One Chance: A Thrilling Christian Fiction Mystery Romance by Daniel Patterson Page B

I'm sorry. I'm not upset with you for saying it," she said, even though thinking that he could feel that way still stung her. "It had to be said, I guess. I mean, I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't at least consider it."
    "I'm sorry, Penny," he said. "I know how close you two are."
    "Do you?" she asked.
    "Of course. I know how hard it was for you, growing up."
    "Other than you," Penelope said, her emotions threatening to overtake her, "he's all I have. He's the closest I've ever had to a real brother. After what happened, you know, before..." A tear escaped the corner of her eye and spilled down her cheek. "I can't give up on him. I have to believe in him."
    Jacob couldn't help but feel sorry for Penelope. She was the woman he loved. The woman God had brought to him to complete his life. If she was in pain, so was he. "I don't want this to be true, Penny. But if it is, then we need to find out. I'll help you. I promise."
    She thanked God silently for his strength as she ran a hand through her hair. Then, defiantly, she said, "I don't have to believe it until it's the only thing left. Until then, I'm going to do my best to get this mess figured out."
    "And if it comes down to Doug lying to you as the only thing left, what then?"
    "I'll deal with it if and when it gets to that point," Penelope replied. "Dear God, I hope it doesn't come to that."
    "Amen," Jacob said.
    "I love you," she said to him.
    "I love you back," he answered. It was their own special little code.
    After the call ended, Penelope decided to go to bed. It had been a long day and tomorrow would probably be another long one.
    Dear Lord , she prayed, please help me to handle all the work You've set before me. I can only do this with You at my side. Amen.
    It wasn't long before she was sound asleep, dreaming nightmares of another time, of another wound that wouldn't heal, of a two-story house that used to stand in what was now an empty lot on the corner intersection of a County road not far from The Last Chance Tavern.

CHAPTER 13
    Early sunday morning, way too early, Penelope awoke to the bouncing of a small body on her bed and Trevor's high-pitched young voice.
    "Auntie Penny waked up!" Trevor shouted in her face. She must have been crazy to hope for kids early in her marriage with Jacob.
    Then Trevor hugged her around her neck. And she knew she'd be willing to lose any amount of sleep to have this every morning.
    "Good morning, little buddy," Penelope said cheerfully as she grabbed the boy in a bear hug.
    Trevor squirmed in Penelope's grip, squealing and laughing. Penelope kissed the top of the boy's light blonde head and released him. Trevor had his mother's hair and his father's piercing blue eyes, a combination that Penelope thought was stunning, especially for a boy.
    Watching Trevor run around her bedroom, Penelope said, "Why don't you go wake up your dad so I can get dressed and get ready? Then, after we eat some breakfast, we'll play horsey ride for a little while."
    As long as work doesn't call me again, she thought.
    Trevor stopped and looked at Penelope with his head tilted to one side, regarding Penelope with as much seriousness as a four year old could manage.
    "Auntie Penny, when is mama coming?"
    Penelope cleared whatever cobwebs had been left in her mind to give Trevor her full attention. "I don't know, buddy. We tried calling her last night but she must have been real busy. What did she say to you when she dropped you off here?"
    Trevor looked at her as if the question didn't make any sense. "I was asleep," he said, finally. "I'm worried about mama, Auntie Penny."
    And before Penelope could say anything else Trevor ran off shouting to his dad that it was time to wake up, Auntie Penny said so.
    That was odd, Penelope thought. And even as the part of her that was Doug's best friend tried to set it aside, the part of her that was a police officer knew that she couldn't.
    Penelope rolled out of bed, feeling like she'd been pushing a Mack truck