by Karen Ball
Annie’s smile blossomed. “Yes, you are. And so am I, and so is anyone who looks at each scene close up. They see themselves, their faces, in the image.” Once again, she led Serafina past the images of the window. “See? You’re the shepherd, looking down at the Christ child. You’re one of the crowd Jesus is teaching at the temple.”
Serafina exclaimed each time she saw her face reflected. She sighed when she was the lamb on Jesus’ shoulders, trembled when she was Peter denying his master, and then the soldier mocking the crucified Lord. The tears started when she cast lots, then held the spear. They flowed in earnest when she was outside the empty tomb, reunited with the only One who’d ever loved her with a pure love.
When they reached the last image, and Serafina saw Jesus looking down at her face in the pages of the Book of Life, she turned to Annie. “But how?”
Apparently Killian couldn’t stand not taking part a moment longer. “She’s a master at her art, that’s how.” He turned to Ryan. “Do you have the photos of the process?”
Two spots of color bloomed in Ryan’s pale cheeks. “I left them in the car.”
“In the car? Good heavens, man, use your head. What possible good can they do us in the car?” Killian waved his hand. “Go get them.”
The spots took over Ryan’s features as he turned and made his way to the front of the church. Killian turned back to Annie. “Please, continue.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to scold him, both for the way he’d talked to Ryan and for acting like some kind of circus ringmaster, but she decided now wasn’t the time. She turned back to Serafina.
“It took some doing, but I finally found the right mix of mirrored and dichroic glass to use for the faces. When you look from a distance or stand and a certain angle, you see the images painted on the glass. But close up, the effect is like a muted mirror. So you see your own image—”
“And become part of the story.” Serafina clasped her hands.
“Exactly.”
“Oh, Annie, it’s more wonderful than I hoped.” She pressed a hand to her throat. “Cletus would be so pleased.”
“I’m so glad.”
“Hey! Who turned out the lights?”
They all turned to the front of the church, and Annie started forward with a pleased cry. “Brianna! Mark! What are you guys doing here?” She waved at the little girl between them. “And Amberly It’s so good to see you.”
“Hi, doggy lady.”
Bree winked at Annie. “I heard we had an unveiling of a masterpiece today, so we came to pay our respects to the artist.”
“A masterpiece, eh?” Annie laughed and looked over her shoulder. “Sounds like Killian invited yo—” She frowned. Where did he go? “Killie?”
“No, actually, Dan told us about it.”
Dan?
Jed leaned on the pew. “Killian said Ryan was taking too long to get the photos and went to get them himself.”
A yelp from the front of the sanctuary, followed by the sound of a scuffle, drew their attention. Alarm skittered up Annie’s spine, and she turned to call to Jed—but he was already on his way.
They needn’t have worried. Apparently Dan had everything under control. He appeared near the pulpit, Killian in tow. “Look who I found heading out the back door.”
Annie took a step toward them. “There you are, Killie. I wondered where you … you … ”
Why was Jed pushing Killian in front of him? Annie’s mouth fell open. Were those handcuffs on Killian’s wrists?
“Annie, will you tell this barbarian of a brother of yours to turn me loose?”
She stepped forward. “Dan, what’s going on?”
He didn’t answer her. He just poked Killian forward. “Come on, Killian. Let’s go meet Amberly”
Killian held up his handcuffed hands. “Fine, fine! Lead me to the child. Though why you think it’s so world-shattering important—”
“My angel!”
Annie spun at the delighted cry. Amberly was skipping up the middle aisle, clapping her hands, and looking at—
The shock of discovery slammed into her.
Killian?
“Where have you been, Angel? I missed you.”
Dan’s gaze hardened as he watched Amberly walk to Killian—then widened when she passed him right by
Annie caught her breath, and they all spun to look back toward the pulpit area. Ryan stood there, alarm on his features, as Amberly ran to him. She reached for his hands, but he jerked away.
“Get away from me, you little monster.”
Amberly pulled back, then turned and ran back down the aisle to her parents.
As Annie fought through the cobwebs of confusion, she realized Dan had spun and was making his way to Ryan, even as Jed grabbed Mark Heller, restraining him.
“You took my little girl?” Rancor sharpened his voice as he tried to push past Jed. “Why? We don’t even know you!”
Jed held the furious man fast. “Mark, if I can’t belt him, you can’t belt him. Let Dan handle it.”
“After what he did—” He spun, a fist drawn back, and Annie cried out, sure Mark was going to take his rage out on Jed.
“Daddy!”
Amberly’s alarm stopped her father cold. He stood there, fist suspended in the air, then let it drop. Amberly put both hands around his. “Why are you mad, Daddy?”
He dropped to his knees, pulling his little girl into his arms. “I’m not mad, honey. Not anymore.” He opened one arm and Bree knelt, letting her husband draw her into the hug. “I’m just happy you’re safe.”
Annie swallowed back the emotions clogging her throat and turned to Serafina. Amazingly enough, the woman watched the goings on with a serene calm. Her smile touched Annie. “Go ahead, dear. I can tell you want to talk to your brother.” She looked toward the front of the sanctuary “And that man.”
“Jed—” Dan tossed him a small key—“let Killian loose.”
Amazingly enough, Killian didn’t say a thing. He just watched, tight-lipped, as Jed set him free, then rubbed his wrists as Annie made her way between the pews to where Jed awaited her. Jed circled her waist with one arm, and Killian fell in step on the other side of her. Together, the three of them walked toward Dan and the man he now held captive.
Killian handed Dan the cuffs. “I believe you need these.”
Dan nodded, then jerked Ryan’s wrists behind his back and slapped the cuffs in place.
“So you sent the notes, Ryan?” Annie couldn’t hold back the angry edge in her voice.
Killian met Dan’s hard stare. “And you thought I’d sent them? That I was the one who took that little girl?” His eyes widened. “Kodi? You thought I would try to kill Kodi, knowing what she means to Annie?”
Regret weighted Dan’s words. “I’m sorry, Killian. All the evidence seemed to point to you.”
“You thought he did it all?”
They all turned stunned eyes to the raging Ryan. Fury blazed in the gaze he aimed at Killian. “Him? He’s so caught up in himself, he’d never be able to pull something like this off.”
Killian spread his hands in front of him, grief in his voice. “How could you do all that, Ryan? Why?”
“Everyone thinks you’re such a genius.” He all but spat the words out. “But I saw. I know. You made a couple of good calls, but your wonderful success? Dumb luck. I’m the one who organized the gallery, who took it to the next level. Me! I should have been a partner years ago. But all you ever see is yourself.”
“But why Annie?” Killian took a step closer. “Why do all this to her?”
Ryan dragged his gaze from Killian to look at her, and what she saw glittering in the man’s eyes chilled her to the bone.
“Because, dear Killian, you said it yourself. She belonged to the art. It was the only endeavor worthy of her attention.” He tugged against Dan’s hold, leaning toward her, then sagged when she recoiled. “And you needed Annie. Expressions needed her. All I wanted to do was help her. And you.”
Killian looked from Ryan to Annie. “You can’t possibly believe I wanted this. That I wanted you to do anything like this.”
“He didn’t.”
There was something in Dan’s tone that drew everyone’s attention. He gave a slow nod. “I should have seen it.” He pressed his lips together. “I’m sorry, Killian. I was following the evidence, and it led me to you.” His hard gaze fixed on Ryan. “Because that’s what you intended all along. That day in the gallery when I stopped by about the notes, I thought it was awfully convenient that Killian said he didn’t know anything about the computers. Well, it was convenient. But not for Killian.” Dan’s gaze narrowed. “It was convenient for you. You sent the note on Expressions stationery to lead me to Killian. You used the computer at the gallery to lead me to Killian.”
An ugly smirk painted Ryan’s features. “Like I said, Killian taught me everything I know. He showed me how important it was to be focused on your goal. To do whatever it takes to accomplish it.”
“Annie. Amberly. They weren’t the real targets, were they?”
Annie shivered at the cold anger in her brother’s tone.
“They were just a means to an end.”
“Me.”
Dan met Killian’s gaze. “You. And Expressions.”
Killian turned to slip his arms around Annie, hugging her close. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. This was all my fault. If I hadn’t said all those things … hadn’t put those ideas in Ryan’s mind … ”
“Stop trying to take credit for my work!”
Killian let Annie go and turned to face Ryan. “You’re crazy.”
Ryan’s harsh laugh cut across Annie’s nerves. “Fools often mistake genius for crazy.”
“And crazy people—” Dan gave Ryan a hard shake—“mistake delusion for genius. Now you’ve got the right to remain silent. Do us all a favor and exercise it.”
Ryan opened his mouth, but fortunately whatever he was about to spew was halted when two policemen came in the front doors.
“You radioed for help, Deputy?”
Dan took hold of Ryan’s arm. “That I did.” He nudged the man down the aisle, delivering him to the officers. Annie caught bits and pieces of her brother’s explanation: “Charges of harassment … stalking … kidnapping…”
Annie buried her face in Jed’s chest; he cradled her against him.
“My dear?”
Drawing a steadying breath, Annie pulled away from Jed. “Serafina, oh, I’m so sorry about all this … ”
The woman waved away Annie’s concern. “You need make no apologies. I’m only sorry you’ve been hurt by what that man did.” She took Annie’s hand in her own. “I don’t know the details, of course, but I wanted to reassure you that it doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you do it out of obedience. There’s only one place you need to belong, and that’s in the center of God’s will.”
Annie blinked back the tears burning at her eyes. “But how do I know … ?”
“All you need do, child, is look at what God created through you.” Gentle hands turned Annie toward the window. “Truly look, with your heart as well as your eyes. And you’ll sense, as we do, God’s utter delight in what you do.”
“All of what you do.”
Mark Heller’s assertion was rock solid. He stood there, his wife at his side, his daughter in his arms. “I shudder to think what would have happened to our family if you and Kodi hadn’t been there when we needed you. That man—” he threw a disgusted look Ryan’s direction—“was either a fool or a liar.”
“They’re right, Annie.” Belief in her shone in Jed’s eyes.
And in Killian’s. “You’re doing what you were meant to do, Annie. Don’t let anyone, especially me, make you doubt that.”
“Hey, sis. I need to go to the station with these guys, but I wanted to check on you first.” Concern clouded Dan’s features. “Are you okay?”
Annie looked at her brother, then at the others surrounding her. Love and respect looked back, embracing her, erasing any power Ryan’s words—or the voice—held.
Peace flowed through her, easing her spirit, lifting her mouth into a warm smile. “Yes, I’m fine.”
Jed slipped his arms around her. “I’ve always thought so.”
She poked him with an elbow. “You know what I meant.”
“Well—” Dan started toward the front door—“I’m on my way then. Looks like you’re in good hands.”
Annie couldn’t argue with that. And as far as she was concerned, she planned to stay in them. For a very long time.
FORTY-EIGHT
“People are like stained-glass windows.
They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,
but when the darkness sets in,
their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within.”
ELISABETH KUBLER-ROSS
“For you are a holy people, who belong to the LORD your God.”
DEUTERONOMY 7:6
It was nearly nine o’clock that night when Dan finally returned to Annie’s home. It was clear he could tell from Annie’s expression that she wanted a full debriefing, so they all gathered in the living room.
As they did so, Dan touched Killian’s arm. “Look … I’m sorry. I was way off base.”
“Not so far. Ryan and I, we’re similar in a lot of ways. And I have been the one spouting off about Annie quitting search and rescue—”
“—and talking about how she was wasting her gift,” Shelby added.
Jayce nodded. “And I heard you say a couple times that you didn’t like Kodi—”
“Fine!” Killian held up his hands. “Ample evidence against me. I get it.” He cast a pained look to the ceiling. “I’m so misunderstood.”
It felt good to laugh in the face of all that had happened.
Kodi followed them into the living room, circling at Annie and Jed’s feet after they sat on the couch, then plopping down with a heavy, contented sigh.
“I have to know—” Annie couldn’t wait a moment longer—“what made you so sure poor Killian took Amberly?”
Dan pulled some folded papers from his shirt pocket and handed them to Annie. She unfolded them—and understood.
The drawing was childish but startlingly accurate.
“Obviously it’s not a detailed sketch.”
Annie studied the drawing. “No, but it’s enough. The short, gray and silver hair. Those round glasses. Even the wide smile.” She laid the drawing in her lap. “It would have made me think of Killian too.”
“Well, trust me—” Killian gave an exaggerated sigh—“next time I hire an assistant I’ll be sure he looks nothing like me.”
Dan took Shelby’s hand in his. “Once we got Ryan to the station, he couldn’t talk fast enough. Believe it or not, Annie, he’s the one who made sure Jed found out about you.”
Jed stiffened. “What?”
“Oh dear.” Killian grimaced. “I’m afraid that’s my fault. I heard about Everyday Heroes on my last trip to LA. You know, when I was a consultant for one of those home decorating shows. Their sound stage was right next to yours, Jed. The crew couldn’t stop talking about your show, what a success it was becoming. So I went along with them to watch you working on an episode. I was so impressed that I told Ryan all about it.”
Dan nodded. “He must have figured Jed would be the perfect tool for broadcasting Annie’s failure. He figured she’d be so distraught when they didn’t find Amberly that she’d leave search and rescue, and he’d have what he wanted.”
“Annie.” There was murder in Jed’s one, dark word.
“And her art. Fortunately, he’ll go away for a good long time. The penalty for kidnapping is severe, but you add cyber stalking and using the U.S. mail for one of his poison letters … well, he’s not going to bother you again, Annie.”
Shelby hooked her hands around her knees. “Looks like you’re on your own at the gallery again, Killian.”
Annie and Jed exchanged a gla
nce.
“Actually, I might not be.” Killian looked at Annie, and she nodded. “What happened with Ryan prompted me to do something I’ve been considering for some time. I’m taking on a partner.”
Jed inclined his head. “Maybe.”
Annie’s family all stared at Jed.
“You?” Kyla’s wide eyes showed her astonishment.
“And Annie.” Jed took her hand. “The three of us talked it over after we got back from the church today. Killian can’t expand if he’s on his own. And we believe in his vision to find and feature new talent in the art world.”
Annie leaned back against the couch cushions. “That’s not all. Andy called a few hours ago and told us he’s decided to move out here to ‘the sticks,’ as he calls it. He and Jed are going to focus their talents on filming some independent projects. And if we go through with this partnership—”
Killian took it from there. “They’ve agreed I can feature my star artist with at least one major showing a year.”
“And he’s agreed to add a viewing room to feature promising film projects.” Annie leaned into Jed. “Like those that will come from two certain somebodies.”
“I love it!”
Annie was caught off guard by Kyla’s enthusiasm. “You do?”
“Absolutely God’s taken all the broken pieces and put them together in a beautiful mosaic, blending your love and your gifts.” She lifted her water glass in a salute. “If you need any help with getting things set up, just call. I know a thing or two about running a business.”
Dan lifted his glass of milk as well. “All I can say—” he took Shelby’s hand in his and kissed it—“is it’s amazing how things turn out when God’s involved.”
Jayce’s gaze went to the ceiling at the mush, but his grin belied the action. “So, I’ve got a question.”
Annie didn’t hesitate. “Shoot.”
“When’s the big day?”
Jed leaned down to scratch Kodi’s ears. “The opening? We don’t even know if we’ll be buying the place yet—”