Blood and Justice by Rayven T. Hill Read Free Book Online Page A

have to admit, I don’t really have any progress to report, but the good news is, now Bronson’s car has been found, with some evidence Jenny had been in the vehicle, the Captain has taken another interest. He can justify putting more men on this. In fact, he already has. There’s not only a local, but also a nationwide lookout for either Bronson, or Jenny. Or both.”
    “But what about if she’s . . . I mean, do you think she’s ok?” Amelia asked.
    “We’ve no reason to think otherwise,” Hank said softly. “There’s no evidence any harm has come to her.”
    Hank filled her in on Bronson’s car, and how it’d been found. “Jake and Annie got information on Chad from Jenny’s friend, Paige,” he informed her. “She also said Jenny and Chad had been seeing each other off and on, but nothing serious.”
    They were interrupted briefly as the bubbly young waitress brought their meal. She slid it onto the table in front of them. “Enjoy!” she said with a smile.
    Hank took a big bite of his mountain of meat, and added a sip of Coke to his mouthful. Amelia took small bites, picking daintily at her food.
    “Jenny never told me about that boy,” she said, and frowned.
    “According to Paige, there was nothing romantic between them, so perhaps Jenny just didn’t feel like he was that important to talk to you about. Just another casual friend.”
    Amelia looked thoughtful. “Yes, I’m sure you’re right.”
    Amelia spoke again. “I don’t mean to pry, but have you ever been married?” she asked. She’d noticed the lack of a ring on his finger.
    Hank put down his sandwich. He leaned back in his seat, took a deep breath and studied Amelia a moment. He seemed to be gathering his thoughts. Finally, he said, “A long, long time ago.”
    Amelia waited for him to continue.
    “We were young. But very much in love, or so we thought. Perhaps we were. I know we certainly enjoyed being together as much as possible. So we got married. Things were great. I’d just graduated from the academy. She’d just graduated from the University of Toronto, and our future looked wonderful, without a care in the world.”
    Amelia picked at her food some more and waited patiently. “Go on,” she encouraged him with a smile.
    “Before too long we found out we were going to have a baby. Our nice life was even nicer. We were over the moon. We soon found out it was going to be a girl, and we spent so much time running around, getting stuff for the nursery, all those things expectant parents do.”
    Amelia leaned forward. “I remember doing that too,” she spoke wistfully, a faint smile. “I loved every minute of being pregnant.” She interrupted her own thoughts, “Go on.”
    “Well, before we knew it the baby was born. We named her after my wife, Elizabeth. Beth we called her.” Hank’s eyes seemed unfocused, a faraway look, with a twinkle of moist. “She was the most beautiful creature I’d ever seen.” He moved his head slowly back and forth a few times as if amazed at the thought. “As a new father, looking at this little baby, this person I’d helped create. It was an indescribable feeling.”
    He looked away, watching a couple walk by, his eyes unseeing. He was quiet. Amelia sensed the disruption in his thoughts. A sadness, as if not wanting to continue.
    She touched his hand. He looked intently at her, and lost a tear. He rubbed it away, cleared his throat, and took the last bite of his sandwich.
    Amelia pushed back her plate. She sat back, dabbed at her lips with the cloth napkin and smiled at Hank. “That was delicious. Thank you.” Now she was feeling guilty again. She really just wanted to get home. She had no right to be out when Jenny could call, and no one would answer. She decided then, she wouldn’t leave the house again until Jenny was home and safe.
    “You’re welcome,” he said. “It’s been a pleasure.”

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 9
     
     
     
    Wednesday, August 10th, 8:45