Missing Pieces

Lillianna Ferguson has spent the last twenty years pretending her father is dead. She moved to Oregon—far away from her childhood home in Delaware—changed her name from Emma to Lillianna and vowed never to go back. When her brother, Greg, phones, begging her to come home to care for their father who has been diagnosed with a dangerous, aortic aneurysm, she is adamant in her refusal. When did he ever take care of her? But Greg is equally stubborn in his arguments that she return, as the surgeon at Johns Hopkins won't repair the aneurysm without first amputating their father's infected leg. Calvin Miller, a disabled WWII veteran, survived a grenade that killed his best friend. It took off most of his right hand and left him with osteomyelitis in his leg, a bone-destroying infection, that refuses to heal. His surgeon believes his only chance for survival is amputation. The irony that his body is about to experience another explosion does not escape Lilianna. Calvin, who has fought more than fifty years to save this leg, is adamant he will die the same way he lived—with both legs. Greg believes, if anyone can convince their father to have the amputation, it will be Lillianna. Will she leave her safe life and reenter the minefield of her childhood? On a bench at the edge of the Lithia Park playground, someone is stalking two-year-old Emily Michaelson as she plays with her eighteen-year old half sister, Brandy. The child's laughter curves through the sunlight, as if on wings. The stalker is more enamored than ever, but aware of Brandy's vigilance with Emily, knows a kidnapping won't be easy. Planning to gain Emily's trust, the stalker gives her a necklace—little girls love pretty things. A few days later, Brandy and Emily arrive at the park for the Children's Health Fair. When the stalker sees them enter the public restroom, the opportunity is seized.Not long after Emily's disappearance, Detective Radhauser finds her rainbow-colored sneakers in Ashland Creek, their laces tied together in double knots. Brandy's father and stepmother blame her for Emily's disappearance. Radhauser feels sorry for Brandy, but insists she stay out of the investigation. Brandy can't do that. She is obsessed with finding out who took her little sister, and why. Will Emily be found in time? On a bench at the edge of the Lithia Park playground, someone is stalking two-year- old Emily Michaelson as she plays with her eighteen-year old half-sister, Brandy. The childs laughter curves through the sunlight, as if on wings. The stalker is more enamored than ever, but aware of Brandys vigilance with Emily, knows a kidnapping wont be easy. Planning to gain Emilys trust, the stalker gives her a necklacelittle girls love pretty things. A few days later, Brandy and Emily arrive at the park for the Children's Health Fair. When the stalker sees them enter the public restroom, the opportunity is seized. Not long after Emily's disappearance, Detective Radhauser finds her rainbow- colored sneakers in Ashland Creek, their laces tied together in double knots. Brandys father and stepmother blame her for Emilys disappearance. Radhauser feels sorry for Brandy, but insists she stay out of the investigation. Brandy cant do that. She is obsessed with finding out who took her little sister, and why. Will Emily be found in time? ** IND'TALE RONE AWARD WINNER BEST THRILLER OF 2019 ** Father's Anthony's devotion to God and His Church begins to unravel the moment Rita Wittier steps inside St. Catherine's Cathedral in San Francisco. He struggles to control his feelings, but two years later, he is a man obsessed. In an attempt to rediscover the priest he intended to become, Anthony flies back to Delaware to visit Father Timothy. If redemption can be found anywhere, surely it can be found in the church of his childhood and in the soothing Irish brogue of his former mentor. The months pass, 60 Minutes does a special on Father Anthony and the Shepherd Academy—a school he started for disadvantaged children. He's become a national hero— nicknamed the Good Shepherd. But he can't get Rita out of his mind. He wants her more than anything—even God—and can no longer deny it. Six hours after he tell her how he feels, Rita is found dead in her car from an apparent suicide. Or is it murder? Father's Anthony's devotion to God and His Church begins to unravel the moment Rita Wittier steps inside St. Catherines Cathedral in San Francisco. He struggles to control his feelings, but two years later, he is a man obsessed. In an attempt to rediscover the priest he intended to become, Anthony flies back to Delaware to visit Father Timothy. If redemption can be found anywhere, surely it can be found in the church of his childhood and in the soothing Irish brogue of his former mentor. The months pass, 60 Minutes does a special on Father Anthony and the Shepherd Academya school he started for disadvantaged children. Hes become a national hero nicknamed the Good Shepherd. But he cant get Rita out of his mind. He wants her more than anythingeven Godand can no longer deny it. Six hours after he tells her how he feels, Rita is found dead in her car from an apparent suicide. Or is it murder? Tucson, Arizona - Eighteen-year-old Matt Garrison is harboring two terrible secrets: his involvement in the drowning death of his 12-year-old cousin, and a night of drunken sex with his best friend's mother, Crystal, whom he finds dead in a bathtub of blood. Guilt forces Matt to act on impulse and hide his involvement with Crystal.Detective Winston Radhauser knows Matt is hiding something. But as the investigation progresses, Radhauser's attention is focused on Matt's father. Matt's world closes in when his father is arrested for Crystal's murder, and Travis breaks off their friendship.Despite his father's guilty plea, Matt knows his dad is innocent and only trying to protect his son. Devastated and bent on self-destruction, Matt heads for the lake where his cousin died--the only place he believes can truly free him. Are some secrets better left buried? Tucson, Arizona Eighteen-year-old Matt Garrison is harboring two terrible secrets: his involvement in the drowning death of his 12-year-old cousin, and a night of drunken sex with his best friends mother, Crystal, whom he finds dead in a bathtub of blood. Guilt forces Matt to act on impulse and hide his involvement with Crystal. Detective Winston Radhauser knows Matt is hiding something. But as the investigation progresses, Radhausers attention is focused on Matts father. Matts world closes in when his father is arrested for Crystals murder, and Travis breaks off their friendship. Despite his fathers guilty plea, Matt knows his dad is innocent and only trying to protect his son. Devastated and bent on self-destruction, Matt heads for the lake where his cousin diedthe only place he believes can truly free him. Are some secrets better left buried? The past always finds us. When Detective Winston Radhauser is awakened by a call from dispatch at 12:45 a.m., it can mean only one thingsomething terrible awaits him. He races to the Pine Street address. In the kitchen, Caleb Bryce, nearly deaf from a childhood accident, is frantically giving CPR to 19-month-old Skyler Sterling. Less than an hour later, Skyler is dead. The ME calls it a murder and the entire town of Ashland, Oregon is outraged. Someone must be held accountable. The police captain is under a lot of pressure and anxious to make an arrest. Despite Radhausers doubts about Bryces guilt, he is arrested and charged with first degree murder. Neither Radhauser nor Bryces young public defender believe he is guilty. Winston Radhauser will fight for justice, even if it means losing his job. Something evil has taken root in Ashland, Oregon. And with it, an uneasy feeling sweeps down on Detective Winston Radhauser. If someone doesn't intervene, that evil will continue to multiply until the unthinkable happens. While on vacation with his wife and their newborn son, Detective Radhauser receives a call from Captain Murphy—a high school kid has been branded with a homophobic slur and is hospitalized in Ashland, a small town known for, and proud of, its diversity. And this is only the beginning. White supremacy, homophobia and racism are one thing. But murder is something else. Radhauser will do whatever it takes to find the perpetrators and restore his town's sense of safety. With such hostile opposition, can he succeed, and will justice be done?