pained sound that might have been an attempt at a laugh. "Sophie's my daughter, too. If she's here, I want to find her and bring her home."
    With all her heart Jen knew he loved Sophie; that he would never stop. But he was an unbeliever. He had given up and moved on. That hurt so badly.. .even as his offer drew her like nothing else could.
    "How can you help me? I have the job. I'll get what I need."
    "You need backup. Every good operation starts and ends with top-notch backup."
    He was completely serious. "What about your fancy P.I. job in Chicago? Are they going to let you stay gone as long as you need to? Most employers want their employees on the job." Despite her best efforts, hope bloomed deep in her chest. Please let him stay.. .please let him believe just a little bit.
    "The Colby Agency is different." A smile lifted the corners of his mouth and her heart stumbled. No one smiled the way Paul Thompson did. "My boss, Jim Colby, is all about family first. I have as much time as I need."
    He was serious. He wanted to stay and help her. Maybe he'd had time to think these past few months.. .maybe the photo of the little girl from the Wallace Institute had changed his mind. Whatever the reason, she was glad he was here. Maybe this time they would bring their little girl home. Jenna would never fail her daughter again.
    Seven years ago if Jenna had been home, like a good mother should have been, none of this would have happened.
    It had been a perfectly normal evening. Jenna on her first girls' night out in three years, Paul getting an urgent call from his superior to work a possible security threat in downtown L.A., and Grandma all too pleased to look after Sophie for a few hours.
    Only it hadn't been a normal evening. Someone had taken their girl and no one knew how or why.
    Sophie was simply gone. Lost.
    And look at their once happy family now. Her mother had turned into a total alcoholic who never left the house. Once, in a drunken stupor, she had told Jenna she didn't dare leave in case Sophie came back. Jenna had lingered on the edge of alcoholism herself until recently. She'd had five different jobs in the past two years, but she couldn't seem to stick with any of them. None of her clothes fit anymore because she hated to eat. How could she eat when her heart had been torn from her chest?
    Then there was Paul. Good, steadfast, unbreakable Paul.
    Except that he'd given up on Sophie.. .and Jenna.
    If he admitted what she absolutely knew was in his heart, he would have to say that Sophie wasn't the only one gone.. .they were all lost.
    Jenna reached out and took his hand. "I'd like you to stay."
    He pulled her into those big strong arms and held her close. Jenna closed her eyes. And even though she was a long way from L.A., for the first time in ages she felt as if she were