Deceived Read Free Page B

replied evenly. “Take the jet that’s on standby and get your ass to Oregon to retrieve the woman and her son. Is that clear?”
    Luke bit back his retort, not wanting to tangle with his friend. Jack was the one who’d recruited him, and he’d been the first—and pretty much the only one—in the Alliance to attempt to befriend him when he’d come on board. But regardless of their personal relationship, Luke had only been with the organization for five years compared to Jack’s fifteen and wasn’t gonna win this one. He bit back the snarl of rebellion that came to mind and said instead, “I’ll need an address.”

Chapter Two
    Sarah Scoffield stood at the door of her classroom, ushering her students out with a smile and the occasional hug. Their happy chatter and constant enthusiasm for everything at this age never ceased to amaze her. She wished she had even a modicum of their untainted optimism.
    â€œBye, Mrs. Scoffield,” they chirped one after another, their sweet little voices music to her ears.
    She loved her job teaching first grade in Bakersville, welcomed the opportunity to shape young minds and help them grow, to foster that sense of wonder and belief in the magic of possibilities. The world would leave them jaded and cynical soon enough. A lot of these kids were the sons and daughters of farmers and ranchers, so they’d already experienced the mysteries of life and death, understood that all life eventually came to an end. But at the tender age of six or seven, they still saw the beauty in the world around them and could give the darkness just a passing glance.
    Sarah felt a tug at her long denim skirt and looked down at the little girl with blond curls and wide blue eyes grinning up at her. “Yes, Mary Rose?”
    Little Mary Rose pointed to a tiny gap in her mouth. “I just lost a tooth!”
    Sarah gasped dramatically. “No way! Just now?”
    Mary Rose nodded enthusiastically and held out her palm, where the little tooth lay. “Well, let’s make sure you take it home for the tooth fairy,” Sarah laughed, going to her supply cabinet and taking out a box of thimble-sized plastic treasure chests that she kept on hand for just this sort of occasion. “You don’t want to miss the chance to put it under your pillow.”
    Mary Rose selected a pink chest and helped Sarah secure the tooth. “Do you think the tooth fairy will remember to come to my house tonight?” she asked. “Or will she be at the Fall Festival, too?”
    Sarah grinned and guided Mary Rose toward the door. “I’m sure that even if she drops by the festival for a while, she’ll still find time to stop at your house and leave you a little something. Just be sure to tell your mom and dad so they can make sure your tooth is under your pillow.”
    Mary Rose nodded solemnly. “Good idea.”
    â€œI do have them now and then,” Sarah chuckled, gently scooting the girl out the door so she wouldn’t miss her bus. “Now, have a great weekend. I’ll see you Monday!”
    Sarah was still grinning when her son, Eli, entered the room, the strong resemblance he bore to his father already at the age of eleven breaking her heart a little. It’d been three years since Greg’s death and the pain had finally started to lessen a little with each day, but every time she looked at Eli, it came rushing back in a quick stab right in the center of her chest. The boy had her dark eyes, but everything else about him was his father, from the unruly dark hair to the arch of his brows to the hint of a dimple in his chin.
    â€œHey there, pumpkin,” she greeted him, gathering him into her arms for a hug and ruffling his hair when she released him. “Did you have a good day?”
    â€œMom!” he admonished with a huff, smoothing his hair back down. “I told you not to do that. I’m not five