Redeemer Read Free Page B

and nod. “She was my best friend.”
    A smile breaks across her face. “Well then, this is your blessed day.”
    My heart stops beating for a fraction of a second.
    I stare at Isabel.
    She’s just given me two pieces of wonderful information. One, Jamie might be here, in this city. I haven’t even considered it, I’ve been so preoccupied.
    But number two blows me away. She told me it is my blessed day. Blessed.
    That is a Christian word.
    “Can you tell me how to find her?” I ask quietly. I will consider the Christianity thing later.
    Isabel stands and holds out her hand. “Tell you? Sugar, I will take you there.”
     
     
     
     

4
     
    My heart beats in triple time as we trek through the city. I take deep breaths, willing my heart to calm down. It’s Jamie. At least, I hope it’s Jamie. Isabel could be wrong.
    Oh, but I hope not.
    After four blocks, Isabel stops at a building. This one is two stories, and it doesn’t look too bad. Frost Moon must have made sure I was in the worst building in the worse part of the city.
    The bricks on this building are clean and mostly intact. A few people gather on the steps, talking and laughing. A tree even grows near the sidewalk, but it’s too big and its roots have ripped apart the old concrete. All that’s left now are gaping cracks in the ground.
    My knees wobble as I stare at the building. Could Jamie really be inside?
    “Whatcha need, Issy?” one of the men asks. He’s tall and pale, almost sickly. His light eyes are sunken into his face, and his clothes hang off his shoulders like a blanket.
    Despite his obviously underfed state, the man seems friendly.
    “Howdy, Benji. Looking for Jamie and the baby. Are they around?”
    “Haven’t seen them today. Must be up in their apartment.” The man named Benji stares at me, but I barely see him.
    This is it. I have finally found Jamie, but why is she here? Why in Lesser 4?
    Isabel starts up the steps and I hurry to follow her. Glancing at the men seated on the steps, I move ahead and try to focus.
    “How is she?” I ask. “When did she have her baby?”
    Isabel smiles and holds up her hand. “Save those questions for your friend. She’ll be glad to see you. Now that I think about it, she’s mentioned you a time or two.”
    Tears burn my eyes, and I blink them away. Jamie has mentioned me.
    This makes it much more real. This truly is Jamie. My Jamie.
    We climb the stairs to the second floor where Isabel knocks on the first door in the short hallway. The door jerks open almost immediately, but it’s only a crack. “I just got him to sleep,” a voice hisses. “Who is it?”
    Him? Jamie has a boy.
    I start sobbing like a big bawl baby, and Isabel chuckles and shakes her head.
    “It’s Isabel from four blocks over. I’ve got someone out here you might like to see.”
    The door closes again and the muffled sounds of a scraping metal chain rings in the air. The door reopens and Jamie’s face emerges.
    I cry harder.
    Jamie gasps. “Hana?”
    I try to answer her, but I can’t stop sobbing. Instead, I nod.
    She rushes out and pulls me into the tightest hug I’ve ever had. I manage to work my arms around her to return the hug. After a moment, I realize she’s crying too. We pull back, and I wipe my face.
    Jamie looks terrible. Her cheeks are so sunken in, and her hair is dirty and matted.
    “What are you doing here?” Jamie asks. She takes in my clothes and cuts and bruises. “You’re not here on assignment, are you?” Her voice holds the fear I feel in my own heart. The last time I saw her, I promised to find her—only I promised to come while on training in order to improve the Lessers’ lives.
    My throat swells and I swallow down my emotions. “No, not on assignment.”
    She sighs and nods. “Come on. You can tell me about it inside.”
    I glance behind me to Isabel, but she has slipped away.
    I follow Jamie inside where she closes the door softly behind her. She relocks the door and heads toward