Pane and Suffering Read Online Free PDF Page A

he took on Jacob. You must be aware of his Asperger’s syndrome. It seems the quiet routines are helping him. His parents are delighted with his keen interest and new level of focus.”
    â€œI didn’t know about the Asperger’s. I wonder why Dad didn’t tell me.” She scrunched her brow. “That explains a few more things.”
    â€œI can’t imagine denying Jacob’s mother anything. Frances is a Juvenile Court Judge so she is used to wielding significant power.” He fiddled with the keys. “I need to get a few emergency groceries for Chef before the evening shift starts. I’m going to shove off, luv. Take it easy.”
    â€œThanks. You’ve been so helpful.” Savannah watched him climb onto an antique Indian motorbike. It was old, finished in the original cream and white, along with hand-painted pinstripes.
    â€œI’ll stop by later and make sure you’re on the right foot with the point-of-sale monster.” He smiled.
    â€œThank you.” She smiled genuinely for the first time in many days.
    She was pleased he pulled on a helmet. She didn’t need anyone else getting hurt today.
    He waved a salute and drove away.
    Savannah watched until he disappeared. She tipped the cup and drained the last drop of the spiked tea. Rats, I didn’t give him back the cup. No matter, I’ll return it when he comes back. Steeling her nerve for the sad ordeal of going through her dad’s papers, she forced her heavy feet back to the office and stood in front of the rolltop desk. Maybe a session of ordinary paperwork will carry me out of this anxious funk. The ancient office chair squeaked a routine protest as she sat down and stared at the jumble of overstuffed cubbyholes, shelves, and drawers.
    She started with the left side and the first thing on top was a business-sized envelope from Lattimer’s Glass Shop containing Frank’s offer for Webb’s. Her mouth fell open at the number mentioned in the document. This is a pretty big number. She searched through the same pile and found a considerably lower offer from the main office of Smythe’s corporation. She sat back in the chair for a second before sorting and filing the whole stack. She slipped the two offers into her backpack.
    On top of the right hand stack by her elbow, she picked up a green short-order check pad in the greasy spoon restaurant style of the fifties. In her dad’s nearly illegible spiky hand, the last entry was listed.

    Item: Last Supper Panel 8—Splendor
First United Christian Church
Contact: Reverend David Kline

    She scratched her temple. Funny, there was no sign of repairs at the funeral service yesterday. All the stained glass windows were fine. Beautiful as ever.
    She dialed the number listed on the pad and a cool voice answered immediately. “Reverend Kline, United Christian.”
    Irritated with herself for not planning what she was going to say before calling, Savannah cleared her throat. “Um . . . good morning, Reverend. This is Savannah calling from Webb’s Glass Shop. One of your stained glass panels is here under repair, and I need some information about the work.”
    â€œSavannah? I’m surprised to hear from you. I thought you were going to sell the shop and return to Seattle later this week.”
    â€œYes, Reverend, that was the plan, but there’s been a horrible, horrible complication. Hugh Trevor was found dead in the workshop.”
    â€œBless you, Savannah. That is horrible. How are you?”
    â€œI’m all right for the moment, but now I need to teach the ongoing classes that Hugh was going to handle. Then I’ll need to find another glass artist to help me finish the projects my father and Hugh were completing. I thought I could get everything done this week so I could get back, but now I don’t know how to get it all wrapped up.”
    â€œOh, of course you would need to bring things to a sensible