Obsession by Kathi Mills-Macias Page B

that afternoon. After that, they had just sat together and waited.
    Things worked out just as Melissa had hoped. After Toni and Brad had made up, Brad stayed for dinner. Then he came back and picked them up for church and brunch the next morning. Overall, it had been a very good weekend.
    “There,” Tyler exclaimed. “I'm done. Let's get an envelope.”
    Melissa smiled. “I'm afraid I don't know where they are.”
    “I do!” Getting up from the table, Tyler, barefoot, padded out of the kitchen, down the hallway, and into his mother's bedroom. Soon he was back with a box of envelopes.
    “Here,” he said, climbing back up on his chair. “Now you can help me write my dad's address. It's in this book.” He handed Melissa his mother's address book. A sheet of stamps was stuck in the front.
    They got the envelope stamped and addressed. Then Melissa promised him they would walk to the mailbox to mail it after he had his breakfast and got dressed, which started an immediate scramble for a cereal bowl and spoon. Before Tyler sat down to eat, he looked at the letter and frowned, then turned to Melissa, who was still seated at the table.
    “Lissa, could we pray for it?”
    Melissa was puzzled. “Pray for what?”
    “The letter. Let's pray and ask God to get it there safe and to help my dad come home, OK?”
    Melissa felt the familiar lump forming in her throat. She nodded. “Sure. You start.”
    Tyler closed his eyes. “Dear God, please take this letter to my dad. And please tell him to come home right away ‘cause I really miss him. Amen.”
    Melissa tried to say “amen,” but all she could do was grab a napkin from the center of the table and wipe her eyes.

CHAPTER 5
    T he dream was more realistic this time, the terror more pronounced. No more flitting images between waking and sleeping—only heart-pounding, sweat-inducing horror, as she ran, half-blinded with fear, from the nameless predator who stalked her. Her long blonde curls flew wild behind her, threatening to catch on the tree branches, as she crashed through the undergrowth near the water's edge. Mom? Dad? Can you hear me? Where's Julie? I can't find her. Help me, Dad! I need you! Somebody, please help me! Brad, is that you? Brad? Abe. Oh, thank God, it's you. I knew you'd come. I knew you'd help me… but why? Why is it you? Why is it always you? Who are you, Abe? Who are you? What are you doing here? How did you get here? Can I trust you? Abe? Abe, don't go… Abe. Wait! Listen to me . … Don't go…
    Toni awoke shaking, crying, reaching for… something, but she was surrounded only by darkness and the overwhelming realizationthat her father was dead—and now, the absolute certainty that his death had not been from a heart attack. She shivered and drew the covers close around her neck as the haunting images of her terror-filled dream lunged at her from the night shadows. The pounding of her heart still echoed in her ears, and she recoiled in horror at the truth that imploded on her consciousness. She had no proof whatsoever, and yet she knew. She knew, beyond reasoning or understanding, that something evil had invaded her life, something much worse than she had ever imagined. And the knowing—yet not knowing—was the worst part of all. But one thing was certain. No longer could she dismiss her suspicions that something sinister and mysterious surrounded her father's death. Whatever it might be, there was a definite connection between Paul Matthews and the fifteen-year-old runaway from Colorado, a connection Toni sensed to be fraught with danger. And now—promises to Brad notwithstanding, and with or without Abe's help—she knew she would not rest until she had discovered that connection. She was, after all, a detective's daughter, and her father had taught her not to run in the face of danger. She owed it to him to solve the mystery surrounding his death, whatever the cost.
     

     
    It had been a long week. The days had run together into one