Light from Her Mirror (Mirrors Don't Lie Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

his way to the door.
    “After
you did all the cooking? It’s the least I could do. And I’m almost done.”
    “If
you’re sure… Oh, hey, I almost forgot.” He picked up an envelope from where he
had stuffed it on a shelf earlier. “The Captain gave me these to give to you.
They’re the personal pictures from that roll of film your mother left you in
the envelope. He thought you might like them back.”
    Kenzie’s
hands were unsteady as she reached out to take the pictures from him. The day
she left home for good, her mother gave her a large manila envelope, telling
her to keep it safe but to never open it. Her mother called it insurance.
Thinking it contained a life insurance policy, Kenzie tucked the envelope away
and forgot all about it. But three weeks ago she had re-discovered the envelope
and finally opened it, thinking eight years was close enough to ‘never’. Along
with a cryptic letter, the envelope contained coded messages, partial evidence
of the fraud surrounding Modern Power, and an undeveloped canister of film.
    When
developed, the film revealed several politicians involved in the scam, but two
of the pictures on the roll were personal. The pictures were of her shared
third birthday party with Makenna, taken shortly before their separation. The
pictures were proof that, for at least a day - and possibly the first three
years of her life - she might have had a happy, normal life, even if she did
not remember it. Just the possibility offered her solace and a small measure of
peace.
    “Thank
you, Hardin,” she whispered, pulling the small envelope to her chest. For now,
it was enough to hold them close to her heart and imagine the memory.
    “You
bet.” He started to turn away, but stopped to look at his soon-to-be
sister-in-law. “He’s got a lot going on, you know,” he said softly.
    She
didn’t even pretend not to know they were talking about Travis. “I’m sure he
does, unpacking and all.”
    “I
probably shouldn’t tell you this, but he’s working on a major case. He got this
promotion because he is very good at what he does. And because they needed him
there.”
    “Is
he- Is he in danger?”
    When
Hardin hesitated a fraction of a second too long, Kenzie’s breath stalled in
her chest. “Our job always has the element of danger.”
    “Did
he- Did he know what he was walking into, when he took this job?”
    “Yes.”
    “If
anything happens to him…” Her voice thickened with tears and she was unable to
finish the thought.
    “Be
patient with him, Kenzie. He has a lot going on right now.”
    Angrily
pushing away the tears that gathered in her eyes, Kenzie set her jaw. “Yeah,
well, so do I. The last thing I need right now is the added worry that he’s
going to go and get himself hurt. He knew the danger I was in and apparently he
knew the danger he was walking into. He went anyway.” She forced her heart to
be as cold as her voice. “He made his choice.”
    “He’s
a good man, Kenzie. The best I’ve ever known. And I know he cares about you.”
    “Apparently,
he just doesn’t care enough.” Her voice was softer now, sadder. Faking a smile,
she said, “Thanks for dinner, Hardin. And thanks for the pictures. I appreciate
it.”
    “Sure
thing, Sis.” He hugged her and just for a moment, she clung to him, needing to
feel the security of his embrace. “Keep your eyes open for anything out of the
ordinary. Trust your instincts. And call me if a single hair on the back of
your neck as much as tickles.”
    Kenzie
shoved him playfully away. “Okay, okay. Now kiss my sister and say goodnight.”
    “You
heard her, woman,” Hardin grinned, grabbing Makenna by the waist. “Kiss me.”
    As
the two lovebirds lingered by the door, Kenzie wandered toward the couch, carrying
her envelope of pictures. The two photographs were the only ones she had of her
childhood. One of them also featured her father, smiling like she had never
seen him smile before.
    What
had gone so horribly