Chapter Twenty

Zoe got off the bus and was surprised to see Josef waiting for her on the curb in front of the apartment. "Uncle Josef?" Zoe said.

"Your daddy called me and asked me to pick you up," Josef said, lifting the girl from the ground, starting for his car.

"Why?"

"He was running late with work."

Zoe nodded. She dug through her backpack for her cell phone. She hit the third button. It rang three times. 'You've reached Mick St. John, please leave a message after the beep.'

"Want to stop for ice cream?" Josef asked, noticing her frown.

"Daddy, didn't answer."

"He's busy, sweetheart," Josef said. "He would answer if he could. Let's get some ice cream and then we'll call your daddy again okay?"

Zoe nodded. Josef drove down to the water front. He didn't like being out of his freeze before sunset but he wouldn't leave Zoe when his best friend needed him to watch her. They pulled into the last free parking spot.

Josef took Zoe's hand as she skipped along to the ice cream shop. He held the door for her and she rushed to get in a line. A pretty clerk was taking orders and she didn't miss Josef's arrival. When it came to be their turn, she was all charm. "Can I help you?" she smiled sweetly.

Zoe pointed to the blue moon ice cream. Josef nodded.

"No ice cream for you?" The clerk asked.

"No, thank you," Josef said, flashing her the Kostan smile.

The clerk blushed, getting Zoe her cone. Josef paid and then shooed Zoe to the farthest booth in the place. She climbed in on one side and Josef sat on the other.

"Are we going to try daddy again?" Zoe asked, between licks.

Josef nodded, pulling out his cell. As he pulled it out, it began to ring, reading Mick St. John. "Hey, buddy; we were just about to call you." Josef stopped smiling. "Whoa, buddy, slow down."

"Miranda's been taken," Mick growled. "We went the girl's family's home. Miranda thought the kidnappers might be using the old factories as a hiding place so she told me to drive there. We found the girls. Miranda was to get them out but when I got done playing distraction and went to find her, they was leading her and all the girls to a van."

"Where are you now?" Josef whispered, turning away from Zoe.

"I'm following them." Mick cursed under his breath. "Tell me you have Zoe."

"Yeah, I was a tad late but so was her bus," Josef said.

"Keep her close, Josef," Mick said.

"Why?"

"It's Jean-Claude," Mick said. "He has Miranda."

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