His Precious Love

However, the email was too large to be previewed online.

It took Rayna several minutes to download the audio clip. After reducing the volume, she held the device beside her ear.

The audio clip began with only the sound of footsteps before various other noises joined the cacophony as if somebody was watching television.

Rayna sped the clip up.

After listening for a while, she put the playback speed back to normal when she detected the sound of somebody opening the door to enter the room.

“I bought you some strawberries and cherries, Kristie.” A low male voice sounded from the audio clip, followed by the sound of footsteps. “I’ll rinse them in the kitchen, then watch television with you. How does that sound?”

Kristie hummed her assent.

Having listened to the dialogue, Rayna assumed from Kristie’s state that it was during the interval when Curtis brought her back from Yartran.

Why did Ringo’s people plant a bug in Kristie’s place at that time?

She did not delve into it but instead pressed the phone against her ear and listened intently.

Curtis’ tone was gentle when he spoke to Kristie, but she merely responded with noncommittal grunts no matter what he said.

Rayna could sense how awful Curtis must have felt.

Feeling awful herself, she once again sped up the clip.

After a while, Rayna heard the sound of the doorbell, followed by Jeremy’s and Wyatt’s voices.

The group chatted a little while until Jeremy suddenly said, “Have James come over, Curtis. You saw how much Kristie wanted to see him when I showed her his photograph.”

“That’s unnecessary. I don’t need outsiders to be concerned about my sister.”

Silence befell the group.

“Ms. Garland called me, Curtis. She wants to help Jefferson, but she requires the signatures of the politicians who attended the party. It just so happens I’m on that list too.”

“We have long since severed ties,” Curtis said blandly. “There’s no need to consider my feelings.” A while later, Curtis asked Jeremy, “When is the party?”

“Two months from now.”

time and place,” the man

we may not be able to rescue him if he’s

if there’s nothing

that point. Rayna’s eyes were wide with

movements and how he had managed to

it was Curtis who told him

phone vibrated at that

WhatsApp message and felt her head splitting open when she

was a photograph of an emerald pendant smeared with

had gotten it at the temple for

can’t believe he

of the emerald pendant, Rayna almost collapsed when her limbs gave

my mistake for what happened to Kristie. How could Curtis drag my brother into this and send him to exact vengeance

he thought of the

hand supporting herself against the wall and fell limply onto the floor, startling the others

turned around. When he saw Rayna on the floor, he leaped off his chair and ran over. “Ms.

who was passing by, “Aunt

the window. It looked as if it was already

remembered fainting the

she pulled open the door to exit the

with a look of panic. “Where’s my

smashed. Carl took it for repairs.” Jessica helped her back to the bedroom. “The doctor says you’ve been working too hard lately, Nana.

Rayna flung her arm away to head outside. “I have many things to do, and I’m going over for a look. Ringo

James can’t be dead!

her. “Calm down, Nana. This isn’t good

Baby?

feeling rose from her

Jessica scrambled to

hugged her and cried

anymore. She only patted

the

forced a smile. “I just feel horrible at the thought of what happened

sighed. “Mr. York is there for them, so don’t