Heart of the Raven Read Free

her or angry at her.
    â€œIn some ways she was open,” he said. She was a distraction when he’d needed it. Or so he’d thought. Turned out he was wrong, but that didn’t relieve him of his responsibilities. “It was like she wanted to keep herself mysterious, like it would keep me more interested.”
    â€œWould it?”
    He considered the possibility. “Maybe. To a point. Intrigue boosts adrenaline and interest, but it had gotten tired.”
    â€œYeah. The rush is great—for a while. How about education?” Cassie asked.
    â€œCurrently attending business school. The firm was paying for a paralegal course. She was allowed to attend classes during work hours.” He passed her a piece of paper. “Make and model of the car she drives, and the license plate.”
    â€œOutstanding. Who is her obstetrician?”
    Heath handed her a second Rolodex card, which also listed the hospital where the baby was to be born.
    â€œDid you take Lamaze classes? Do you plan on being there for the birth?”
    â€œNo and no.”
    â€œDid you go to her doctor’s appointments with her?”
    â€œNo.” He almost had, once, when she was to have an ultrasound. He changed his mind at his front door.
    Cassie capped the pen and bounced it against her palm as she eyed him. “You said you don’t get out much.”
    â€œRight.”
    â€œDo you get out at all, Mr. Raven?”
    â€œHeath. And, no.”
    â€œFor how long?”
    â€œThree years.”
    He let her do the math. He hadn’t stepped foot out of his house since his son died.
    â€œYou don’t open the blinds, either.”
    â€œNo.”
    She didn’t ask why, but if she had, he wouldn’t have answered. It wasn’t any of her business.
    â€œOkay,” she said, slipping the pen into her notebook.“I’ve got enough to get started, except I need a photo, if you’ve got one.”
    He handed her a file folder.
    â€œYoung,” Cassie said when she saw the photo inside.
    â€œTwenty-three. I’m thirty-nine. I figure you’re wondering. Yeah, she was young.” And they didn’t have much in common. “There’s a picture of the baby.”
    She turned the page. He’d made a copy of the ultrasound taken months ago.
    She turned the picture sideways, then upside down. “I’ve never seen one of these before.”
    He outlined the body parts. “Head. Nose. Chin. Arms. Fingers. Legs.”
    Cassie smiled. “If you say so. Do you know the sex?”
    He tapped the page. “Legs are crossed.”
    â€œOr there’s nothing to see. Could be a little girl.”
    â€œCould be.”
    She closed her notebook. He handed her an envelope with a check for the retainer she’d told him on the phone that ARC would require. They walked downstairs in silence.
    At the front door she stopped. “Are you in love with her?”
    Like he believed in love anymore? “No.”
    â€œYet you would’ve married her.”
    He’d already said as much. He felt no need to explain himself.
    â€œThere’s something I need you to do,” Cassie said, her tone businesslike but her eyes gentle. “The investigation may take a turn or reach a point where you will have to leave the house, maybe to go with me somewhere or even to go alone if Eva calls and needs you.You need to get your mind in a place where you can do that.”
    â€œI already have.” He would do anything for his child. Anything. Including fighting Eva for custody, something he wouldn’t have done before. She obviously wasn’t fit to be a mother. “What can I do in the meantime?”
    â€œLet me get things rolling first. Sometimes these kinds of things solve themselves fairly fast. If you think of anything else that might be important, give me a call.”
    She held out her hand. He took it automatically, one businessperson to another,