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money from her purse when she was passed out.
    “What did you do when things got rough?”
    “Hid, when I was small. When we were a little older, I’d get out of the apartment. I’d try to find someplace safe. That’s how I first discovered the library. A whole building filled with books to escape into, and no one trying to chase me away.”
    A half-smile touched her lips at the memory of that first time, and Ms. Henderson showing her how to apply for a library card and introducing her to the wonders available just for the asking.
    She’d never taken a book home, of course. That would have been asking to have it ruined or sold. Ms. Henderson had seemed to know that without a word being spoken. Could someone like Micah possibly understand? If he did, that was almost worse than the alternative.
    “Sorry.” She folded her arms across her chest. “You’re not interested in my past.”
    “Yes. I am.” He reached for a pair of sunglasses tucked into the visor as the sunlight strengthened, sending up a white glare from the snow. “Ruby talked a little about her life, the times I saw her. There’s no reason not to tell you that she seemed…well, content, I guess, with the way things turned out. She worked in a little café, made some friends, was active in her church.”
    “Church? Ruby?” She’d thought she was beyond surprises where her sister was concerned, but that did startle her.
    He sent her a sidelong, questioning glance. “Ruby came to faith after she entered the program. I sensed that everything she’d been through had made her realize the importance of having Christ in her life.”
    Tears stung her eyes, and Jade blinked them away.
    “Once hearing that would have meant the world to me.”
    “Once?” The dark glasses masked his expression, but his voice probed for an answer.
    She felt a little flare of anger. Was he judging her?
    “Based on the way you talked about Ruby’s faith, you seem to be a believer, but I don’t understand how you can think God is in control with all the things you must see in your job.”
    Like Ruby’s lifeless body, in her own garage.
    “Those are the things that make me understand how much I need to listen for God’s guidance.”
    “And when God is silent?” Grief put an edge on the words like a whetstone on a knife. “When He seems too far away to hear you cry?”
    He took the glasses off so that she could see his eyes. They were dark with concern. One might almost imagine that he cared, but that was impossible. She was just a job to him.
    “There have been times when I’ve thought God was pretty distant. I always seem to find that I’m the one who has moved, not God.”
    Unshed tears had a stranglehold on her throat. She had to struggle to force the words out, astounded that she was having this conversation with Micah, of all people.
    “I wish I could believe that. I really do.”

FOUR
    Every one of Micah’s senses was on high alert as he drew up to the small church where the services were to be held. He hadn’t said too much to Jade, both because he hadn’t wanted to alarm her and because it wouldn’t be professional to do so. But he was concerned about her safety. There was too much they didn’t know about this situation. They hadn’t seen the end of this yet. The two shooters might be out of action, but they certainly hadn’t been acting on their own. Someone else was behind Ruby’s murder and the attack on Jade…someone who pulled the strings and paid the money.
    Jade leaned forward, hand on the dash, surveying the white clapboard building with its simple steeple as if she were looking for something. Maybe she was. Those few words they’d exchanged about faith had been revealing. Be near her, Father. If You want to use me in some way to restore her faith in You, help me to be open to that.
    “The parking lot is nearly full.” She darted a questioning glance at him. “Curiosity seekers?”
    “When we shut down publicity, we do it. No one knows