Page 85 of Dead Man's List

She smiled at him. “The Norton boys, Davy and Danny.”

Sam couldn’t contain his grin. “You found them?”

“Yep. I sent out their photos to shelters across the state. I got one reply just now, from a shelter up in Ukiah.”

“Ukiah? I’ve heard of it, but…” He searched the name on his phone and blinked. “That’s over six hundred miles north of here. How the hell did they get way up there?”

“Hitchhiked, according to the shelter director.”

“Makes sense, I guess. Ukiah’s right off the 101. Are they still there?”

“They left this morning, but she thinks they’ll be back this evening for dinner and a bed. I thought you might want to pass the news on to their mom.”

“I’m nearly positive she’ll get in her car right away,” Sam said. “She could be there by morning, for sure. Will the boys go home with her?”

Sheila shrugged. “The woman I talked to said she got the feeling that the kids were tired of moving around. The director said she’d call if they came back.”

“I’ll call Mrs.Norton right away. Thank you, Sheila.”

“You’re more than welcome. Sometimes the kids’ stories end well, Sam. We grab onto those and let them carry us through the stories that don’t. I have to help the kitchen get ready for dinner. We’ve got a full house.” Her cheeks dimpled. “We’ve even recruited some new volunteers to help serve.”

Sam paused, his cell phone in his hand. “New volunteers? Who?”

“You’ll see. Bye, Sam.”

She took her coffee and left the office, humming under her breath.

Sam pushed his curiosity for the new volunteers aside and dialed Carla Norton. She answered on the first ring.

“Mrs.Norton, this is Dr.Reeves. I might have a location on your boys.”

Her gasp ended in a choked sob. “Where? I’ll go right now.”

“They’re up in Ukiah, at a homeless shelter. They were this morning, anyway. The director thinks they’ll be back for dinner and a bed. I figured you would want to get up there ASAP.”

“Absolutely. Thank you, Dr.Reeves. Thank you so very much.”

“You’re welcome. Drive safely.” He ended the call and sighed in relief.

There were so many homeless kids wandering the country. Hopefully by tomorrow two of those kids would be on their way home. He only hoped that Mr.Norton would be able to mend the rift with his sons.

But that was their business now.

He’d readjusted his glasses so that he could once again try reading the new state rules when giggles met his ears. This time when he looked up, he saw three teenage girls gathered in his doorway.

“Here’s trouble,” he said with a smile.

Rita, Tiffany, and Emma giggled again and piled into his office. “Are you feeling better, Dr.Sam?” Rita asked. “I mean, my real name is Margarita, but I won’t drink the things. Tequila is nasty.”

His cheeks heated. That the kids had seen him under the influence had been embarrassing when he’d been tipsy. Now thathe was sober, it was even worse. “How do you know what tequila tastes like?”

Rita rolled her eyes. “My last foster home before Mom and Pop McK had a fully stocked bar.”

Sam’s eyes widened. “Your foster parents gave you access to a fully stocked bar?”

“No,” Rita said in aduhtone of voice. “But one of the kids could pick locks and stole a bottle one night.”

Tiffany turned to study her friend. “Did the kid teach you to pick locks?”

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