Save Your Breath (Morgan Dane #6)(74)

“I’m sure I do.”

“Where is Lance?”

“With Sharp.” Morgan set down her tote.

“Have you eaten?” Mac asked.

Morgan shook her head. Her hospital sleep had been fitful. Exhaustion weighed on her like a wet comforter.

“The girls will be up soon. I’ll make breakfast after I take a quick shower.” She went into the kitchen.

Mac followed her. The dogs whined, and he scooped kibble into their bowls.

“Do you teach classes today?” She filled the coffeepot.

“I have one class and office hours this morning.” He set the bowls on the floor. “I can take Sophie to preschool on my way to work, pick her up on my way back, and hang out with the kids this afternoon.” “I’d really appreciate that. I don’t even know what I’m doing today.” Morgan hadn’t talked to Lance, Sharp, or Stella since the night before.

“I’m going to run home and shower. Be back soon. I’ll take the dogs out before I go.” Mac gave her a quick hug before leaving. He and Stella lived just a few minutes away.

“Thank you,” Morgan called after him. She scooped coffee and pressed the “On” button.

Morgan hurried to her room and took a quick shower. When she emerged from the bathroom in her bathrobe, Sophie stood in the doorway. “Mommy!”

She’d slept in her Halloween costume. She raced for Morgan and leaped into her arms.

Morgan caught her, kissed her, and carried her to the kitchen. “What do you want for breakfast?”

“Pancakes, but can you make them like Gianna does?” Sophie asked.

“I think I can manage.” Morgan filled a cup with coffee, then found the box of pancake mix in the cabinet. “Before Gianna came to live with us, I used to make all your pancakes.”

“But Gianna makes them special.” Sophie climbed up onto a kitchen stool, knelt, and leaned her chin in both hands on the island. “Will she be home today?”

“No. Maybe in a few days.”

“I miss her.” Sophie sighed.

Ava, Mia, and Grandpa joined them in the kitchen and gathered around the island. Morgan hugged everyone and poured juice. Then she mixed batter and ladled it onto the buttered griddle. She piled the cooked pancakes on a plate and gave the girls two each before setting the plate on the island and sitting down.

“Gianna made bunny pancakes yesterday.” Sophie inspected her pancakes, then covered them in syrup. Tasting her first bite, she grudgingly admitted, “They’re almost as good as Gianna’s.”

“Thank you.” Amused, Morgan sipped her coffee. Gianna had only been with them for one year, but for a four-year-old, that was a quarter of her life. For Sophie, it was as if Gianna had always been with them.

The girls finished eating, and Morgan sent them to get dressed.

Grandpa pushed the plate of pancakes toward her. “Eat. Coffee isn’t enough.”

“I’m worried about Gianna.”

“She’s tough. She’ll be all right.”

Morgan lowered her voice so the girls wouldn’t hear. “What if she isn’t? What if she doesn’t get a kidney in time?”

Grandpa frowned. “Let’s take one day at a time and not borrow trouble. We have enough of our own.”

“You’re right.” But her head was full of doubts as she ate a pancake. She went back to her bedroom, dressed in jeans and a sweater, and walked Ava and Mia to the bus stop. Mac picked up Sophie to take her to preschool, as promised, and Morgan returned to the kitchen for another cup of coffee.

Lance called as she poured.

She answered, “Hey.”

“Hey yourself.”

Morgan updated him on Gianna’s condition, then asked, “How is Sharp?”

“As you’d expect.” Lance sounded depressed. “I don’t know how he’s going to be if we don’t find her.”

“I know,” Morgan said. “The kids are off to school. I can be at the office in fifteen.”

“Don’t rush. Sharp and I are going to question the former Olander foreman, Ronald Alexander. Stella tried yesterday, but he wasn’t very cooperative. Sharp wants to try a different approach.”

“Stella isn’t going to like that,” Morgan warned.

“Probably not,” Lance agreed. “But Sharp is going with or without me. I don’t want him running off on his own. I’d rather none of us be alone.”

“All right. I’ll review files here while you’re gone. Grandpa can help—”

“Hold on,” Lance said. “Turn on the news. A reporter is interviewing Kim Holgersen.”

With her phone still pressed to her ear, Morgan left the kitchen and turned on the TV in the family room.

On the screen, Olivia’s literary agent was standing in front of a small one-story house. The street was lined with similar homes on tiny lots. It looked like a senior community. A news van was parked on the side of the road.

The reporter shoved a microphone at her. “Are you worried about your client Olivia Cruz?”

Kim pushed her long red hair behind her ear. “Yes, I am.”

“Have you heard any updates from the police?” the reporter asked, following her.

“I’m not sure I should be talking to you.” Kim turned toward the house.