Monday's Child
Monday’s Child
Clare Revell
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Monday’s Child
COPYRIGHT 2012 by Clare Revell
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or Pelican Ventures, LLC except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
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Contact Information: [email protected]
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version
(R),
NIV
(R),
Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Cover Art by
Nicola Martinez
White Rose Publishing, a division of Pelican Ventures, LLC
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White Rose Publishing Circle and Rosebud logo is a trademark of Pelican Ventures, LLC
Publishing History
First White Rose Edition, 2012
Print Edition ISBN 978-1-61116-173-1
Electronic Edition ISBN 978-1-61116-172-4
Published in the United States of America
Monday’s Child must hide for protection
Tuesday’s Child tenders direction
Wednesday’s Child grieves for his soul
Thursday’s Child chases the whole
Friday’s Child is a man obsessed
Saturday’s Child might be possessed
And Sunday’s Child on life’s seas is tossed
Awaiting the Lifeboat that rescues the lost
Dedication
For my son, Rhys.
Thanks to Ruth, for answering all my midwifery and technical baby questions; to Lynne for providing the emergency department/paramedic information; to Steph for making Luke speak like an American and not like a Brit and for putting up with my constant queries over what the American for this, that and the other is.
Praise for Clare Revell
Season For Miracles
Kyle and Holly came to life in this book with so much ease they hardly sounded fictional and so real. The pain and fear that Holly goes through is heartbreaking but I loved that with Kyle anything is possible. This is definitely a book worth reading for it has everything just right for the season: God and hope. Lena ~ Happily Ever After Reviews
If you enjoy romantic suspense, you’ll love this fast-paced read. Suspense elements kept me turning pages and the well drawn characters touched my heart. I read
Season For Miracles
in one sitting, snow bound and cozy. Delicious. I recommend this book to anybody who enjoys a well written and balanced, inspirational romantic suspense. I can’t resist a story that celebrates God’s love and its miraculous power. ~ Author KM Daughters
Saving Christmas
Clare Revell does it again with this beautiful story of hope and redemption.
Saving Christmas
packs a lot of story into a limited number of pages, and draws the reader in from the very first line. It’s a wonderful respite from the hectic holiday to-do list. ~ Author Mary Manners
1
Monday’s Child must hide for protection…
Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young—a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
Psalm 84.3
Just a perfect June day...
Sara leaned into Jamie as they walked the damp, dark streets toward the car. The movie had been great, her new husband’s company magical, but the thought of the rest of the evening made her heart sing. Not even the drizzling rain could quench her joy. God had been gracious to her, by placing a wonderful man like Jamie Barnes in her life, at a time when she thought she was destined to be alone.
Jamie was a charmer, with dark curly hair and movie star looks to match. She wasn’t sure what she’d done to deserve his attention, never mind his sudden proposal, but she wasn’t complaining. He loved her, so she could overlook his foibles and long days he spent travelling for work.
A jarring thud jolted her as the bag twisted violently off her shoulder. “Hey...” She gripped at it to find herself flying through the air, her head hitting the ground hard.
“You all right, babe?” Concern flooded Jamie’s voice.
“Yes...don’t let him get away.”
Jamie set off after the thief, as Sara struggled to her feet, seeing stars. Her head spun, and she felt sick.
So much for the perfect day
. She turned to see Jamie and the thief struggling under the streetlamp. A flash of metal, a swift upward movement of an arm and Jamie hung writhing, looking down at his chest. She screamed his name, her heart pounding as a stab of fear and shock hit her hard. “Ja-a-a-a-m-m-m-m-i-i-i-e-e-e…”
The tall thin man turned to face her, the knife in his hand. He released Jamie, letting him slump to the ground. The man’s piercing gaze, the hatred in his eyes, and the cruel thin hardness of his lips burned into her memory as Sara ran towards her husband’s motionless body. Long greasy locks and fine rain outlined against stark white streetlight framed the assailant’s face like a halo, reminding her of the angel of death.
The terrifying sound of a gunshot tore through the misty night air. The sound ricocheted off the alley walls, blue smoke expanding outwards little by little. Pain exploded though her as a bullet ripped into her body. Sara screamed as the blast knocked her to the wet ground. She landed hard, next to where Jamie lay in an ever increasing pool of blood, her breath coming in short gasps.
She grabbed her leg in pain as slow, deliberate footsteps squelched towards her. Black lace-up combat boots stopped in front of her face. There was a loud click as the hammer on the gun rose, but she wasn’t as scared as she thought she might be.
Lord, if I am to die now let it be swift.
Footsteps ran down the street towards them, shouts echoing. A closer voice called. “We have to go. Someone’s coming.”
The man gave her a cold stare. “You’ll keep, doll. I’ll be back for you. That’s a promise.” The threat in his voice echoed in the empty recesses of his eyes. Sliding the gun under his jacket, he vanished into the night, taking her bag with him.
Sara’s whole body shook with pain, but she pushed it aside. “Jamie...” Reaching out she clamped her hands over his shirt in a vain attempt to staunch the flow of blood.
“Somebody help us, please.” She peered up into the growing crowd around them. “Please, phone an ambulance.”
“It’s on its way.” Someone in the crowd spoke.
“Sara.” Jamie’s voice was so faint, and his breathing so labored, she had to put her ear to his mouth to hear him. “It…was…Austin…”
“Jamie, hold on. Help’s coming.”
He shook his head and groaned, putting his hands on top of hers. “I…do…love...you. Remember…”
The sirens wailing in the distance grew closer. “I love you, too. They’re coming. Just hold on a little longer.”
“Ohhh…Sara.” Jamie’s eyes opened wide for an instant, then glazed over. His body went limp, and his eyes closed.
Tears spilled down Sara’s face, and her stomach twisted within her. “Jamie, no, don’t leave me.”
Pain from her leg raged through her. Her heart broke, and huge sobs shook her frame. Tears welled up and spilled out, mixing with the blood on the path. Pulling him into her arms, Sara’s fingers clutched him tightly, as if that alone would bring him back, calling his name over and over again. “Jamie. Jamie.”
****
Three weeks later
Sara stood unsteadily on her crutches, tears running down her face. Dressed in black, she’d come straight from the funeral to pack. Every room in Jamie’s apartment reminded her of him: from the chair he sat in; his coffee mug that stood on the kitchen counter; his shaving mirror and razor in the bathroom; to the new double bed that remained untouched, ready for the first night back from their honeymoon. All her clothes and few belongings had been moved into his place the week before the wedding.
Sara blinked back tears as Aunt Mary came from the bedroom, carrying a small case. “Is that everything?”
Mary nodded and wrapped her arms around her niece. “All they’ll allow you. I’m going to miss you.”
Sara leaned into her. “I don’t want to go. I want to stay with you.”
“That’s not possible, Sara. The police explained all that.”
“But I can’t write, text, email or even take my mobile phone. I’m the victim. Why do I have to go away?”
Mary hugged her, her voice taking on a firm, no nonsense tone. “Frank Austin killed Jamie and wants you dead. If this ‘witness protection program’ is the only way to keep you safe until he’s locked up, then it’s what we must do. You just have to trust God will work this for good as He promised He would.”
“Jamie’s dead. His killer is running around the country free, and I get locked up. Where’s the good in that?”
“Mrs. Barnes, we need to leave.”
Sara glanced at Detective Constable Lomas and inclined her head enough to show she agreed, despite her feelings. She hugged her aunt. “You take care, Aunt Mary. I love you.”
“I love you, too, dear. Take care of yourself. Go on now.”
Unwilling to leave, but unable to stay Sara took firm hold on the crutches. At least she’d lose these in another four weeks or so. She let the police officers lead her out to the car. As she did so, she entered the witness protection program, did what the police wanted and vanished.
****
November
Detective Lieutenant Luke Nemec, LAPD, pulled up the handle on his suitcase, grabbed his weapons case, slung his rucksack on his shoulder and exited into the arrivals hall at Heathrow Airport, London. Scanning the crowd for the person meeting him, he spotted the card with his name on it and headed in that direction.
Thank You for bringing me here safe, Lord. Oversee the liaison with the British police. We both want the same thing, despite our different ways of going about it.
“Lieutenant Nemec? I’m Detective Inspector Wilcox. Welcome to England.”
Luke shook the offered hand. “Thank you.” He followed the dark-haired officer out to the car, trying not to yawn. He didn’t sleep on planes, and the fifteen hour flight was starting to tell. All vestiges of sleep vanished as Wilcox explained the change in his assignment.
He wants me to do what?
“I’m not protective services, I’m narcotics.” Luke baulked. “Excuse me for being blunt, sir, but can’t one of your own cops do this?”
“The Chief Constable and Captain Harriman both agree you would be the best choice. Having spoken to him, I agree.”
At the mention of his commanding officer’s name, Luke sat straight in his seat. “You spoke to Captain Harriman?”
“I did. You know Austin, and you know how he works, which makes you the ideal choice. Your original assignment still stands. We need your expertise on this. Sara is extremely headstrong. She spent three weeks in hospital and the last four months in a safe house, with just a guard outside, as she refused anything else. Things have changed. I want you with her at all times. As far as everyone is concerned, you’re man and wife.”
“Sir, with all due respect—”
“It’s not up for debate, Lieutenant. You’ll move in and not let her out of your sight.”
Luke scowled out of the window. “I know what witness protection involves, sir.”
I just chose not to work it. Does doing two jobs mean double pay? And a pretend marriage? She won’t like that idea any more than I do.