Anatomy of Evil Read Online Free Page B

that filled a void in his own life. He and Susanna had not been able to conceive a child. He took it as a sign that his children extended beyond his own blood lineage and he accepted the role with passion and faith.
    As a final act before climbing into bed, Sam removed the towel from the clock, bringing illumination back to the room.
    10:35 P.M.
    He felt a tremendous familiarity with this moment, the unveiling of the clock before resting his head, a strange but constant reminder of his own countdown clock.
    Susanna’s time had come and his time was equally inevitable. The only difference was the number of days, hours, minutes and seconds before departing from this mortal world. Sam knew that as long as he lived a good life of faith, the reward of reunion awaited at death.

Part Two
    Kiritimati

Chapter Six
    After hours of endless blue sea, a small land mass appeared, truly in the middle of nowhere. Kelly Martinez pressed closer to the window of the Boeing 737, observing Kirbati’s sprawling collection of low-lying coral atolls, a crisscross of channels and islands that included Kiritimati.
    â€œWe’re here,” she said to her husband in the next seat. She elbowed him gently to wake him. “You’ve got to check this out.”
    Rodney stirred and tilted in her direction. He looked out at the unspoiled miles of flats and lagoons, a fisherman’s paradise. “Ah, yes,” he said, breaking out in a smile.
    Rodney turned to his other side to alert his friend in the aisle seat. “Gary, check this out. Can you see?”
    Gary stretched and maneuvered until he caught a glimpse. “Land ho!” he said. The destination had required two days of travel, most of it over water with a stopover in Honolulu.
    â€œLook at the colors,” said Rodney.
    â€œHey, Emma,” said Gary to his wife.
    Emma sat in the seat across the aisle from him. He playfully tossed an ice cube from his drink to secure her attention.
    She glared at him, unamused, brushing away the piece of ice. “You got Sam wet.”
    Sam, seated next to her, laughed it off. “I thought we weren’t going to see any rain during this trip,” he said. He closed his book, the memoir of a city dweller discovering spiritual healing during a year spent in the Alaskan wilderness.
    â€œEverybody awake?” asked Jake Henning in the row behind Emma and Sam. He stood up and lifted his camera. “Photo op. Arrival at Christmas Island. Let’s get some smiling faces.” His companions turned to look at him, responding with waves, grins and thumbs up. He snapped photos until his wife Carol gently tugged at his shirt.
    â€œI don’t think you should be standing, they’ll get mad,” she said softly. “We’re about to land.”
    â€œThis is for our photo journal.”
    â€œI know, but it’s the rules.”
    He squeezed in a few more shots, then sat back down.
    â€œAnd your seatbelt,” she told him.
    He secured it and told her, “Sweetie, are you grouchy?”
    â€œNo. I’m sorry. Just tired. I don’t sleep well on airplanes. I keep thinking about work. I should have brought my laptop.”
    Jake grew irritated. “Forget that place. They work you to death. They don’t pay you what you’re worth. You never should have pulled that all-nighter before we left. You should have said, ‘Too bad. This is my vacation. It’s been scheduled for almost a year.’”
    â€œI know, I know,” she said softly. “I’m sorry. You’re right.”
    He looked at her and sighed. “Yes. I’m right. They’re right. Everybody’s right. That’s the problem. You need to think for yourself. Don’t be so accommodating all the time. You’re too smart for that. Okay?”
    She nodded. “You’re right.”
    He immediately responded, “Case in point.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œNever mind. Look out the