by Jake Parent
A few years later, when the group started to attract attention, he faked his own death and started a new life under the name Jack Benning. After that, his influence on the organization was known only to a small leadership circle. The day-to-day activities were, and likely still are, run by this secretive body of dedicated adherents.
The rest of the memo was information Cristina already knew. An explanation of his role in the first murders, as well as in almost killing Anise and herself. All stuff she really had no interest in reliving.
After reading the email, she put away her phone and sat on the edge of the stairs, crying softly in the dark. She tried to imagine how she would react if the same injustice had been done to her. What Casey would do in that situation. What anyone would do. She really didn’t know. All she could do was recall the countless times in her life when she’d seen a system that was supposed to provide opportunities for people, instead end up doing the complete opposite.
After finishing her tears, Cristina checked on Anise one last time. At first glance, all she saw when she peeked into the room was a lump of something under the blankets. She couldn’t help but remember back to that horrible day. The memory made her heart race. It continued to beat faster and faster, until she took the few steps over to the bed and saw Anise was indeed there, clutching a stuffed animal.
Cristina kissed her daughter on the forehead and was about to turn for the door, when she suddenly realized what the little girl was holding.
Not a sea creature. Not one of the Disney characters she loved so much.
Wrapped tightly in Anise’s arms was a stuffed animal Cristina had seen before, although never in real life. She smiled at the sight of the hippo, kissed her daughter once more, and headed off to sleep.
Like This Book?
Please leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads.
Sign up to receive alerts about new releases from Jake Parent (and that’s the only thing that gets sent to this list): http://eepurl.com/bXzepr
Purchase Jake Parent’s debut novel, Only the Devil Tells the Truth
About The Author
Jake Parent is the author of Cristina, a new psychological suspense novel. His first book, Only the Devil Tells the Truth, was a #1 Amazon Bestseller. His influences include Charles Bukowski, Stephen King, Maya Angelou, John Steinbeck, Honoré de Balzac, Ella Fitzgerald, John Sanford, Jimi Hendrix, Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Rickey Henderson, and Mac Dre. He grew up in San Jose, CA but now lives in the Washington, DC area.
For more information, visit http://www.jakedparent.com.