Alana Candler, Marked for Murder by Joanie Bruce Page A

Obviously, Brandy’s phone call hadn’t prepared her for the devastation she would find.
    A shiver shook her body. A stranger had rifled through her things—that would make anyone feel violated. She slowly walked around the demolished room. When she saw a selection of cameras pulled out of the video cabinet and smashed into thousands of pieces, she sank down on the ripped sofa cushions and rubbed her forehead.
    “Why did they do this? What in the world would make someone—”
    Suddenly, she stopped and glanced out the window—her thoughts far away. She closed her eyes briefly.
    Jaydn waited patiently for her to regain control of her emotions as he looked at the confusion around him. He was appalled at what someone would do to another person’s property. The hairs on the back of his neck tingled again. Were they being watched? He glanced uncomfortably out the three-story window. No wonder Alana was upset. She must feel invaded and pursued. A protective instinct wrapped around his heart, and he turned—sensitive to her moves. When he saw her sink onto the sofa and hug the pillow, he could tell immediately she was praying. She was turning to her faith in a time of complete devastation and insecurity.
    He watched her carefully as her lips moved, and when she raised her head, he asked if she had been praying.
    She nodded. “God wants us to be a thankful people—even in this mess. It could have been a lot worse—I could have been home when they broke in.”
    He looked at the darkness of her eyes and realized immediately she was completely sincere. There was no pretentious attitude or showy display of emotion. She was truly honest and outspoken with praise for her God.
    His appreciation for her loyalty rose high on his scale of estimation, and a powerful sense of wistfulness bounced around in his brain. It would be nice to have such assurance of a Higher Being watching out for you, even in the middle of trials.
    He watched as she stood and walked around the room. There were no signs of tears now, just peace smoothing out the wrinkles in her face and a gentle resignation.
    “I don’t see anything missing in here, just broken, as far as I can tell,” she said finally after she inspected the three spaces in the large room.
    Her lips quivered when she saw a framed photograph torn into shreds. It was a picture of a bee in mid-flight. She picked it up off the floor. “This is the photo that won second place in the National Geographic Contest.”
    White dust speckled the surface of the picture. Alana frowned. “Wonder what this white stuff is.” She ran a finger through it and looked at her fingertip.
    Jaydn took a look. Glancing around, he saw that more white dust was scattered on the carpet outside the bedroom door. His brow furrowed as he brought his gaze up and saw a thin rope hanging from the partially opened door. His senses snapped to attention—once again on full alert.
    “What’s this?” He stood and turned his head to the side, trying to peek above the partially open door. A wooden platform, barely visible, was attached to the top of the doorframe, and some type of box teetered on the edge.
    Alana put out a hand to touch the door, unable to see what Jaydn saw. He grabbed her arm to stop her.
    “What do you see?” she asked fearfully.
    Jaydn shook his head. As he leaned forward to get a better look, he bumped the door. The box tilted slightly, and the platform shifted. A sudden burst of adrenaline propelled him to action. He jerked Alana back into the living room with one giant sweep of his hands, and she let out a frightened squeal. The pair tripped over a torn couch cushion as Jaydn tried to protect Alana from what he was sure was coming.
    Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. As they fell, Jaydn saw the bedroom door jerk open from the weight of the box, and the box fell from the platform. Jaydn turned his head away as an explosion rocked the whole apartment. He fell to the floor with Alana and