Shadow Train Read Online Free Page B

the ring out of its box and took Savana’s left hand in his. Just as he slipped the ring onto her finger, she pulled away.
    â€œWhat about Emily?” she asked.
    Jack’s smile faded a little, but not much. He nodded at the box still on the table.
    â€œOpen the other one,” he said.
    Slowly and carefully, she opened the black lacquered box. Inside, she found a single folded piece of paper. She unfolded it and read only the first few words before it slipped out of her hands.
    Smith County, Kansas
    Death Certificate
    Emily Banfield
    Suddenly, Savana’s heart felt like it was galloping in her chest. Jack’s wife had been gone for months now, but somehow Savana had never imagined that she was dead.
    â€œWhat? They . . . they found her body?” she asked, holding her breath as she waited for his answer.
    Jack shook his head. “Oh, no. Nothing like that. But she’s been gone for so long and no one’s heard a word from her. So, I filed some papers and took care of it.”
    Horrified, Savana asked, “But—doesn’t it take seven years or something like that?”
    He nodded. “Three years if there’s some kind of disaster, like a tornado. But I pulled a few strings at the state Office of Vital Statistics.” He chuckled and squeezed her hand comfortingly. “Don’t worry, if she turns up—which she’s not likely to do—we’ll get it straightened out with a quick divorce. I love you, Savana, and I need to move on. I want you to move on with me. So what do you say? Don’t you love me?”
    â€œJack—you know how I feel about you, but it’s not that simple—”
    â€œSure it is,” he interrupted. “You know, I bought that condo on Black Lake just for you and me, for weekend getaways. I know how much you like it. I can give you all the things you like, my darling. Everything you need. Everything you want.”
    She fought back her tears, but she had to say it. “Can you give me back my son, Jack?”
    Jack’s smile wavered for an instant and then returned. “I promise you—just like I promised after he went missing. We’re going to keep looking for Raphael. We’ll find him and bring him home. You have my word on that. In the meantime, let me take care of you. Let me give you the kind of life you deserve.”
    She was staring down at the paper that had slipped from her fingers, back into the box. All she could see now were the words: Death Certificate . And she dreaded to see Raph’s name on such a document.
    Jack kissed the finger with his ring on it. Then he held her hand up and pointed to the ring. “Look at it,” he said. “It’s just a symbol of the wonderful life I’m going to give you.” But she could hardly see it through her tears.
    Suddenly, a cascade of beautiful fireworks lit up the Middleburg sky.

Chapter 2
    Aimee Banfield sat in the flickering candlelight that threw weird shadows against the wall of Orias Morrow’s dining room, gazing down at her plate. Orias had prepared the meal himself, and as usual it was exquisite: a delectable piece of bloody-rare filet mignon, garlic mashed potatoes, sweet-potato medallions, and lemon-sautéed green beans. But as usual, Aimee wasn’t hungry. She took a sip of Orias’s delicious tea, the one he made from tea leaves that grew on his family’s plantation in India.
    â€œYou told me once that there is a secret ingredient in your tea,” she said.
    He nodded, his eyes glinting with uncharacteristic emotion. “Yes,” he said softly.
    â€œWhat is it again?”
    â€œA drop of water from the River Lethe,” he replied.
    â€œOh yeah,” Aimee said. “It’s really good. Comforting.” She took another sip. “Where is it? The river?”
    Orias smiled, and she loved how the candlelight made him even more handsome. “South. Way South.”
    â€œWe should