The Dark Rift: Redemption by R. Brewer Read Free Book Online

to move rather freely through their network. I never understood why she allowed that. I still don't."
    "Dad, you don't think she really wanted to sabotage their plan, do you?" Jodie asked. She wanted to believe there was more to the story, more of a reason to compel her mother to become part of such a heinous plan.
                  "I did at first. She changed so much . . . became, I don’t know, hardened or something, toward the end that I didn't get the sense she cared about anything." Her father's voice quavered. "I'm sorry. You're right. I should have told you. Maybe you could've saved her, too."
    Jodie glanced over at her father, seeing his jaw clenched. She remembered her mother’s last moments, the gun in her father's hand going off, the blood spraying from her mother’s chest, and her father’s despondency. She realized he had still loved her mother when he’d ended her life. As she let that realization into her mind, Jodie’s bitterness over the past gradually softened into a deep sadness. “What a waste,” she muttered.
    “What’s that?” her father asked.
    “I said, what a waste. She threw away her life and yours and the lives of all those people she held captive underground. I don’t blame you, Dad. I’m sorry I made it seem that way. I realize you had horrible decisions to make.”
    Her father rubbed his eyes. “Thank you for saying that,” he said, shifting his gaze out the passenger window.
    “I’m so happy you’re with us. I hope you know that. I’ve missed you for a long, long time,” Jodie said, reaching out to touch his shoulder. “Let’s make the best of what we have now, okay?”
    “You bet we will. Let’s get this done,” her father said, continuing to keep his face hidden from her view.
    "I'm hoping the cabin is still in one piece. I realized how much I love that place when I went back there. It would be nice if you'd come and stay . . . once we get done with all this, that is."
    “I'd like that," her father said, quickly wiping his eyes. "Remember that old sailboat of yours?”
    “Yeah. Of course I do. Whatever happened to it?” Sailing with her father was one of her favorite memories from her early childhood.
    “I still have it. I had it restored. It’s ready to go whenever you are.”
    “You had it restored?” Jodie was starting to realize the depth of her father’s feelings for her.
    “Yeah. It’s a classic now. But, then again, I guess maybe I'm a classic, too," he said.
    Jodie watched a smile creep across his face. "We've all gotten older," she said. "As soon as we’re done here, sailing will be first on my list of things to do.” Jodie felt a sudden sadness tugging at her, knowing they might not live through their next encounter with Gypsum. She knew her father must have the same feeling.
    “That sounds great,” he said.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 5
     
    Mei woke to a loud noise. She didn’t know where she was or why her head hurt so bad. All she knew was that she was scared. Her eyes begged to stay closed, but she forced them open ever so slightly. Nick lay on the floor next to her, his battered and bloody head in Christy’s lap. Bonnie and Fester cringed against the wall behind them.
    “Okay, everybody out,” a man's voice called from the back of the truck. 
    Mei watched from the floor as Christy helped Nick stand up. She could see that the truck was backed up to a loading dock inside of a garage. Bonnie and Fester stood behind Christy, holding onto each other. Once Nick was standing on his own, Christy bent down and shook Mei’s shoulder. “Come on, honey. We need to get up.”
    Mei knew what Christy meant, but her body would not comply. She let her eyes close completely again, comforted by the darkness. Moments later, she felt her body being lifted and carried. She couldn’t bring herself to move, no matter how hard she tried and wished she knew what was happening to her. The noise of a bell sounded and