Holiday Illusion Read Online Free Page A

charge on him. But he did brag about stealing the IRS blind.”
    Lucas looked a little green. She placed a hand over his. “Are you all right?”
    â€œI’m not sure. Is there more?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œHow much?”
    â€œDr. Lucas!”
    They turned as one to see the nurse rushing toward them.
    Anna’s heart stopped. Paulo.
    Nurse Lindsey, the woman assigned to Paulo, said breathlessly, “Paulo’s in cardiac arrest. They’re working on him now.”
    Anna and Lucas bolted from the cafeteria and took off down the corridor.
    Â 
    Arriving at Paulo’s room, they found him surrounded by medical staff but still alive. Machines whirred, Mark barked orders, nurses jumped…and Paulo fought like a trouper.
    Anna felt tears clog her throat. How did she pray? If she prayed for a heart for Paulo, she was praying for someone else to die. Shutting her eyes, she told the Lord, It’s in Your hands, God, whatever You decide is best.
    For the next hour, she and Lucas paced and she prayed. Finally, Mark came out to tell them that Paulo was bouncing back and would be in good hands for now but said in all seriousness, “I hope he gets a heart soon. He doesn’t have much longer without it.” Lucas followed Mark back into the room, leaving Anna to wilt against the wall.
    Relief battled grief. Relief that the little boy had pulled through this setback and grief that another person would have to die for Paulo to live.
    Then she realized something. And the sudden glaring insight into her character slugged her in the gut, leaving her breathless, nearly gasping out loud. She stumbled to a chair and dropped into it, staring into space, seeing nothing but the past four years of her life.
    Then in crystal clarity she saw how hard Paulo fought, pushing through his fear, battling the odds that were against him, conquering one obstacle after another—with faith and courage—and sheer bulldog stubbornness. She’d often thought how brave he was, been amazed at his willingness to never give up, been brought to her knees at his incredible, unconditional love for the God who created him.
    But she had never realized what a coward she’d become.
    Until now.
    And with that same discerning eye, she now saw what she had to do if she ever wanted to be free of the fear that held her captive.
    Oh Lord, tell me no. And yet, how can I say I have faith when I live in fear?
    One way or another she was going to have to find that evidence. The evidence that she knew was there, somewhere in de Chastelain’s house. That was why she was here. And, she blew out a breath in disbelief, God had used a sick little boy and a caring doctor, to get her here.
    Still stunned at her self-realization and what God was asking her to do, she sat there in a fog of thought trying to decide what she should do first. Where should she start?
    The little rush of excitement took her by surprise. Oh, it didn’t overpower the all-consuming fear, but it was there—that feeling she used to get before venturing out on a new case. For the next thirty minutes, she sat in the hospital waiting room, praying, formulating a plan. She was going to catch a murderer. After four years, she was going to complete her case.
    De Chastelain.
    A short phone call later to Justin Michaels, her former supervisor, informed him of her impending arrival. He’d been blown away to hear that she was actually right here in his city and was definitely anxious to talk to her.
    Slipping from the room, she planned to catch a cab to the FBI headquarters branch office downtown. Part of her dreaded returning to that place, yet another part of her was anxious to see if revisiting the location where she’d been shot would enable her to put the nightmare to rest.
    Only one way to find out.
    â€œWhere are you going?”
    Lucas’s voice startled her. She turned, gulped at the effect he had on her blood pressure, ignored it for the