Read Online Redemption by Richard Stephenson - Free Book Online Page B

his dear friend was presumed dead, Max had held a memorial service for the honored fallen.  Now, for the second time, he had to stare out at the faces of the people that looked to him for strength and help them try to make sense of it all.
    “I’m sorry.  That’s about all that I come up with.  It’s really the only thing that can sum up what I’m feeling.  I made a mistake by telling all of you that Theo was gone.”  Max couldn’t help but look into the eyes of Theo’s widow.  “We’ve all spent the past year coping with this grief in our own way and now all of that is for nothing.  We have no choice but to start the process again and for that I’m sorry.  I should have done better.  I shouldn’t have made an assumption about something as important as a man’s life.”
    Max continued to look at Vanessa Forrest hoping to see a glimmer of anything.  Forgiveness was nowhere on the list.  He was holding out for acceptance or even understanding but her stern countenance didn’t falter.   She needs someone to blame and you’re the most qualified it seems.  Give her time; she’ll get over it.  Max hung his head and looked to Theodore’s son to take his place at the podium so he could properly eulogize his father.
    Max could feel that the widow Forrest had extended as much of her courtesy to his presence as she could muster so Max bowed out and quietly blended his way to the back of the crowd and stood next to his wife.
    Elizabeth leaned in and whispered. “What was Theo doing out there?”
    “Jesus, Elizabeth!  Can we put the man in the ground first?”
    “So when he’s in the ground you’ll stop lying to me and everyone?  Is that what you’re saying?”
    “I can’t believe you’re doing this now.”
    “Part of me hoped you’d finally come clean when you were at the podium just now, but I’m not surprised you decided to stick with the lying coward routine.  It suits both of you.”
    “Leave Theo out of this!”  Everyone within ten feet of the arguing couple looked at them in disgust.
    “Do you really think anyone believed the bullshit cover-up story you and Theo dreamed up?  Out of nowhere you decide to send Theo on a diplomatic assignment to Florida and on his way back his entire delegation gets ambushed and murdered by outlaws?”
    “Richard Dupree is alive.”
    Elizabeth Harris had been lied to for over a year and no matter what, her husband had always stuck to the same lie.  No matter how many holes she punched in his bullshit story he never wavered from the diplomatic fantasy he and Theo dreamed up.  For one of the first times in her marriage, her husband had left her speechless.  No witty comeback, no opinion to share, only stunned silence.
    Max felt a huge weight lift from his shoulders.  He couldn’t remember the last time he felt this level of peace.  More surprising, he actually smiled.  “Theo was surprised I hadn’t told you.”
    Elizabeth was overcome with a torrent of emotions.  She felt joy for crossing the chasm separating her from her husband.  She understood her husband’s deceit came from a place of love and protection.  Her fury and hatred for Richard Dupree would have led to her demise long ago if she knew the truth.  Had she known Theo’s true mission, nothing would have stopped her from leaving with him to hunt down the traitor.  Her husband’s declining physical state prevented him from sprinting more than ten yards so Dupree was well outside his grasp.  Maxwell knew the truth would take her from him so the only way to keep her safely by his side was to lie to her.
    Elizabeth reached down and squeezed her husband’s hand.  At her touch tears welled up in his eyes.  “Please don’t leave, Elizabeth.  Trust that I have a plan.  We’ve sacrificed too much and we’re very close to catching him.”
    “How many?”
    “He’s killed forty-seven of our people.  No telling how many more that got in his way.”
    “Are you counting