Sins of the Mother Read Online Free Page A

Bush shot a quick glance to Hosea before he said, “No. Zaya’s been with me the whole time, but I didn’t want to bring him in here.”
    Jasmine nodded, but still she walked to the door and peeked outside. Sarai Whittingham sat in a chair across from the office, rocking Zaya in her arms, and Brother Daniel Hill stood next to her, her guard. Though for years, those two had considered Jasmine a gold-digging, trifling tramp because they thought she’d tricked Hosea into marrying her, Jasmine marveled for a small moment on how she now trusted them more than she trusted Mae Frances. She was sure that Zayawas safe, but she kept the door ajar as she turned back to the officer.
    To Detective Cohen, she said, “I can’t answer any more questions. I have to get my baby,” she said, not knowing if she was referring to Jacqueline or Zaya.
    “We’re finished here,” the officer told them. “I’ll let you know if we have any more questions. We do need you to know that we’re setting this up as a kidnapping case.”
    Jasmine’s hand rose to her mouth. Of course that’s what it was. But hearing that word aloud brought a pain to her heart that she’d never felt before.
    “Now, it’s still possible that she’s just lost,” Detective Foxx picked up, “hiding somewhere in the mall, but if that’s not the case, we want to be on it early,” he explained. “We’re setting up a station at your apartment. I’m going to be there with another detective. We’ll be waiting for a call.”
    Ransom.
Jasmine didn’t think it was possible to sink any further into the abyss, but she was falling, falling.
    “Anything!” she cried. Tugging on Hosea’s arm, she added, “We have to give them anything they want.”
    Detective Foxx said, “Jasmine, let’s not get ahead—”
    “But if we don’t pay—”
    “If anyone has Jacquie and they call, we’re going to get them.” Detective Foxx nodded. “Don’t worry about that.”
    She took a breath and wondered how anyone could tell her not to worry.
    Reverend Bush said, “In the meantime, I’ve set up a press conference. They’re waiting for us outside.”
    “Pops,” Hosea said, hugging his father, “thanks for that.”
    “Whatever we have to do.” Reverend Bush looked straight at Jasmine. “We are going to find my granddaughter.”
    Jasmine held back as many tears as she could. She had toface the cameras—it was the only way she could talk to her daughter.
    Hosea turned to Detective Cohen and thanked him.
    But Jasmine didn’t have a single kind word for the man who’d wasted so much time. She grabbed her purse and stomped out of the room. Her mission: to get her son and then do everything in her power to find her daughter. Now!

Five
    W ITH Z AYA GRIPPED IN HER arms and Hosea by her side, Jasmine was set to go.
    Taking rapid steps, the five adults marched down the long hallway toward the front doors of the 25th Precinct.
    Over his shoulder, Hosea asked, “Pops, you’re going to do this with us, right?”
    Reverend Bush hesitated for a moment. “I’m not sure. I was thinking that maybe it should be just you and Jasmine. Jacquie’s parents.”
    Hosea paused, making them all stop. “No, I think it would be better . . . it should be all of us.” He looked at Brother Hill and Mrs. Whittingham, too. “If someone has Jacqueline . . .” He stopped as tears glazed his eyes. “If someone has Jacquie,” he continued, “he needs to see that she has a family—so many who love her.” Reverend Bush nodded, and Hosea added, “Brother Hill, Mrs. Whittingham, I want you there, too.”
    “Of course,” they spoke softly, but Mrs. Whittingham looked straight at Jasmine.
    In all the years that Jasmine had known the woman, this was the first time she had seen something other than contempt in her eyes. It was compassion, Jasmine was sure.
    Mrs. Whittingham stepped closer to Jasmine, wrapped one arm around her shoulders, and said, “I know you want to hold your baby,