Chapter 38
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 child rushed 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.