LITMIR.BIZ

      Copyright © 2012 Vicki Andree

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the author.

      Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

      ISBN-13: 978-1-4566-1172-9

      Published in eBook format by eBookIt.com

       http://www.eBookIt.com

      Dedication

      To my brother, Gary Myers, who challenged me to enter the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) competition on a cold October night in 2009.

      Acknowledgments

      God is so good! He arranged the whole thing. We were sitting around my sister’s home in North Platte, Nebraska one evening in early November, 2009. My sister, Ginger; her husband, Terry; my other sister, Cynthia; her husband, Dave; my husband, David; and I had burned out on playing Hand and Foot Canasta. I told them about my first book, On Our Own in Jerusalem’s Old City, and how eager I was waiting for the first published copy and to finally see it on Amazon.

      Then I told them that our brother, Gary, challenged me to write fifty thousand words in November and to enter the NaNoWriMo competition. I had never written fiction, but that night I decided to take him up on the challenge. After all, it would take my mind off waiting for the book at Aventine Press.

      I wanted to write about someone who gets converted by a Damascus road experience. In no time, I was having more fun with my imagination than in a long time. As I read my first scene aloud, my family offered suggestions and encouragement. Before I knew it, Lyza’s Story took off.

      Thanks to Ginger and Terry Ault, Cynthia and Dave Matzek, and David Andree, I had a story to enter NaNoWriMo. Eventually, it grew to over two hundred forty thousand words and three books!

      Many wonderful people helped me out in different ways. Thanks to the ACFW His Writers group that encouraged me as a newbie to fiction. I had the time of my life writing fiction and making new friends. Thank you, Donna Schlachter, for introducing me to Tuesday morning write-ins and leading me to the Word Crafters critique group, which taught me how to mold the stories to the rules of the craft. Thanks also to the Christian Writer’s Guild critique group, Word Weavers.

      Several individuals helped me by listening to me whine from time to time. Scott Lockhart and Craig Lockhart gave me valuable technical advice. Ginger Ault took time out of her busy schedule to read each book, to tell me ‘the truth,’ and make suggestions. Diane King read rough drafts and provided prayer support. Barb Lem also provided much needed prayer support. Preston Wolfram was the Australia expert, having just returned from a summer of work there. And editor Misti Wolanski made the book much better. Thanks so much to each and every one of you.

      Finally, thanks to my incredible husband, David. The Lane Trilogy would have never made it to print without David. He has been at my side through the peaks and valleys. He talked me out of it when I wanted to throw it all away. He edited every page several times, earning the title of “hatchet man.” His constant encouragement kept me plugging away though the years of rewrites.

      Chapter One

      The baby’s wail drowned out the dead man’s voice. Leesa rolled her eyes and grimaced as Lyza held baby Levi to her shoulder, patting him softly on his back until he quieted and sighed.

      Aaron Stern, Father’s attorney and executor, restarted the DVD. On the screen at the front of the room, Lawrence Lane, dressed in a dark blue Armani suit, revealed his last will and testament. “Since my beloved Lana passed several months ago, life has not been worth living. When the doctors told me cancer had invaded my body, it was a blessing. I have left a written will, but I felt it necessary for you to see and hear me make my last will and testament, as I expect all of you will be surprised.

      “To my twin daughters, Lyza and Leesa, I leave my love, and the firm belief that they will use what I gave them while I was alive to help make a better world. I leave them the benefit of their education, the business savvy I taught them, and the wisdom of how to use them…

      “And finally, let it be known that all my worldly possessions, all of L. L. Lane Unlimited, and all my hopes for the future of the Lane name go to Levi Lawrence Lane, the newest member of the Lane family. Levi, you were named for my father who died in a Nazi death camp. Be blessed and honor his name with your life. May you go forth into a life of learning, love, and good deeds.”

      A vein in Leesa’s forehead throbbed. She wanted to throw something. Instead, she clung to the chair with white knuckles. I’ll never forgive him. He told me to take over. He told me it was all mine. For months, I’ve knocked myself out running the business. How could he? He disowned that turncoat. She glared across the table at her twin sister, Lyza, who held the fussy little brat.

      Lyza stared at the screen. “I—I don’t understand. Can you play it again? Father disowned me.” She positioned baby Levi on her shoulder and gently patted his back. “There, there, Mommy’s here. Everything’s all right.” Levi stopped crying and curled up against her.

      Leesa glanced around the attorney’s conference room. Aaron Stern sat next to her. Across the table, Lyza and her husband, David, took turns holding the baby. Tension filled the room as four adults stared at the screen. The fifth person in the room wailed again.

      Leesa straightened and snarled, “You snake. I don’t know how you pulled it off, but you got everything.” She gathered her purse and cell phone, stood up, and stomped to the door. She paused to sneer. “Good luck, Sis. You’re going to need it.”

      Leesa stumbled to her bright yellow convertible. She fumbled with the car keys; they hit the asphalt. Bending down to pick them up, she hugged herself. I feel sick. I hate that woman and her little brat. A Jew-killing Christian, that’s what she is, and Father disowned her for it. What happened? What made him change his mind? I could throw up right now. I’ve got to get out of here.

      After snatching the keys off the hot pavement, Leesa stood, jerked open the car door, and flung herself into the driver’s seat. She turned on the ignition and gunned the engine. Her tires squealed as she left the parking lot.

      Once on the street, she popped the gears, leaving another patch of rubber. Within a minute, she reached eighty miles per hour—just as she passed the police cruiser in a school zone.

      Red lights flashed in her rearview mirror. Her rage flared. She mashed the accelerator to the floor.

      ***

      Earlier that morning, Officer Blake’s day had started out badly, with a fight over money—again. His wife threw down the gauntlet, giving him an ultimatum: either he could hand over his check each month or he could take over the bills. She didn’t even make coffee. He was late to check into headquarters, his head throbbing from caffeine withdrawal. What’s the matter with her? She knew I wanted to go to Vegas last weekend.

      As Blake walked into the morning briefing, his superior officer looked up from his notes on the podium. “That’s the third time this week, Blake.”

      Blake forced his mouth to stay shut. Thanks. Did you have to say it in front of everyone?

      His superior officer added, “Don’t force me to make an example of you. Consider this a serious warning.”

      Feeling like a whipped dog between his wife and his boss, Blake took a seat at the front of the group of officers. “Yes, sir.”

      The

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