His Precious Love

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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

If you send James, we may not be able

if there’s

audio clip ended at that point. Rayna’s

accurate inkling of Arnaud’s movements and how

was Curtis who

phone vibrated at that

felt her head splitting open when she saw the

of an emerald pendant smeared with

the temple for James. She would recognize it

can’t believe he

emerald pendant, Rayna almost

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

heart broke when he

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

he saw Rayna on the floor, he leaped off

Kristie, who was passing

sun shining outside the window. It

remembered fainting

by the recollection of the prior night, Rayna scrambled to locate her phone but could not find it despite her prolonged search. When she pulled open the door to exit the room, she ran into Jessica, who was coming in

arm with a look

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

outside. “I have many things to do, and I’m going over for

James can’t be dead!

dashed forward to grab her. “Calm down, Nana. This

Baby?

at her belly, and a horrible feeling rose from her chest. She blinked,

wrong, Nana?” Jessica scrambled to

her and cried even

anymore. She only patted her back in

Rayna had cried enough, Jessica pulled her to sit by the

feel horrible at the thought of what happened to

too, but we can’t do anything to help.” Jessica sighed. “Mr. York is there