Shadow Train Read Online Free Page A

the nicest restaurant in town, or to Jack Banfield’s house, the limo driver surprised Savana by stopping downtown, just outside the front entrance of Jack’s office building. Even though the driver opened her door for her and helped her out of the car, her distended belly almost caused her to lose her balance. She was still a couple of months from her due date, but the pregnancy seemed to be wearing on forever, and she felt as big as the Goodyear Blimp and twice as unstable. The baby was kicking and moving often now; he was so active she often thought of him as her little Olympic gymnast.
    The joke just made her sad, though, because the person who would have laughed the most, the person she normally shared her jokes with, was gone. Every time she thought of Raphael, her firstborn, she felt like someone had twisted a length of barbed wire around her heart and was squeezing it tighter and tighter. Raph had been doing so well, too. He had lots of friends, and a girlfriend. He was even starting to accept the idea of Jack and the baby. Well, at least the baby. It didn’t make sense that he had just up and run away—and the explanations his friends offered made even less sense.
    No , she thought as she pushed through the glass doors and into the opulent lobby of Jack’s building. She was not going to allow herself to get all morose again and ruin the night. She had to be strong. The police were doing everything they could to find her son, and she had to believe that they would and that Raph would be okay. She knew he wasn’t dead. She was as sure of that as she was sure of the strong, new life she was carrying. She had to stay positive. Jack reminded her of that every day, and he’d even talked about hiring a private detective if the police didn’t turn up something soon.
    She took the elevator up to the top floor, and when it opened she found a trail of red rose petals on the carpet, leading to a stairwell on the far side of the office. She waddled up it as best she could, feeling the growing weight of her baby even more, and pushed her way out the exit door she found there. It opened onto the rooftop. Violin music greeted her instantly, and she found Jack sitting at a small, candlelit table, wearing a charming grin and one of his customary charcoal-gray suits. There was a string quartet set up behind him, playing a soft, romantic melody. The night was unseasonably mild, but Jack even had a portable heater set up near the table, just in case.
    She cupped her hands over her mouth, amazed. “Jack! Oh my God!” she exclaimed, as a server in a white tuxedo approached and escorted her to the table. Jack rose, kissed her, and held her chair for her as she sat.
    â€œThis is too much, really. You didn’t have to do all this,” she chided.
    â€œOh, I’ve done way more than this, sweetheart. I told you I’d move heaven and earth for you, didn’t I?” He reached under the table, brought out a black lacquered box and placed it on the table. On top of it, he set another box, a smaller one. A ring box.
    Savana felt her eyes filling with tears.
    â€œPedro, pop the champagne,” Jack commanded the waiter, then turned his attention back to Savana. “Don’t worry; it’s just sparkling grape juice,” he said with a wink.
    She laughed. In all the time she’d known him, she’d never seen him so happy and playful. He gestured down to the gifts on the table. “Go ahead, baby. Open it.”
    With trembling hands, she picked up the smaller box. Inside, she found exactly what she’d been hoping for—and dreading. The ring was stunning, perfect. She was no diamond expert, but she was pretty sure a rock like this could buy a whole block of the Flats. When she looked up from the sparkling stone, she found Jack on his knees before her, a tender smile gracing his handsome features.
    â€œMarry me,” he said. Without waiting for an answer, he took