Cries in the Night. Debra Webb

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      CAST OF CHARACTERS

      Melany Jackson—Her daughter is missing… presumed dead. Is this simply a case of a missing body or is something more sinister at play?

      Ryan Braxton—Can he find the truth for Melany without losing his mind…or his heart?

      Bill Collins—A close friend of both Melany and Ryan. Bill will do everything he can to help solve this mystery.

      Rita Grider—Melany’s closest friend. She blames herself for all that has happened to Melany.

      Dr. Wilcox—The E.R. physician on duty at the time of Melany’s accident. Is he afraid of a malpractice suit?

      Dr. Letson—The chief of pediatrics, who claims he did all he could to save Melany’s child.

      Nurse Peterson—She assisted Dr. Letson, but can she help Melany find the truth?

      Clyde Desmond—He operates the funeral home where Melany’s child was prepared for burial.

      Garland Hanes—He screwed up the interment, burying an empty coffin in a shallow grave. Was he acting on his own?

      Dr. Rodale—She offers counseling at the free clinic where Dr. Wilcox volunteers. She only wants to help.

      Rodney Mason—The attorney connected to Wilcox. He only wants his money.

      Greg Carter—The Memphis P.D. rookie who can’t wait to support anyone connected to the FBI in any capacity.

      Victoria Colby—The head of the Colby Agency.

      This book is dedicated to a very dear friend of mine,

       Melany Gardner. She is everything that a good teacher

       should be. Her love of children, of people in general,

       is something to behold in this day and time.

       Huntland School is very fortunate to have on their staff

       not only a phenomenal teacher, but also one of the

       finest people I have ever had the privilege of knowing.

       This one’s for you, Mel.

      Contents

      Prologue

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Epilogue

      Prologue

      She dreamed of the cemetery again.

      A cold, steady drizzle fell in the dark October night. The full hunter’s moon seeped through the thick gray clouds, casting an eerie glow over the deserted graveyard. Acres of headstones protruded from the lush green grass like ugly yard ornaments.

      Positioned around the newest of the graves were a dozen wreaths of varying sizes and shapes, forming a sort of temporary barrier from the harsh reality that lay beyond it. The carnations of one heart-shaped arrangement drooped with the weight of the rain and the passage of seven days since their cutting.

      Melany pushed between the wreaths and dropped to her knees before the freshly turned soil. Her icy fingers tightened around the wooden handle of the shovel she held. Droplets of the unseasonably cold rain trickled down her cheeks. Her clothes were soaked through, but she no longer cared.

      Nothing mattered to her anymore.

      She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to silence the cries inside her head. Uncertainty shuddered through her, making her hesitate. The sound of her child crying echoed in the deepest recesses of her soul. Melany’s eyes opened abruptly and she jerked with renewed determination.

      “I’m coming, baby,” she murmured. Her heart thudded in her chest. “Mommy’s coming.”

      She plunged the shovel into the loose, damp soil with a vengeance. The sound of the metal sliding СКАЧАТЬ