Sins of the Mother by Victoria Christopher Murray

Author:Victoria Christopher Murray [Murray, Victoria Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Usenet, C429, Kat, Exratorrents
ISBN: 9781449841911
Publisher: Touchstone
Published: 2010-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Thirty-eight

REGRET! THAT’S WHAT BRIAN WAS living with. Like a chronic disease, his regret was ever present, ever growing.

He couldn’t pinpoint the exact date when he first noticed the symptoms, though he was sure the first prickling probably came when he’d allowed Hosea to raise his child. But the doubts hadn’t disturbed him much then—they’d just lingered in a corner of his mind, simmering. After all, wasn’t he doing the right thing for everyone?

But then he’d received the call from the FBI and had made the trip across the country. He’d sat with Jasmine and shared her grief. And his regret had begun to bubble.

Then there was yesterday. The fear he’d felt when Hosea had walked into that room and said that a girl had been found made every bone inside of him tremble. While he’d waited on the other side of those heavy doors at the morgue and wondered if the dead little girl was his, his bubbling regret began to boil.

By the time he’d stumbled into his hotel room last night, his regret was volcanic. Full blown. Chronic.

Brian was sure that was why Jacqueline had come to his dreams last night, crying out for him to save her. And that was why before the New York sun even began its rise, he was already out of bed, on his knees, praying like he never had before—for forgiveness for what he’d done and for God’s mercy to bring Jacqueline home.

Then after he’d eaten and dressed, he made a list of friends and contacts who could hook him up with media. He’d make those calls tonight.

Now at the mall, Brian rattled the doorknob of the center, but the room was locked. So he waited. And paced as he waited. And thought as he paced. And his thoughts became a strategy.

“Hey, you’re here early.”

The voice startled him from his deep thoughts.

As Keith unlocked the door, he said, “Maybe I should give you the keys and let you open up in the morning.” He chuckled.

“Whatever it takes,” Brian said, trying to keep the impatience from his voice. He wasn’t interested in any kind of chitchat; he was ready to work his plan. First, he would stuff one thousand envelopes, then he’d hit the computers. After that, the phones. Then he would go to the police and the FBI and anyone else who was involved.

“So . . . you’re from California, right?” Keith asked as he clicked on the lights.

“Yeah.” Brian was already heading to the back of the room where he’d sat with Jasmine yesterday.

“So . . . how long are you going to be here?” Keith asked.

Brian pivoted and faced the young man. Twenty-four hours ago, his answer would have been just a day or two. He would have explained that he’d come just to give his support, but there wasn’t really anything that he could do. Then last night, he’d slept with all that regret.

After a moment of thought, he said, “I’m gonna stay for as long as it takes.”

The light-brown-eyed young man nodded.

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