Not in the Heart Read Online Free Page A

have enough faith to believe this path we’ve been put on is bigger than Terrelle’s guilt or innocence. Joseph was thrown into prison for something he didn’t do, and he wound up saving his entire family and the whole Jewish race.”
    I vaguely remembered the story of Joseph’s coat and somehow Donny Osmond’s face flashed across the synapses along with Yul Brynner saying, “So let it be written; so let it be done.” Another sip of coffee brought me back.
    â€œI want Terrelle’s story told because it’s going to help somebody,” she said. “The truth always does that. Might even help you.”
    â€œOh, I get it. That’s your plan. You conspired with my wife. Prison ministry from the inside out. Terrelle tries to save my soul before he goes to the death chamber.”
    She slowly shook her head. “Ellen didn’t even come close to describing how mean you can be.”
    â€œMe? You accuse me of infidelity and I’m the one who’s mean?”
    She rose to dump out the contents of her coffee mug in the sink and switched off the coffeemaker, as if I would forget.
    â€œLooks like we got off on the wrong foot,” she said. “I apologize for how I sounded—”
    â€œThat’s fine and I forgive you, and here’s your Piggly Wiggly bag and good luck with life.”
    She took the bag. “Just like that. You walk away just like that.” Her back was straight now, and she looked me in the eyes like a persecuting attorney. I know it’s prosecuting , but the word seemed to fit her.
    â€œGood-bye, Mr. Wiley,” she said as she walked out and closed the door.
    I stood there, fuming, until I heard my cell phone ring in the back bedroom. I answered and glanced at Justin and Michael.
    â€œAre you up?” Ellen said.
    â€œYeah. I met your friend Oleta.”
    â€œDid she give you the check?”
    â€œWe didn’t get around to talking about money, unfortunately.”
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œLet’s just say we didn’t hit it off.”
    The doorbell rang.
    â€œTru, you need to go after her.”
    â€œNo, I don’t.”
    â€œDon’t mess this up.”
    I walked toward the front door. “Look, there’s not enough money in the world for this job. I can’t work with people like her.”
    Through the small window in the door I saw brown hair and circling earrings.
    â€œShe’s back; hang on.”
    â€œTalk with her, Tru.”
    I opened it. “Yes?” It wasn’t the most polite yes in the history of door openings, but it was all I could muster.
    â€œJust thought you’d want to know your car’s gone.”
    There was an empty spot on the driveway where I’d parked.
    Oleta turned toward the sidewalk and I called after her, “Did you see who took it?”
    â€œSome guy in a tow truck. You might want to call the impound lot.”
    I put the phone to my ear. “I have to call you back.”

C HAPTER 3
    I wish I could say Murrow was the only thing I thought about at that moment, but I will not lie. My laptop came to mind a split second or ten before her. I grabbed my sandals from the entryway and ran into the street. I had the sinking feeling that I wouldn’t retrieve the car. Ever.
    Oleta sat in her aging Lincoln Town Car. I headed down the sidewalk, trying to remember any of our neighbors’ names. There was Todd with the immaculate lawn, who pulled crabgrass with tweezers and put out his USC flag every weekend. I could remember a handful of others but the prospect of knocking on a door and trying to explain the situation overwhelmed me.
    Hi, it’s Truman from down the street. Remember me? I’m the guy who abandoned his wife and kids after my job fell through and went to live like a hermit. Can you help me? There are some things you can’t spin.
    The Town Car pulled forward and stopped. Oleta leaned over in the front