Vanished. Margaret Daley
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Their gazes connected.
A bond that had formed from the very beginning strengthened, and Madison started to envision more. She saw the possibility in his look and could even tell the exact moment he realized there was something beyond the case that was going on between them. His eyes blazed, and his intense regard took in her features as though he were reassessing his thoughts about them.
He pulled her into his embrace and just held her against him. “Thank you isn’t adequate for what I feel.”
His aftershave teased her senses. The feel of his arms sent a wave of contentment through her. What was happening to her? Surely these feelings were because of their heightened emotions concerning the case. She did not want to be hurt again. She did not want to mistake this for something it wasn’t.
MARGARET DALEY
feels she has been blessed. She has been married more than thirty years to her husband, Mike, whom she met in college. He is a terrific support and her best friend. They have one son, Shaun. Margaret has been writing for many years and loves to tell a story. When she was a little girl, she would play with her dolls and make up stories about their lives—now she writes these stories down. She especially enjoys weaving stories about families and how faith in God can sustain a person when things get tough. When she isn’t writing, she is fortunate to be a teacher for students with special needs. Margaret has taught for over twenty years and loves working with her students. She has also been a Special Olympics coach and participated in many sports with her students.
Vanished
Margaret Daley
Faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen.
—Hebrews 11:1
To the Steeple Hill editors
You all are the best
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
EPILOGUE
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
ONE
“Go away!” Sitting on the navy-and-beige couch, Kim switched the cordless phone to the other ear and turned from her little sister to face the bookcases along one wall in the den.
“But you said you would help me.” Ashley stamped her foot. “I have to have it done by tomorrow.”
“Just a minute, Lexie.” Kim cupped the receiver, glared over her shoulder at Ashley and blew a bubble, the pop of the gum loud. “Can’t you see I’m busy. I’ll help you later. Go outside and play.”
“But—”
“I’ll let you know when I’m ready to help.” Kim infused into her voice all the frustration she was experiencing at her little sister’s constant bugging. When Ashley didn’t budge from the spot where she’d planted herself five minutes ago, Kim firmed her mouth into a frown she hoped conveyed all her feelings. “Go! Now, brat!”
“I’m telling Daddy when he comes home you’ve been on the phone for over an hour.”
The whine hovered in the air between the two sisters. Kim narrowed her eyes. With a glare, Ashley spun around and stormed out of the den.
The slamming of the back door echoed through the house. Kim pried her hand loose from over the receiver and put it to her ear as she pushed herself off the couch and walked to the bay window to make sure Ashley stayed in the backyard. “She’s gone. I don’t understand why I always get stuck babysitting. My brother should have to some of the time.”
“At least your dad pays you. My mom doesn’t.” Her best friend’s pout could be heard through the phone.
The fact she got paid didn’t appease Kim at the moment. Having an eight-year-old always following her around made her wish she didn’t have a little sister.
The watcher spied the little blond girl stalk out of the house. The sound of the door slamming against its frame drowned out the dog’s barking a few houses down for a couple of blissful seconds.
I’ll return later to take care of that dog, but right now I’ve got more important concerns. Anticipation surged. His daughter, so close the watcher’s palms itched.
The child made a beeline for the swing set and plopped down on the seat, grabbing hold of the chains to keep herself upright.
The little girl’s mouth moved. The watcher strained to hear what she was saying, but her voice was pitched too low.
No matter. After years of planning it wouldn’t change what had to be done.
J. T. Logan will regret his very existence by the time I’m through toying with him. Everything’s in place for the merry ride he’s about to go on.
“Ashley. Kim,” J.T. yelled when he stepped through the front door of his house.
Ashley was usually waiting for him to tell him the latest Kim transgression against her. Ever since his oldest daughter had turned fourteen, all the sisters did was fight. It had gotten to the point he was checking into day care for his youngest after school until he could get home from work. Being a single parent wasn’t easy. He wished he had family he could turn to for help.
Maybe today they actually got along for a change. He’d certainly prayed to the Lord enough in the past months concerning his two daughters. God was probably getting tired of hearing from him, J.T. thought with a chuckle.
After the long day he’d put in at the sheriff’s office, trying to pacify people who didn’t want to be pacified, all he wished for was a warm dinner and a little peace. He cocked his head, realizing the place was too quiet. His youngest was so full of energy that she usually kept going strong right up to bedtime.
J.T. walked toward the den at the back of the house. Halfway down the hallway he heard Kim mumbling something he couldn’t make out. When he entered the den, his oldest daughter quickly put the receiver in its cradle and bolted to her feet as though he hadn’t seen her talking on the phone.
Ever since Kim had become a teenager, the phone wasn’t far from her reach. Even setting limits on her phone time didn’t stop her from spending half of her waking hours gabbing to her friends—not her family. It had never been that way with his son. But girls were different. “Where’s your sister?”
Kim waved her hand toward the window. “Out back playing.”
“Go get her. You two can help me make something for dinner. Neil will be home from baseball practice in an hour.”
“Why don’t we order pizza?”
“Because we had it two nights ago.” J.T. left the den and headed for the kitchen to see what was in the refrigerator while his daughter hopefully obeyed and got Ashley.
His shoulders aching, he stood before the near-empty shelves, the cold air cooling him, and wondered how he was going to pull off dinner with the few items he had. Ketchup. Milk. Three eggs. Several cheese slices. An onion