Killer Reads: A Collection of the Best in Inspirational Suspense

by Luana Ehrlich

  He helped her remove the gloves, pulling at the oversized fingers as she worked her hands free, then gave her a paper towel to wipe her nose. Taking hold of her arm, he led her to the table bench in front of the bay window. When she was seated, he slid into a chair beside her. “Would you like me to tell them? That’s why I came by. It’s not a job I like, but sometimes, I have to deliver bad news to families.”

  She shook her head. “I couldn’t ask you to do that. Besides, the kids don’t know you. I think they’d handle it better if it came from me. Could you just be there? I can’t mess this up.”

  He leaned across the table and looked into her eyes. “Raising two children alone is not to be taken lightly. Kids need both parents, and a stable home life. Especially these two. I don’t think they’ve ever had stability in their lives. It’ll be a big job.”

  She placed her elbows on the table, resting her chin in her hands. “I know that. That’s why I’m in such a quandary. I’ve always intended to quit work when I had children. I would like to home school, or at the very least, send them to a Christian school. I know they should have two parents. Right now, I feel that one parent is better than foster care.”

  “So what’s your plan?” he asked.

  She took a deep breath. “I’ve prayed hard for wisdom. God’s given me peace about bringing them here.” She gave a sardonic laugh. “But He hasn’t been forthcoming with any of the details. I called an attorney earlier today to see if I could get custody. He doesn’t think there’ll be a problem. I asked him to meet me at the hospital at three. He’ll also check out the Campbell’s property, since the children are their legal heirs.”

  Tears welled in her eyes. “I want to take care of them—give them as much love as they need until their wounds, physical and mental, heal. The big issue is how to make sure they’re safe”

  Matt rose, walked to the counter, and brought back another paper towel. “I’ll work on the safety part. For what it’s worth, I think you made the right decision.”

  “That’s easy for you to say,” Sara replied with a tear-stained grin.

  “Do you have car seats?”

  She nodded. “I purchased one for Poppy and a booster seat for Danny. That’s what the sales clerk recommended.”

  “Since Danny is six, you wouldn’t be ticketed for not having him in a booster, but it’s safer to use one. Where are they?”

  “In the portico entryway. I haven’t put them into the rental car yet.” She led the way.

  “You all set to go?” Matt asked.

  “Give me a minute to freshen my makeup. I don’t want them to see I’ve been crying.”

  She headed upstairs and he strode to the entryway and picked up the car seats. “I’ll put these in my car and wait outside. I brought Rowdy with me.”

  CHAPTER 20

  Twin Falls Memorial Hospital

  The sun set high in the sky, a bright ball of fire in the blue canopy. Thankful for the good weather, Sara glanced at Matt. She didn’t understand his motives. Not that she didn’t appreciate his help. Matt Foley was a good man. She knew that from talks with Mary before her death. But she and Matt had gotten off to a bad start. He’d told her he still considered her guilty in Josh’s death. What had changed his mind? Or had it changed? Was he just thinking of Danny and Poppy? The man was an enigma.

  Matt parked the car, leaving the window down halfway for Rowdy. As they reached the entrance, her attorney, Blaze Baxter, met them. Blaze looked nothing like his name. Fifty, thin and balding, he looked more like an accountant than a lawyer, but he came highly recommended.

  She made introductions as Blaze led the way past the double doors to the reception desk. This place had become much too familiar for her tastes. Getting well acquainted with a hospital wasn’t a habit she wanted to encourage.

  She cast Matt a grateful glance, then followed Blaze to the admissions’ office and signed all the forms to get the children released. It would have taken all day without Blaze’s authority behind her.

  After they’d finished the paperwork, she thanked him for his help, then she and Matt went up to see the children. The hospital had put them together in a semi-private room.

  Sara gave the door a light tap then stepped into the room. The children stared, with blank expressions, at cartoons on the television. Their eyes lit up when they saw her.

  Danny’s left arm had been secured in a camouflage cast, while Poppy’s foot sported a pink one. Sara gave them a long hug and introduced Matt.

  Wide eyed, Danny looked at Matt. “Are you a real cop?”

  Matt grinned. “Yep, ‘fraid so.”

  “Can I see your badge?”

  Matt removed the shield holder from his pocket. He handed it to the boy.

  “Wow. Why don’t you wear a uniform?” Danny asked.

  “When you’re the chief, you get to choose. I only wear it for special ceremonies. You guys ready to go home?”

  A nurse and an orderly appeared in the doorway with wheelchairs, and Matt loaded the children on board.

  Sara caught the woman’s gaze. “We want to take them to the hospital chapel before we leave, if that’s okay.”

  She gave an understanding nod. “Call me when you’re ready to go.”

  There were six pews in the small chapel, all empty. Light filtered through stained-glass windows from one wall that made colorful patterns on the light blue carpet.

  Sara had prayed most of the night for the right words to inform these children. She’d asked God to let her be the kind of parent her dad and mom had been to her. They’d handled parenthood with easy grace. She’d been an only child. Her parents praised her talents, which were few, but never pushed. Letting her find her own way, in her own time. Losing them had placed a permanent scar on her heart.

  Poppy sat on Sara’s lap, and she drew Danny’s chair close to the pew. Matt took a seat in front and turned sideways to face her.

  Heart lodged in her throat, she inhaled a deep breath. As simply as possible, she tried to explain the complicated concept of death. “Your mommy and grandparents are in heaven with Jesus now. They were sad to leave you. They asked me to take good care of you.”

  Danny’s eyes welled. He knew what she meant. Poppy, unaware, played with the gold locket Sara wore.

  She pushed on. “Our bodies are temporary containers. A vessel God gives us to keep our souls safe until we die. When death comes, the soul leaves its earthly shell. It goes to heaven in a brand new body. This new body doesn’t feel pain, or grow old. It lasts forever. Someday, when you are very old, you can join your mom and grandparents in heaven for a grand reunion.” She pulled them close. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  Danny’s chin dropped to his chest, but Poppy just stared at her with big teary eyes.

  Sara cast a pleading glance at Matt.

  Matt lifted Danny onto his lap, then gave Sara a nod of encouragement. “You’re doing great. It may take some time for them to understand.”

  Sara’s gaze searched the children’s faces. “Do you have any questions?”

  Danny leaned back against Matt’s chest. “Does it mean that Grandy’s ‘ritis doesn’t hurt anymore?”

  “That’s right, Danny. She feels no pain, not ever.”

  He nodded. “Good. She’ll like it there.” He paused, then a worried frown wrinkled his small brow. “Where will we live?”

  Sara held back her tears by force of will. “With me, in my home. Do you think that will be okay?”

  A look of relief washed over his face. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Outside, Matt strapped Danny in the car seat while Sara did the same with Poppy.

  Rowdy seemed to sense the children’s sadness. He didn’t jump or wag his tail. The pup placed his head on Danny’s knee, gazing up at him with soulful eyes.

  Sara gained a new respect for Matt as he drove them to a child-friendly fast food chain. He had good instincts with children, bringing Rowdy and taking them to a restaurant with a playground had been the
right choices. The children barely touched their meals, but the toy captivated Poppy on the drive home.

  When they arrived at Sara’s, Matt helped her get the children into the house and removed the car seats from his SUV. Afterwards, she walked him to the door. “Thank you for today, Matt. I don’t think I could have done this alone.”

  He put his hand on the door and looked down at her. “No problem. Call me if you need help.”

  He closed the door behind him. Already, she found she missed the comfort of his presence.

  Maddie, Beatrice and Pete met the children at the door, a group of loving new grandparents. They couldn’t replace the Campbell’s, but they could love them just as much.

  “Want to see the flowers?” Pete asked.

  Danny nodded. He took Poppy’s hand in his, very much the protective big brother. They followed Pete outside.

  Sara stood at the window and watched the little boy trying so hard to hide his pain.

  Later, Sara took Poppy upstairs for a short nap before dinner. The little girl had looked at her new room, and cast a frightened glance at Sara. She couldn’t make Poppy go into the room alone. The little girl needed time to adjust to the house and sleeping alone. Sara turned back the cover on her own bed.

  Danny might be experiencing the same phobia. However, he said nothing when she asked him if his room was all right. Perhaps he wanted to impress her by being a big boy.

  There had been too much chaos in his young life that forced him to grow up too fast.

  A sudden panic attack hit Sara. The kids had no clothes here. She’d have to go by the Campbell place to pick up some necessities until she could shop for them. And she didn’t have a door key.

  Global Optics

  Matt spent most of the drive back to the station with Sara and the two kids on his mind. He’d involved himself in her personal affairs. Considering their history, that was a bad idea. The past four years he’d considered her a murder suspect. Now, she seemed to be everywhere he turned, with him playing the role of knight in shining armor. Perhaps those two kids had drawn him in. Children had always been his weak spot. And those two had never caught a break. Whatever. He needed to proceed with caution.

  He made an abrupt u-turn and headed to Global Optics, organizing his mind around the few facts he had on the explosion. He wanted to ask Tompkins a few questions.

  Outside the Global building, he stood on the pavement, admiring the monument to modern architecture. Its mirrored presence reflected the sun but diffused the light in a way that didn’t blind him.

  Two uniformed men sat behind the security desk before a bank of six monitors. One faced the screens with only the back of his head visible. The other guard, Don Tompkins, stood at the counter. Ahead of Matt, a young woman marched to the counter, three-inch heels clicking on the tile. Her type made him uncomfortable. Very self-assured, with the expression of a petulant child, who’d never had anyone tell her no. “I’m back from lunch. Someone parked in my space. I want the car moved.”

  The eager young guard in front of the monitors sprang to his feet. “Right away, Ms. Dean.”

  The older man reached out and placed a steady hand on the young man’s shoulder, then turned to Ms. Dean. “I’m sure you have important things to do, Emily. Why don’t you give my partner your car keys? We’ll locate the individual in your space and park your car for you. Ben will return your keys within the hour.”

  She slapped the keys into the young man’s hand. “You people need to get your act together. You should prevent these problems. That’s what we pay you for.” She whirled then stalked towards the elevators.

  Tompkins turned to Matt. The guard nodded in Ms. Dean’s direction. “Actually, we’re paid to protect company property, but I thought it best not to remind her. She’s the CEO’s secretary. The executive parking area is a sacred cow. I hope you’re not the culprit in her space.”

  Matt held up both hands. “Not me. I’m in visitors’ parking. They taught me to read signs in grade school.”

  “Glad to know someone can still read. Now, how may I help you, Chief?”

  “I have a few follow up questions about last Friday. Do you have a minute?”

  “Sure, let me take care of Ms. Dean’s problem first. I’ll be right with you.” He turned to his partner. “Ben, call Nancy Warren in the distribution center. A sales rep went back to see her a few minutes ago. He’s probably parked in Emily’s spot. If so, tell him to move it. I’ll be in the office if you need me.”

  Mission accomplished, Tompkins led Matt to the office he’d previously visited. Matt didn’t sit down. “This will only take a minute. What do you know about making bombs?”

  “A lot less than I used to. There are websites with systematic instructions on how to build a bomb if you know where to look. Bomb cults and chat rooms with all kinds of crazies. I keep an eye on them, a holdover from my old job. When I see a scary post, I let my pals on the squad know. Bombers are the worst kind of cowards.”

  He shook his head. “I helped with the Oklahoma City bombing in ‘95. Worse than anything I witnessed in war.”

  How much of what Tompkins said was his true feeling or just a good act, Matt couldn’t tell. But he sounded sincere.

  “I can’t disagree with you there,” Matt said. “You’re telling me there are cults out there who share that kind of information?”

  Tompkins laughed. “Scary, isn’t it? You can spot the amateurs by how many fingers they have missing.”

  Matt shook his head. “The bomb unit folks picked up all the pieces to reconstruct the bomb. This guy wasn’t an amateur.”

  “That’s not good,” Tompkins said.

  “Any pros on those websites? Do they brag about their success stories?”

  “Probably, and maybe a few al Qaeda protégées. And yes, I’ve seen some bragging but nothing specific enough to track them down.”

  Matt stepped back to the door. “If you see anything helpful, give me a call. While I’m here, I’d like to speak to Charles Edwards, if I may.”

  The guard picked up the phone on the desk. After a short interval, he turned to Matt. “Take the elevator to the top floor. Edwards’s secretary will meet you there.”

  Matt left the reception area and marched across to the elevators. He hadn’t obtained much information from Tompkins. At least the security guard knew investigators were on the job.

  The elevator stopped on the fourth floor. As the door slid open, an attractive woman waited for Matt in the hallway.

  “Chief Foley, I’m Gail Barnes, Mr. Edwards’s secretary. Please follow me. He’s waiting for you in his office.”

  She led Matt to the end of a wide hallway and opened the door to a spacious secretarial office. Ms. Barnes picked up the phone. “Chief Foley is here, Mr. Edwards.”

  A few seconds later, the inner door opened. Edwards came out, his hand outstretched. “How are you? You impressed my wife, Marnie, at Stanton’s dinner.” He gave Matt’s hand a firm grip. Edwards pointed him to a chair. “How may I help you?”

  Matt let his gaze roam around the office as he took a seat. The space was elegant, like the man, filled with contemporary office furniture with smooth, graceful lines. Modern artwork was tastefully placed around the walls. Bookshelves covered one wall with a faux fireplace in the center, complete with an electric log. “I came on another matter and decided to update you on the explosion while I was here. It appears someone planted a bomb in the forklift.”

  Edwards’s eyes widened. “I hadn’t heard. I appreciate your letting me know.” A slight frown wrinkled his tanned forehead. “Who could have done such a thing, and why?”

  “I’d hoped you might have some ideas. We have lots of theories but little else. I suppose there’s the possibility someone tried to squelch the buy-out.”

  Matt threw that out there, already convinced Sara Bradford had been the intended victim. He wanted to watch Edwards’s reaction. “Can you think of any motive for what happened?”

  “I wis
h I could. It’s extraordinary. I’ve been in the optical business for more than twenty years. Nothing like this has ever happened. However, I can’t imagine it was to sabotage the buyout. That’s a done deal.”

  Matt nodded. “I won’t take up any more of your time. If you come up with any ideas, call me.”

  “Certainly, certainly.” Edwards walked him to the door. “This seems to be my week for police visitors. Two of your detectives questioned me about my whereabouts when the Pryor child disappeared. I’m afraid I couldn’t offer much help. I was on tour of duty in Cambodia at the time. What a tragic business for Sam and Lily. Marnie wrote me when it happened. We knew the family.”

  Hunter had checked the man’s Army record on his whereabouts that weekend. Edwards had not been in Cambodia, but on a month long furlough. Most troops went to Hawaii, but he could have come home. Hunter was checking that out. Bad memory or an outright lie? Matt didn’t know, but he hoped to have the answer before their next meeting.

  County Court House

  District Attorney Gabriel Morrison stopped in the men’s room after he left the judges chamber. He set his briefcase on the edge of the sink, smoothed the well-trimmed hair above his ears with both hands, then straightened his red power tie.

  All in all, a good day.

  He’d gotten a ten-year sentence for an abusive husband. Not the sentence he’d wanted, but perhaps enough time behind bars to keep the man from killing his wife for a few years. If she was smart, she’d change her name and leave the state.

  Pride was sinful, but he couldn’t help the sense of accomplishment that welled inside him after a satisfying win. It was why he did what he did. The law ran through his veins. He loved the justice system, its fairness, its dignity. There were some notable exceptions, but most of the time, the rule of law prevailed.

  Grandfather Morrison survived Auschwitz. After liberation, he came to America, earned his law degree, and eventually sat on the New Jersey Federal Court bench. He had instilled in Gabe a deep sense of right and wrong.