Jerald despised those, like Matilda Calder’s whore of a mother, who continued to serve their own selfish weaknesses as if they were gods to be worshipped. When the choice was made to bring a child into the world, those weaknesses had to be overcome. No matter the sacrifice.
That child was the only reason he hadn’t killed that selfish bitch when she’d tempted him.
His entire life before, he had searched for the one thing he had felt missing inside him. Heart. When his daughter was born, he’d found that the organ he’d thought nonexistent all those years indeed was present. He’d experienced emotions he’d never known existed prior to that wondrous day.
From that moment forward, his life had been complete.
As challenging as overcoming his own vile weakness had been, he had mastered it. Had never looked back.
Until now.
She had inherited that weakness.
There was no question. No way to deny the reality.
He had no choice.
The only remaining question was the how to save her.
Conviction filled him.
He knew how.
Sarah Newton.
38
Living Word Church, 4:00 p.m.
Deborah watched her husband kneeling before the crucifix. He prayed so diligently. And yet, no relief had come.
Their worst fears had been realized.
Chief Willard had called. He and that FBI agent would be arriving within the hour to speak to Christopher a third time.
The chief had held a press conference and announced that the Conner girl had identified the suspect as a male.
Now the authorities were going to take a closer look at all male persons of interest.
They considered Christopher one of those.
A person of interest.
Deborah had waited for days now. Prayed and watched unwaveringly for a sign.
Today that sign had appeared.
She had dozed off in her chair and awakened suddenly to find the sun shining through the living room windows. The play of light on the worn wood floors had danced before her eyes. For long minutes she had watched this simple production of nature. A spider had crawled into the open, drawn by the warmth from the sun.
At that same moment, Tamara had entered the room. Believing her aunt to be asleep and seeing the spider creeping ever closer, the childrushed across the room, snatched up a magazine from the coffee table, and smashed the spider. She had looked up, thinking that the noise had awakened her aunt, smiled, and said, “That was a close one.”
Deborah had known as she peered into the sweet face of her niece that she could wait no longer.
Despite her gnarled fingers and aching joints, the good Lord had given her a sharp mind.
When danger crept close, He expected her to do what needed to be done without delay.
Today.
