Missing Pieces Read Online Free Page B

Missing Pieces
Book: Missing Pieces Read Online Free
Author: Jerry B. Jenkins, Chris Fabry
Tags: JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian
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turn,” she said.
    After I put my stuff away she was still there, listening to music as she read. I wanted to see if the library had found anything. All I had to do was copy it to a disk and take it to the computer downstairs.
    Leigh moved like a glacier, and Mom was no help. “She’ll be done in a minute,” she whispered. I had heard the saying “walking on eggshells,” but this was the first time I knew what it meant.
    When she finally clicked off the music and swished out of the room, I found I had three new messages. One from Marion Quidley said she thought all the bashed mailboxes were space aliens trying to tell us something! Another was from my friend Hayley and didn’t have much to do with anything at all.
    And there was one from the Pueblo Public Library. Attached please find a copy of the article I discovered in a local paper from seven years ago.
    Apartment Fire Claims One
    An infant was killed in an apartment fire late last night on South Pueblo Boulevard. Officials say the blaze began in the infant’s bedroom and was contained there.
    Six-month-old Danielle Garcia was in the care of a babysitter at the time of the fire. Officials did not release the babysitter’s name. Danielle’s mother, Renee Garcia, was working at the time. Upon hearing the news she collapsed and was rushed to the hospital.
    Neighbors described Ms. Garcia as a devoted mother. “She was just trying to earn a living and bring up her child,” one said. “This tears my heart out.”
    Officials say the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Chapter 28

    Sam and I went to Mrs. Watson’s house later that day to put up a new mailbox.
    “Think the same people did this?” I said. “The mailboxes up the street look like they were blown up with cherry bombs and sparklers, but none of them was smashed.”
    Sam nodded. “Could be the same people using different methods. Fireworks is a little higher class—don’t you think?”
    I thought about Randy and his softball buddies. “What could happen to these people if they get caught?”
    “A big fine and something like three years in prison for each offense.”
    That took my breath away. “They must have hit 20 mailboxes on our road alone,” I said.
    Sam cocked his head at me. “You know something about this?”
    I shook my head. “Ashley and I are just trying to figure it out.”
    Sam scrunched his mouth and bit his cheek. “I’ve ordered a surveillance camera for the house. You could use it, but don’t take any chances. These guys find out you’re after them, who knows what they might do.”

Chapter 29

    Losing a baby in a fire had to be the worst thing that could happen to a mother. At lunch the next day I looked for a chance to talk with Mrs. Garcia, but she was busy the whole time. She smiled at me as I went through the line, but that was it.
    I saw our principal, Mr. Forster, outside his office during a class change.
    “Can I ask you a question about Mrs. Garcia?”
    He squinted at me and nodded slowly, as if I could ask but he might not answer.
    “I heard what happened to her a few years ago. Do you know why she moved here?”
    Mr. Forster looked away, then motioned me back into the main office. “Has she been mean to you?” he said as we walked.
    “No, I’ve just been talking with her a little. Finding out stuff.”
    He frowned. “I don’t normally talk with students about the staff. If something happens with one of our employees, I want to hear about it, of course. Mrs. Garcia has problems like all of us. This is her third school in the last three years. Some think she shouldn’t be working with the students because of her demeanor. She’s working on it. And she’s a hard worker, always on time.”
    “Do you think she’ll be at our school next year?”
    From the way he looked at me I knew the conversation was over.

Chapter 30

    At youth group Wednesday night, our leader, Pastor Andy, brought a bunch of watermelons and cut them in three pieces each.
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