“How had he hurt himself?”
“Helping with the yard remodel.”
Abby could not hold back a snort. Gavin Kent had been wounded in a gunfight, shot by her father, after Buck had witnessed Gavin kill Abby’s mother. Her dad then killed the drug dealer Gavin had brought with him. After that he ran out of ammo and had to flee the restaurant for his life.
Another angry glance from the judge, and she forced herself to nod an apology.
“What happened then?”
“I just reacted. I saw Morgan move toward Gavin, and I swung the shovel and hit him in the head as hard as I could.”
Abby left the courthouse angry and frustrated. She remembered when she was a kid in foster care, in the weeks right after her parents’ murders, filled with anger. She used to pound big rocks into smaller rocks and pretend she was pounding the people who had murdered them. It had been a long time since that anger—rage, really—had surged so completely through her. A rage that made her want to pound something—or someone. What Kelsey called a confession was a farce.
A social worker back then had given Abby a Bible verse from the book of Deuteronomy. It took years before six-year-old Abby completely understood the verse, but when she did, it became a lifeline and something that eased her anger. “He gives justice to the fatherless and widows . . .”
“Hey, Abby, hold up.”
She stopped and turned. She’d tried to ignore Gunther but wasn’t angry enough to make the old guy chase after her. Besides, he wasn’t the one who infuriated her.
“Trying to give me a heart attack?” He caught up to her, breathing hard, bending over, and putting his hands on his thighs to catch his breath. “You stormed out of there and made the judge mad,” he said after he straightened up. “Hope you don’t have to try any cases in front of him right away.”
“I don’t know what I expected in there. I didn’t want a trial any more than the DA did—too risky with the shaky evidence we have—but somehow what Kelsey had to say just didn’t sit right with me. She wanted my dad to be the bad guy, threatening Gavin Kent. And Kent is the man who killed my mother!”
Gunther raised both hands. “Calm down. I’m on your side here.”
Abby took a deep breath, glancing around the street in front of the courthouse, at the people coming and going. This was the place where people came for justice, she thought bitterly. On one level she knew she had no right to be so angry. She had more answers now about the murders of her parents than she’d had a year ago.
It was Gavin Kent who killed her mother, and after that her father fled, thinking that by doing so he’d saved Abby, that Kent would leave her alone. But Kent still burned the restaurant down to destroy evidence, nearly killing Abby and killing an innocent cook, Luke Murphy’s uncle. Her father had come out of hiding to try to take Kent to the police, but Cox killed Buck Morgan before that could happen. Then she buried him under tons of concrete in her backyard, where he’d lain hidden for all these years.
Now, at least, there would be one person in jail, sentenced for part of the crime. Abby had hoped Kelsey would finally point the finger at the person responsible for ordering the massacre at the Triple Seven restaurant, California’s First Lady, Alyssa Rollins. But after hearing Cox’s self-serving confession, it stung like a thousand bee stings to Abby’s heart that Alyssa effortlessly slipped through every crack and avoided judgment. She was the real killer and she would stay free.
She looked at Gunther. “I know you are. This is just aggravating.”
“Well, step into my office.” He pointed to a street hot dog vendor. “Let me buy you lunch and we’ll talk about it.”
In spite of everything Abby laughed. “Yeah, that used to be Asa’s favorite place to take me for lunch too.” Her old partner Asa Foster had been the one to introduce her to the crusty reporter Gunther. “But he did it because he was cheap.”
“I resemble that remark,” Gunther said with mock insult.
“Thanks for the offer, but I’ve got some training to get back to, for the cold case squad. Rain check?”
“Sure.” He stepped close. “I’d still like to pick your brain about the Triple Seven someday. It’s not settled in my mind, and I don’t think it’s settled in yours either.”
Abby cocked her head and shrugged, then continued on to the parking structure.
She’d thought all of this had been settled in her heart and mind a long time ago, but it wasn’t, she realized. I doubt that it will ever be settled. I’m that orphan, talked about in the Bible. God is supposed to give me justice. Will he ever deliver?
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A FORMER LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, POLICE OFFICER of twenty-two years, Janice Cantore worked a variety of assignments, including patrol, administration, juvenile investigations, and training. She’s always enjoyed writing and published two short articles on faith at work for Cop and Christ and Today’s Christian Woman before tackling novels. She now lives in a small town in southern Oregon, where she enjoys exploring the forests, rivers, and lakes with her two Labrador retrievers—Maggie and Abbie.
Janice writes suspense novels designed to keep readers engrossed and leave them inspired. Drawing Fire is the first book in her new series, Cold Case Justice. Janice also authored Critical Pursuit, Visible Threat, and the Pacific Coast Justice series, which includes Accused, Abducted, and Avenged.
Visit Janice’s website at www.janicecantore.com and connect with her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JaniceCantore.
Because of a childhood experience, Detective Abby Hart is driven to solve homicides in Long Beach. Can you point to a similarly defining event—positive or negative—in your own life? How might your life have turned out differently if that event hadn’t happened?
Abby’s fiancé, Ethan, considers her work as a homicide detective dark and dangerous, but Abby believes she brings hope and justice to people. Why is Ethan really concerned about Abby? What prevents her from being totally objective about her job?
Luke Murphy and his friend Bill coined the term “hard blessings” when they served in the military together. What does this mean to you? What hard blessings have you experienced in life?
Abby takes a victim’s dog to the animal shelter, but why doesn’t she leave Bandit there? In what ways can you relate to her feelings in that moment?
Officer Robert Woods has had a special connection to Abby for twenty-seven years. Yet he discourages her from pursuing her parents’ murders. Is he acting in her best interest? Why or why not?
Why is Deputy Chief Kelsey Cox so antagonistic toward Abby? Have you ever had a boss who was hard on you? How did you handle the criticism or attitude?
Throughout the story, Abby wrestles with forgiveness and concludes that it’s easier to say she forgives someone than to feel it. She wonders, How do you forgive a monster? What answer do you have for that question? When have you struggled to not only offer forgiveness but really feel it as well? What keeps you from feeling it?
Luke searches day after day for missing teens like Nadine. Compare his determination to go after runaways with the parable of the lost sheep told in Luke 15. Have you had personal experience with a “lost sheep” or a determined “shepherd”? How did your story turn out?
In chapter 33, Abby wonders if her obsession with her parents’ cold case means she doesn’t trust God. What do you think of the response Luke gives? How would you answer her question?
Even without knowing her well, Luke notes that Abby isn’t one to seek vengeance. What does he base his opinion on? Why does Abby’s aunt Dede warn her about wanting revenge? Are Dede’s concerns justified?
Abby’s motto—You can run, but you can’t hide—is based on Hebrews 4:13. How does she acknowledge the truth of the verse? Where does she fall short? What does this verse say to you?
Near the end of the story, Abby says, “Letting go feels like giving up.” Do you feel the same way? Describe a time when you had to let go of something. Did you feel peace about your deci
sion or despair? How do you know when you’ve made the right choice?
More from Janice Cantore
Pacific Coast Justice Series
Accused
Abducted
Avenged
Cold Case Justice Series
Drawing Fire
Burning Proof
Catching Heat
Critical Pursuit
Visible Threat
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