Crimson Rain

Crimson Rain
Meg O'Brien

Paul and Gina Bradley did all they could to create the perfect family. When they discovered they could not have children of their own, they adopted twin girls, intent on giving them a good home.But something was terribly wrong with Angela, one of the twins, and after a terrifying event, Paul and Gina returned five-year-old Angela to St. Sympatica's Orphanage, assured that she would get excellent psychiatric care.Now, sixteen years later, the Bradley family is crumbling. Paul and Gina have drifted apart and are only going through the motions of a marriage for Angela's twin, Rachel. But Rachel is beginning to act like a total stranger, and they begin to wonder if she isn't suffering from the same problems that plagued her sister.When Rachel disappears just after Christmas, Paul and Gina are forced to pull together–for the sake of their family, for their very survival. Because someone has unleashed a vengeful fury on the Bradleys.

“I don’t know why you think I’ve seen Angela,” he said in as steady a tone as he could manage, “but even if I had, I’m your father, Rachel. I don’t have to report to you.”

“Obviously not,” she said, “given the number of times I’ve heard from you since summer.”

He stared. “Is that what’s really bothering you? Rach, I thought you were just as busy as I’ve been. I didn’t think you’d miss hearing from me. I’m sorry. Really, I am.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake!” Rachel said. “It’s not about the e-mail, Dad. It’s about all those years when you didn’t have time for me because you were so busy fawning over Angela. You think that didn’t hurt? You think kids don’t see those things, no matter how young they are?”

“Rachel, that was years ago. Why are you bringing it up now? I thought—God, all that time working with Victoria, and you’re still hurting about those things? What does it take for you to get over it?”

“Maybe not having it start all over again,” she snapped. “Maybe getting her out of our lives once and for all!”

“If you like Mary Higgins Clark, you’ll love Meg O’Brien!”

—Armchair Detective

Also available from MIRA Books and MEG O’BRIEN

GATHERING LIES

SACRED TRUST

CRASHING DOWN

Crimson Rain

Meg O’Brien

www.mirabooks.co.uk (http://www.mirabooks.co.uk)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many thanks to…

Cathy Landrum, for her valuable research, and to Al Wilding, retired Seattle police officer, for checking my police scenes for accuracy.

Immeasurable thanks and love to my family, who generously helped me to finish this book during a period of immobility by shopping for me, cleaning for me, running to the post office, keeping my computer going and even seeing to it that my birds in the garden got fed. Bless you all…Kevin, Robin, Kaiti, Greg, Darrell, Tiffany and Scott. Thanks also to Peggy, who makes me proud, and to her mom, Amy, who recently put herself through college and deserves huge huzzahs! Finally, a very special hug and kiss to Courtney and Jonathan, whose visits add light to our lives, and to Emily, the “Little One,” who helps by just being here and keeping me laughing!

It seems I thank my MIRA editors in every book, but that’s only because I love every one I’ve ever worked with. Many thanks to Dianne Moggy and Amy Moore-Benson, and this year in particular to Miranda Stecyk, my editor through the Crimson Rain revisions. Her insight, hard work and enthusiastic support for this book made the job of revising seem easy, at a time when I wondered if I’d ever be able to finish.

Finally, I extend my utmost gratitude to my many wonderful readers who have written such beautiful letters about my books, and whose support for my writing keeps me going. Please stay in touch. I value each letter and e-mail, and even if my writing schedule keeps me from answering each one, I will always treasure your kind words. You can reach me now in two ways: by e-mail (megobrien@earthlink.net) or through my Web site (www.megobrien.com).

Contents

Prologue (#u18f64d3b-5254-5816-8a37-4522546ac006)

Chapter 1 (#ua4ccbfc3-874f-54d3-b784-9d7fd9e1e850)

Chapter 2 (#u1f3280a4-2e36-5446-a342-1145db748282)

Chapter 3 (#uf62ac195-f10c-57b8-bda8-d8764b1f3ae6)

Chapter 4 (#ud9555d0a-54f8-5652-aac0-a536ec912ad3)

Chapter 5 (#ud719ca11-2f6c-5491-9b06-5d53e21d93e1)

Chapter 6 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 7 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 12 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 13 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 14 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 15 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 16 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 17 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 18 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 19 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 20 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 21 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 22 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 23 (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Prologue