Love Inspired Suspense October 2015 #1 by Lenora Worth, Hope White, Diane Burke

Papa? Is that what this is about? You want me to forgive you in case Mama dies?”
    â€œShe will not die,” Franco said. “She can’t die.”
    And then Rikki saw it there in her father’s old eyes.
    Fear.
    Franco Alvanetti was afraid of the one thing he couldn’t control. Losing his wife.
    Rikki got up, her own eyes burning. “She’s getting better and I’ll stay to make sure she does.”
    Then she turned and left the room, her heart splitting as she waged anger and bitterness against acceptance and forgiveness.
    * * *
    Blain came out of the interrogation room located in the back of the district substation not far from the Alvanetti estate. The SWAT and K-9 teams had cornered the shooter in the woods near the state park that ran along the bay.
    That meant television cameras and reporters pushing microphones in his face. People wanted answers and Blain had none to give. Yet.
    Blain had gone in with a deputy to question John Darty. Fun name for a fun criminal.
    â€œYou’re a piece of work, Darty,” Blain said by way of a greeting. “Drug charges, stolen property, petty crimes. Seems you just got out and now you’ll be going right back in.”
    â€œI want a lawyer.”
    The man was trained in weaponry, courtesy of the United States Army. As Blain had told Rikki, not every soldier was a hero. This soldier had gone quiet and now refused to speak. Not surprising. Whoever had sent him would probably try to kill him if he talked, in or out of a jailhouse.
    â€œThink long and hard about telling us who hired you,” he told the fidgety man. “We can help you now but once you go back inside, it might be too late.”
    Sam Kent was waiting for Blain in the conference room.
    â€œThings sure have changed since my day,” his father said, glancing around. “Districts, SWAT teams, even a Major Crimes Unit. Used to be just a sheriff and several deputies.”
    â€œThis county has become more populated over the last decade, Dad. Not to mention having advanced technology.”
    â€œJob never gets any easier,” Sam said on a grunt. “What did our guest reveal?”
    â€œNot much,” Blain said. “Didn’t you listen in?”
    â€œNope.” Sam threw his disposable cup in the trash. “I thought I’d let you do your thing.”
    â€œMy thing didn’t work.” Surprised at how docile his usually ornery father seemed, Blain gave Sam the once-over. “Hey, you feeling okay?”
    Sam’s eyebrows winged up like an eagle in flight. “Fine as a fiddle, thank you.”
    Blain took a good look at his dad. Sam looked tired. He’d lost weight. Not daring to ask any more questions, Blain decided his cagey father could be as tight-lipped as a career criminal at times.
    So he tried another method. “What do you think?”
    â€œAbout what?” Sam asked.
    â€œThis case.” Blain ran a hand over his hair. “I think Regina Alvanetti is being targeted for a reason and I’ve got a feeling someone is after her because they think she knows something or she saw something.”
    â€œI agree,” Sam said, lowering his voice. “You might consider her family. Lots of hidden agendas going on.”
    Surprised yet again, Blain gave his father a thoughtful stare. “Do you know something I need to know?”
    Sam grinned. “I know a lot of things I’ve never talked about but I always knew that one day some of those things would float to the surface.”
    Aggravation slapped at Blain, making him snap. “I’m not sure what you’re trying to say.”
    â€œSonia,” his father whispered. “Sonia knows more secrets than anyone else.”
    â€œBut she’s ill,” Blain replied. “No way I can get to her. She’s barely able to get out of bed.”
    â€œBut you can get to the daughter,” Sam said. “That woman trusts you and trust from