sorry. I didn’t get your name.”
“Lightner.”
She grabbed a business card off the counter. “I’ll have someone call and set up a time to come by as soon as possible, Mr. Lightner.”
“That’ll be fine. I hope I can help.” His brows wiggled again. “I bet you’re a wonderful mother.”
She pressed her hands to her heart. Her eyes welled. “That’s a nice thing for you to say. Thank you.” She shook the card his way as she backed out of the store. “I have someone waiting on me, but we’ll be in touch.”
He waved goodbye, shook the paper open, and turned his attention to the morning news.
* * * *
Back in the limo, Kasey couldn’t contain her excitement. She thanked the driver so many times for stopping that he rolled up the window between them.
She dialed Von and passed along the news. Once he finished fussing at her for going to the courier service, he agreed to arrange for a sketch artist to visit Mr. Lightner and follow through with the lead.
A newfound sense of strength came over her. She relaxed against the fine leather, basking in the knowledge she was doing everything she could think of to find Jake.
The driver looked at ease as he maneuvered through the traffic, then parked in front of the hotel. Kasey was greeted by a concierge who escorted her to Cody Tuggle. As they passed through the lobby, the concierge introduced himself as David Allen. He was so proper she didn’t dare ask if those were his first and middle names, or first and last, though she wondered. He told her the bellman would retrieve her bags and deliver them to her suite. She hadn’t expected this level of opulence in décor or service.
David Allen led her to a private elevator and punched in the code for the penthouse. When they reached the top floor, they stepped into a marble sitting area with a skylight overhead and faced a set of huge double doors. David Allen pulled a gold key from his suit pocket and twisted it in the lock.
Kasey entered the grand room. White marble floors glistened as bright as fresh Aspen snow. Carpeted areas sectioned off the space with pile so deep her high heels sank, making it hard to keep balance. She followed through the huge space toward the hum of conversation. An impromptu interview area had been arranged at the far end of the room—two large black leather chairs and stage lights that burned so bright she sensed the sizzle from yards away. Near the interview area, Cody sat with a paper cape tucked into the collar of his white shirt. A pretty blonde dabbed his forehead with a sponge.
“You made it.” Cody said, leaning to dodge the woman who was now coming at him with a huge makeup brush. “I was getting worried.”
Kasey hadn’t considered that her little detour would be noticed by anyone but the driver.
Cody spoke to a dark-haired woman who then crossed the room to greet Kasey.
“He’ll wrap up in just a little bit. I’m Annette. I run the publicity campaign for his tour.” She extended her hand.
Kasey accepted the handshake and introduced herself.
Annette’s dark hair swung across her shoulders as she spoke. “Cody filled me in on your son. I’m so sorry. I can’t even imagine....”
“Thank you.” Kasey took in a deep breath.
“He’s getting ready to do an interview with the local TV affiliate. You’re just in time. He said you’d have a picture. We’ll get them to show it at the end of the interview, and Cody will explain the situation. I hope it helps.”
“You don’t know how much this means to me.” Kasey took a manila envelope out of her shoulder bag and handed it to her.
“It won’t hurt Cody’s reputation any either. I have a hard time getting him to do interviews. He’s always hell bent on staying off camera, but then paparazzi just make up stuff about him. That’s never good. You’re in the biz. You know.”
“All too well,” Kasey said.
Annette tugged the photographs out of the sleeve.
“They’re all the same. I made fifty
“Lightner.”
She grabbed a business card off the counter. “I’ll have someone call and set up a time to come by as soon as possible, Mr. Lightner.”
“That’ll be fine. I hope I can help.” His brows wiggled again. “I bet you’re a wonderful mother.”
She pressed her hands to her heart. Her eyes welled. “That’s a nice thing for you to say. Thank you.” She shook the card his way as she backed out of the store. “I have someone waiting on me, but we’ll be in touch.”
He waved goodbye, shook the paper open, and turned his attention to the morning news.
* * * *
Back in the limo, Kasey couldn’t contain her excitement. She thanked the driver so many times for stopping that he rolled up the window between them.
She dialed Von and passed along the news. Once he finished fussing at her for going to the courier service, he agreed to arrange for a sketch artist to visit Mr. Lightner and follow through with the lead.
A newfound sense of strength came over her. She relaxed against the fine leather, basking in the knowledge she was doing everything she could think of to find Jake.
The driver looked at ease as he maneuvered through the traffic, then parked in front of the hotel. Kasey was greeted by a concierge who escorted her to Cody Tuggle. As they passed through the lobby, the concierge introduced himself as David Allen. He was so proper she didn’t dare ask if those were his first and middle names, or first and last, though she wondered. He told her the bellman would retrieve her bags and deliver them to her suite. She hadn’t expected this level of opulence in décor or service.
David Allen led her to a private elevator and punched in the code for the penthouse. When they reached the top floor, they stepped into a marble sitting area with a skylight overhead and faced a set of huge double doors. David Allen pulled a gold key from his suit pocket and twisted it in the lock.
Kasey entered the grand room. White marble floors glistened as bright as fresh Aspen snow. Carpeted areas sectioned off the space with pile so deep her high heels sank, making it hard to keep balance. She followed through the huge space toward the hum of conversation. An impromptu interview area had been arranged at the far end of the room—two large black leather chairs and stage lights that burned so bright she sensed the sizzle from yards away. Near the interview area, Cody sat with a paper cape tucked into the collar of his white shirt. A pretty blonde dabbed his forehead with a sponge.
“You made it.” Cody said, leaning to dodge the woman who was now coming at him with a huge makeup brush. “I was getting worried.”
Kasey hadn’t considered that her little detour would be noticed by anyone but the driver.
Cody spoke to a dark-haired woman who then crossed the room to greet Kasey.
“He’ll wrap up in just a little bit. I’m Annette. I run the publicity campaign for his tour.” She extended her hand.
Kasey accepted the handshake and introduced herself.
Annette’s dark hair swung across her shoulders as she spoke. “Cody filled me in on your son. I’m so sorry. I can’t even imagine....”
“Thank you.” Kasey took in a deep breath.
“He’s getting ready to do an interview with the local TV affiliate. You’re just in time. He said you’d have a picture. We’ll get them to show it at the end of the interview, and Cody will explain the situation. I hope it helps.”
“You don’t know how much this means to me.” Kasey took a manila envelope out of her shoulder bag and handed it to her.
“It won’t hurt Cody’s reputation any either. I have a hard time getting him to do interviews. He’s always hell bent on staying off camera, but then paparazzi just make up stuff about him. That’s never good. You’re in the biz. You know.”
“All too well,” Kasey said.
Annette tugged the photographs out of the sleeve.
“They’re all the same. I made fifty
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