Prey for a Miracle Read Free Page A

down the hall, she saw Reverend Mother hurrying to answer it.
    Sister Agatha followed Reverend Mother to the office, ready to serve if needed and preparing for the worst.

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    S ISTER AGATHA RAISED HER ARM TO KNOCK, BUT AT THAT instant Reverend Mother opened the door. Seeing Sister Agatha, she whispered, “Praised be Jesus Christ.”
    “Now and forever.” Reverend Mother’s breach of the Great Silence shattered her hope that the telephone call had been a wrong number.
    “Come in, child,” Reverend Mother said quietly.
    Sister Agatha entered, her heart racing. For Mother’s sake, she was determined to appear calm, but that took willpower.
    Sister Bernarda appeared at the door a few seconds later and Reverend Mother gestured for her to come in. As she did, Reverend Mother gave the ex-Marine a concerned look. “I know about your accident, child. Are you sure you should be walking?”
    “I’m fine, Mother,” Sister Bernarda said, her voice calm and her face expressionless. “I can go wherever I’m needed.”
    Reverend Mother nodded, understanding the heavy burden of duty better than most.
    “I have very bad news,” she said. “I’ve just received a call from Father Mahoney’s housekeeper, Frances. Father’s sister, Jessica Tannen, was in an auto accident on the old highway during the storm. Jessica’s in the hospital now, apparently still unconscious. The police believe that Jessica’s daughter Natalie was with her mother at the time, but she’s missing. According to the person who reported the accident, there was another vehicle on the scene that took off just as he got there.”
    “Was Natalie kidnapped?” Sister Bernarda asked immediately.
    “They’re not sure, but there’s evidence that tends to indicate that Natalie ran off. Officers are looking for her now.”
    Sister Agatha knew Natalie, a eight- or nine-year-old who claimed to have a guardian angel always at her side. Stories in the community had connected the little girl with supposed miracles, as well, making it difficult for the child and her mother on occasion. “Natalie must have been terrified! Could it have been a hit-and-run instead of a kidnapping? Maybe a drunk driver?”
    “The police are investigating but their first priority is finding Natalie. Father Mahoney has asked that you and Sister Bernarda join the search teams while the rest of us begin a prayer vigil.”
    “We’ll go directly to the police station, Mother,” Sister Agatha said, and saw Sister Bernarda nod as well. “Someone there can tell us who’s coordinating the search and we’ll report to them.”
    Reverend Mother looked at Sister Bernarda. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”
    “Fit and ready for duty, Mother,” Sister Bernarda said confidently.
    “All right then,” Reverend Mother said in a heavy voice. “In this weather, you’d better use our car.”
    Sister Agatha hesitated. “Mother, it may be better for us to leave it just in case there’s an emergency here. Sister Gertrude’s heart condition is far from stable.”
    Reverend Mother looked at Sister Bernarda. “Under those circumstances, I’m not at all sure you should go. The trip in the sidecar and your injury…”
    “I’ll go to the rectory, Mother, and take over for Frances. She can join the search while I handle telephone communications. And if Natalie finds her way there I can notify the authorities. It’ll be making the most of the available manpower.”
    Reverend Mother nodded. “I’ll call the police department while you’re on the way to the rectory. If there’s anything you need to know, like who’s coordinating the search and from where, I’ll leave that information with Frances to pass it on to you. It’ll save time. If you can manage it, take Pax with you. His animal senses may be a help to you now.”
    “We’ll do that, Mother,” Sister Bernarda said.
    As the two externs left Reverend Mother’s office, Sister Bernarda gave Sister Agatha a tight-lipped smile. “I