Into the Light Read Online Free Page A

Bernard work for the top TV station in Detroit, but he also was well known in the industry. His stories were often picked up for national broadcasts. The mere mention of his name inspired fear and respect. Because of him politicians unexpectedly withdrew from elections and corporations faced millions of dollars in fines. Corruption on any level was his to expose. Whether it was a scandal involving mob bosses, gangs, or the dangers of contaminated lemons at a local restaurant chain, no story was above or beneath him. Stories were everywhere—we just had to find them.
    Since Mindy’s parents lived in California, they’d authorized me to make visual confirmation should her body be found. Of course, they’d come here after her disappearance, but there was no sense summoning them each time a body matching Mindy’s description surfaced.
    My reminiscing ended as I entered the county government building and took a deep breath. I’d been here only a week before, asked to identify a bloated body that, thankfully, hadn’t turned out to be Mindy. However, memories of the stench-filled examination room and the unnatural color of the body’s stretched skin brought back a rush of nausea. Swallowing the rising bile, I steadied my steps and willed my investigative mask of indifference in place.
    As I descended through the winding catacombs on my way to the ME’s office, my mind spun with possibilities. While the number of homicides in Detroit had decreased since the early 1990s, so had the population. Detroit still had the dubious distinction of one of the highest violent crime rates in the nation. The city where I lived and my best friend had disappeared was dangerous, and I was about to witness another of its casualties. I’d encountered death in the course of my job—often. But that was different. That was work. This was personal.
    As I rounded the final corner, I stopped and my eyes locked on the compassionate but piercing stare of Dylan Richards.
    “Why are you here?” I asked.
    His confident swagger disappeared as he moved silently toward me. Each step measured the time I stood rooted to the tile.
    “I didn’t want you to do this alone,” he said, reaching for my hands. His warmth enveloped my fingers, making me suddenly aware of the coolness of my own body.
    “How did you know to come here? Do you know that this is her?” My anxiety rose with each question, as did the pitch of my voice. “Have you seen her?”
    He shook his head. “I haven’t seen her, and I don’t know. I was at the police station and heard the buzz. I tried to reach you, but your phone went to voice mail. I sent you a couple of texts. When you didn’t answer, I took a chance and called Barney. He told me that he’d just told you about this.” Dylan squeezed my hand again. “Like I said, I didn’t want you to do this alone.”

CHAPTER 3
    Sara
    The moment the nurse left, Jacob wordlessly released my hand, scooted his chair across the floor, and began pacing, his footsteps sounding from near the foot of my bed. I didn’t need to see him to know his mood—his irritation was evident in each stomp. I waited for him to say something about what had just happened. I wanted him to explain who Brother Timothy and Father Gabriel were and what power they possessed. I wanted to know how these men had the right to withhold water from me or anyone else. I wanted to understand the allegations that Brother Timothy mentioned. I needed answers.
    Though it seemed as if Jacob had defended me and my behavior, he’d also lied and answered each question without regard for my response. I wanted to understand why he’d done that. With each strike of his hard-soled shoes that drummed a staccato beat across the tile floor, I sensed his unease as mine grew.
    The rhythm of Jacob’s pacing monopolized my thoughts, playing in a loop with a four-four count: four strides to cross the width of the room, the fourth step containing a scuff—his turn—then four strides