Read Online A Dime a Dozen by Mindy Starns Clark - Free Book Online Page A

walked into the Webbers’ house, I could feel my eyelids growing heavy, the toll of jet lag and a very long evening. Numbly, I cleaned up from the party, and I was just putting out the last bag of trash when Dean and Natalie arrived home. Though they seemed wired up and eager to rehash all that had taken place, I was simply too weary to do anything but hug them goodnight and head off to bed, promising we could talk in the morning.
    Slipping under the covers in the guest room, I thought again about what it had been like to watch a person die. We’re all in the same boat. We’re all a breath away from death, with no way to know when it will be our turn, so we better be right with God .
    Thinking about that, I felt the Lord stirring me to renew my commitment to Him. I climbed out from under the covers, put my pillow on the floor, and knelt there on it, my hands clasped together, leaning against the bed. As tired as I was, I felt led to pray for the salvation of the people on my prayer list who hadn’t accepted Christ as their personal Savior. I always kept a running list of names and frequently prayed that each of them would somehow find their way to God—or that God might use me in some way to touch their hearts for Him. Tonight, my words were fervent, my mood urgent. Time was of the essence. The death tonight had reminded me of that.
    Once I was back in bed, I thought about what the events of the evening might mean to the J.O.S.H.U.A. grant. Though this stranger’s murder would definitely involve some of my time because I was a potential witness, I didn’t think it should have any real impact on my investigation. After all, there was no correlation between the murdered man and the agency I had come here to approve. Feeling settled about it, I turned on my side and went to sleep. Deep in the night, I dreamed of ghosts running through trees, calling my name and whispering something I couldn’t quite hear.

Five

    After a difficult night, I awoke at 7:30, feeling achy and apprehensive. I quickly showered, dressed, and got ready for the day. It was just a little after 8:00 by the time I emerged from the bedroom and walked down the hall to find Dean and Natalie at the kitchen table, finishing their breakfast.
    “Callie, good morning,” Natalie said, looking pretty tired herself. “I wish I had known you were up. You had a phone call a little while ago from overseas. Some man with the J.O.S.H.U.A. foundation.”
    I thought for a moment and then blurted out, “Tom?” My voice sounded loud in the quiet kitchen.
    “Tom, yes, that was his name,” Natalie answered. “Nice fellow. He apologized for calling our house phone but said he hadn’t been able to get through to your cell.”
    “I turned it off last night before I went to sleep," I explained, my cheeks suddenly burning with heat. “Did he leave a message?”
    Natalie nodded, but she had just taken a bite of eggs, which she had to chew and swallow before answering. “He said it wasn’t urgent. He was just calling to touch base and he’ll try again later.”
    “No problem. I’ll call him back right now,” I replied. “You’ll excuse me, won’t you?”
    “Of course, dear, but I don’t think you’ll be able to reach him,” she said as I was turning to go. “He was heading out somewhere and said he’d be tied up for hours.”
    I looked at my watch and did a quick calculation. After four months I was familiar with the time difference. It was 8:15 a.m. here, which meant it was 9:15 p.m. in Singapore. I couldn’t imagine where he might be going this late, but maybe he was still in transit and could talk for a few minutes at least.
    “It’s worth a try,” I said before making a hasty retreat.
    Back in the bedroom, as I turned on my cell, dialed, and waited for the call to go through, I closed my eyes and tried picturing Tom half a world away. He was probably riding in some dark, anonymous limo toward an obligatory business function. Or maybe he was off