No wonder his aunt had loved this place. Too bad she had to leave it, he thought, but at least she'd sublet it to him. Between the low rent and the amenities, it was a sweet deal.

He was in the lobby, having used the key Aunt Grace had sent to get in the front door. Now he was trying to figure out which key unlocked his new apartment when he heard someone behind him. He looked over his shoulder but not seeing anyone, he turned back to his task.

Simultaneously he felt something around his ankle and heard a tiny voice yelling, "I found him! I found our daddy!"

Shock filled him as he stared at the little girl sitting on the floor with her short, thin arms wrapped around his left leg.

He'd been a little forgetful lately, what with the change in his life, but he was pretty sure he hadn't forgotten a child.

"Missy? Missy, where are you?" This time it wasn't a child's voice, but a woman's. And if the woman herself matched her tone, she was a beauty. The sound came from afar so he decided to encourage her to come closer.

"Um, I think Missy is with me in the entry hall," he yelled. He looked down at the towheaded preschooler staring up at him. "You are Missy, aren't you?"

She nodded brightly, not appearing at all scared. "Missy?"

The woman was getting closer, but Nick called again. "She's here with me in the lobby!"

When the door across from his aunt's apartment swung open, Nick knew he'd been right: the flesh and blood woman matc