Read Online Second Chance by Christy Reece - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Christy Reece
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her.
She’d had such plans for Stephen. With the Fairchild money and influence behind him, the sky had been the limit. And as his devoted mother, she would have been at his back, pushing him gently toward a grand future. With his good looks and charm, he could have been anything she wanted … even possibly president someday.
Instead his hormones and the weakness he inherited from his father had overruled any good qualities he’d inherited from her. His stunt of marrying the one woman he knew his mother would definitely not approve of had sealed her opinion of him. Though she could never admit it to anyone publicly, she had often thought that Stephen got what he deserved.
Now the children he’d spawned with that slut were gone. Of course, being the lady that she was and with her status in the community, she had to show at least a modicum of concern.
The damnable FBI and those humorless people from that do-good organization had questioned her repeatedly. Though she refused to hide her disgust for their mother—she wasn’t that good of an actress—showing outright antipathy toward the brats would have garnered suspicion. Something she couldn’t afford.
A soft sound penetrated her thoughts. Elizabeth put her book aside and marched to the door. It was after eleven. No one should be about this time of night. Any servants would be immediately fired if she saw them.
Opening the door, she peeked out. Saw no one. Perhaps it had been the wind. Elizabeth closed the door and, instead of going back to her reading chair, headed to the bathroom. It was time for her facial. Though weariness pulled at her, she was too disciplined not to complete her nightly ritual. Her appearance was an integral part of her persona. How many people had she heard comment that Elizabeth Fairchild looked at least twenty years younger than her real age? Society valued youth and beauty. With her looks and wealth, she would continue to control her part of the world and the people in it. After all, she was a Fairchild. It was not only her duty; it was her right.
six
As he sat reading at the small desk in his bedroom, Cole massaged his temples, where a headache had set up residence. He reviewed the pages of notes he’d taken in his interview with Keeley. From what he could tell, she was hiding nothing. Whatever he asked, she’d given him a straightforward and sometimes heartbreaking answer. Clearly her only desire was to find her children.
He remembered being the same way when his wife and daughter were murdered. Stripping himself bare, he’d share even the most minute detail in an effort to find the bastards who’d destroyed his family and taken the two people who meant everything to him. Though they’d been identified and punished, he hadn’t felt any satisfaction. His family was gone and nothing could be done to bring them back. Another incentive to help Keeley. He could and would return her children to her … she would have the peace he’d been denied. He owed her that.
A knock at the door jerked him from his grim thoughts. Jordan stuck his head in. “Ready?”
Cole nodded.
Jordan and Eden came into the room and settled onto the sofa across from him.
“Who do you like?” Cole asked.
Eden answered first. “I’m still going with the grandmother. There’s an aura of evilness around her.” She shrugged. “Can’t explain it other than I feel there’s something more there than just her hatred of Keeley.”She gave a sidelong glance at her husband. “Jordan’s got another theory.”
Jordan shook his head. “I don’t deny the grandmother’s evil, but she just seems too obvious. Her hatred of Keeley is blatant. There’s not a soul in this county who doesn’t know about it. If she was behind it, I think she’d back off a little. She hasn’t.”
“Who’s your pick then?” Cole asked.
Jordan huffed a disgusted sigh. “Hell if I know. FBI profiler believes there’s someone out there who hates Keeley and seeing her suffer
She’d had such plans for Stephen. With the Fairchild money and influence behind him, the sky had been the limit. And as his devoted mother, she would have been at his back, pushing him gently toward a grand future. With his good looks and charm, he could have been anything she wanted … even possibly president someday.
Instead his hormones and the weakness he inherited from his father had overruled any good qualities he’d inherited from her. His stunt of marrying the one woman he knew his mother would definitely not approve of had sealed her opinion of him. Though she could never admit it to anyone publicly, she had often thought that Stephen got what he deserved.
Now the children he’d spawned with that slut were gone. Of course, being the lady that she was and with her status in the community, she had to show at least a modicum of concern.
The damnable FBI and those humorless people from that do-good organization had questioned her repeatedly. Though she refused to hide her disgust for their mother—she wasn’t that good of an actress—showing outright antipathy toward the brats would have garnered suspicion. Something she couldn’t afford.
A soft sound penetrated her thoughts. Elizabeth put her book aside and marched to the door. It was after eleven. No one should be about this time of night. Any servants would be immediately fired if she saw them.
Opening the door, she peeked out. Saw no one. Perhaps it had been the wind. Elizabeth closed the door and, instead of going back to her reading chair, headed to the bathroom. It was time for her facial. Though weariness pulled at her, she was too disciplined not to complete her nightly ritual. Her appearance was an integral part of her persona. How many people had she heard comment that Elizabeth Fairchild looked at least twenty years younger than her real age? Society valued youth and beauty. With her looks and wealth, she would continue to control her part of the world and the people in it. After all, she was a Fairchild. It was not only her duty; it was her right.
six
As he sat reading at the small desk in his bedroom, Cole massaged his temples, where a headache had set up residence. He reviewed the pages of notes he’d taken in his interview with Keeley. From what he could tell, she was hiding nothing. Whatever he asked, she’d given him a straightforward and sometimes heartbreaking answer. Clearly her only desire was to find her children.
He remembered being the same way when his wife and daughter were murdered. Stripping himself bare, he’d share even the most minute detail in an effort to find the bastards who’d destroyed his family and taken the two people who meant everything to him. Though they’d been identified and punished, he hadn’t felt any satisfaction. His family was gone and nothing could be done to bring them back. Another incentive to help Keeley. He could and would return her children to her … she would have the peace he’d been denied. He owed her that.
A knock at the door jerked him from his grim thoughts. Jordan stuck his head in. “Ready?”
Cole nodded.
Jordan and Eden came into the room and settled onto the sofa across from him.
“Who do you like?” Cole asked.
Eden answered first. “I’m still going with the grandmother. There’s an aura of evilness around her.” She shrugged. “Can’t explain it other than I feel there’s something more there than just her hatred of Keeley.”She gave a sidelong glance at her husband. “Jordan’s got another theory.”
Jordan shook his head. “I don’t deny the grandmother’s evil, but she just seems too obvious. Her hatred of Keeley is blatant. There’s not a soul in this county who doesn’t know about it. If she was behind it, I think she’d back off a little. She hasn’t.”
“Who’s your pick then?” Cole asked.
Jordan huffed a disgusted sigh. “Hell if I know. FBI profiler believes there’s someone out there who hates Keeley and seeing her suffer
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