Chasing Faith - Stephanie Perry Moore

Скачать книгу

tone. As I took the chair beside his desk, he settled into his large leather one behind it.

      “Agent Ware,” he said, leaning back, “I know you’ve been frustrated about not being out in the field since the shooting. Your work to date has indeed been impressive, but I’ve been waiting for the right situation to come along. Since you put in for that temp job, I think we’ll give it a try. I have to send a qualified agent to assist with the detail of a presidential candidate. And you did save one of our agents’ life. You’ve proven this is in your blood.”

      I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Hunter was actually recommending me for the job. I could have jumped around the room like a cheerleader.

      “I trust you’ve heard that Senator Steven Stokes is running for president.”

      “Yes, sir, I saw he had a press conference last week.”

      “Secret Service said he’s received some death threats.”

      I nodded. Presidential candidates were always threatened by crazies with deeply held political views. Adding the race issue to the equation made Reverend Stokes a prime target.

      He continued, “They said typically they don’t assign agents before training, but when I sent your profile to the Secret Service they chose you because the protectee wanted an African-American and they thought by having a woman on the detail she’d blend in to many of the locations Stokes visits as well. And I really think it’s a good idea, too.”

      “You do?” I asked, knowing that no one in the office wanted to take the assignment. I wondered what the Secret Service really thought about an FBI agent coming into their ranks.

      “I don’t want you to become alarmed, but…” Hunter said, sending butterflies loose in my stomach, “Rudy Roberts has been released from the hospital and is out on bond.”

      I was so relieved that the bullet didn’t kill Roberts. Though having a criminal out walking the streets certainly didn’t promote peace of mind.

      “Roberts is a known felon with a thick rap sheet. I wouldn’t be surprised if he came looking for revenge.”

      “You think he may come after me?” I questioned.

      “You, Evans, this office, others investigating him. I know the way the case shook you up. I’m just happy to have you away from the whole thing now that we have to deal with it again. If he does come for you, you won’t be here. But I don’t want you to worry about this now.”

      Easy for him to say—it wasn’t his life in danger. I didn’t plan to dwell on Roberts, but I couldn’t disregard the threat, either.

      “I know you’ll be in Texas this weekend on personal time. When you come back I’m giving you the week off before you head down to Georgia for your Secret Service training.” I was shaking my head as if that was okay, but he wasn’t hearing it. “Get your affairs in order. Then Monday after next you can pick up your ticket at the airport when you head out.”

      “Thank you, sir,” I said as I stood to shake his hand.

      He gave a no problem nod. “Just make the FBI proud.”

      “Will do.”

      I walked out of Agent Hunter’s office on a cloud. Guarding the Reverend Steven Stokes would mark an end to my days of boredom behind a desk for at least six months to a year, depending upon whether or not he won the Democratic nomination.

      For some reason, at that moment I remembered my prayer at Troy’s house. Maybe God had a plan for me after all. Thinking of God let me not stress about Roberts, Troy, or anything. I’d talked to God and He’d replied. Though my communication wasn’t that clear, I was suddenly ready and willing to get a stronger line with the Lord. I really was on a cloud.

      On the flight to Texas, I tried to keep my focus on Eden’s wedding. She was marrying Dion Jones. Back in college, Dion, Eden, Max, and I used to double date. Eden was my girl. She was always there for me. I sure hoped Dion had changed for Eden’s sake or she was going to be in trouble.

      Ironically, Eden and I took home pregnancy tests together our senior year. We held each other’s hand as five minutes slowly passed. I looked at mine first.

      “It’s going to be okay, Chris,” Eden said with wet eyes.

      “I just hope I’m the only one who has to go through this.”

      “Come check with me, please. I’m scared,” she pleaded.

      Looking at her positive result broke my heart as much as when I saw mine. The rest of the day we were in mourning.

      “What are we going to do?” she asked me.

      “I can’t keep this baby,” I told her. “But you may want a family now.”

      “Are you kidding?” she questioned as she paced the floor. “I haven’t even finished school. Dion doesn’t have a job. We can’t have kids now. I want to abort.”

      Three days later we were at the clinic, scheduling appointments to get rid of our mistakes. We vowed not to mention this to the guys, figuring they would try and talk us out of it.

      The nauseating scent of the abortion clinic and the depressing sadness that filled the faces of the many women sitting in the waiting room made it even harder. Eden and I were there for each other, but when they called us into separate rooms I had to be strong. As I placed my feet in the cold stirrups, I knew there was no going back. But when what felt like a vacuum sucked life out of me, I immediately regretted my choice.

      Eden nearly went crazy with guilt. She didn’t come out of her room for two days. I could hear her moaning and crying, but there was nothing I could do for her. She shut me out. And we shut out the guys by not answering their calls.

      The third day after our procedures, I went to pick up some Chinese food for us. Eden loved shrimp fried rice. When I returned to the apartment, I was surprised to see her sitting in Dion’s lap.

      “We can have other children,” he said, consoling her.

      Angrily I asked, “You told him. Why’d you break our…”

      To my surprise, Max came from behind the door and cut me off. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

      I was so upset with Eden. It was one thing for her to share her business with her man, but she crossed the line when she let Max know what I’d done to our child.

      “Eden, how could you?” I said as I placed the food down and headed to my room.

      Max followed me down the hall. I tried shutting my door in his face, but that didn’t work. He pushed it open.

      “Eden didn’t tell me, Dion did. And when you didn’t return my calls the last few days I was worried. I knew there was a chance we could be pregnant.” Max said, revealing new info. “And I was ready to accept my responsibility if that was the case. But you didn’t give me a choice, did you? You ended our baby’s life without even telling me.”

      It was clear by Dion’s loving support of Eden that he’d forgiven her. Max, on the other hand, couldn’t forgive me. I was feeling bad enough about my decision, but his reaction made me feel worse.

      “I thought you cared about me and understood what I would want,” he went on. “But how could a woman who loved me kill my child?”

      “It wasn’t that simple,” I pleaded, wanting him to hear me out.

      “Well, no need to explain now. You made your bed, now lie in it—without me. We’re through.”

      Then he just walked out on me. I’d killed my baby and my relationship. My choice still haunts me. Eden and I didn’t speak for a few weeks after that, but then she came to me with sincerity, telling me how awful she felt.

      “Chris, I never meant for Dion to open up to Max. And I actually thought Max would have been there for you. I’m so sorry. I’ve made

Скачать книгу