Read Online Stirring Up Strife (2010) by Jennifer - a Hope Street Church Stanley - Free Book Online Page A
Ads: Link
let him go to prison or allow Brooke's real killer to go free."
"No offense," Cooper said tentatively, "but what can you guys do?"
"I believe there's power in numbers. We're going to do a little snooping and a whole lot of praying. Savannah was able to visit him today and he told her where he has a spare house key hidden, along with his blessing to search everything once the police are out of there. We're meeting at Trish's house after church next Sunday to come up with a plan."
"Why wait so long? Shouldn't we ... you guys get in the house right now?"
"We can't. Cops don't want anyone in there this week. They were pretty firm about that and we don't want to do anything to antagonize them or worsen Wesley's situation. Believe me, we're all frustrated by having to sit on our hands."
"At least you've got a plan," Cooper said soothingly.
Nathan hesitated and then said, "I hope you'll join us. You're coming to Bible study, right?"
Cooper had a strong feeling that she had something to offer in the group's efforts to assist Wesley, so she quickly said, "Yeah, I'm in."
"Good." Nathan sounded pleased. "We could use all the assistance we can get. And speaking of help, did you need some guidance getting started on your workbook?"
"I haven't bought it yet, but it's on the top of my list of things to do." She took a cookie off the plate and inhaled its sweet aroma.
"Listen, I know it must be awkward for us to be recruiting you in the midst of our concern for the Hughes family, and even though I've only met them a few times, they were so warm and generous of spirit." He paused. "It's hard to explain. If only you could have talked to one of them, you'd understand."
Now Cooper knew she couldn't remain silent about her encounter with Brooke for another second. "I actually called to tell you that I met Brooke Hughes two Fridays ago."
"What!" Nathan's gentle voice turned urgent. "How? Why?"
She hesitated again. "Well, I install and repair office equipment and she had a problem with one of her machines."
"Whoa, cool job. Go on."
Relieved that Nathan hadn't passed judgment on her unusual career choice, Cooper told him every detail of her encounter with Brooke.
"There's got to be something incriminating about that document she needed to copy." Nathan sounded excited. "But you didn't look at it? Not at all?" His hopeful tone deflated somewhat.
"No. I make it a point not to look at the content of any documents," Cooper replied firmly.
"Right. Of course." Nathan grew quiet as if he was thinking hard. Cooper could hear his breath on the other end but found his silence rather disconcerting. She noticed that she had unconsciously ripped her napkin into little shreds during the latter part of their conversation. Suddenly, as she gazed at the mess she had made, she remembered the scraps of paper wadded up at the bottom of her toolbox. "Nathan?" She sat up excitedly. "I don't want to make any promises, but I might have part of that document at work."
"How?" He sounded confused.
Cooper described the chaotic state of Cindi's desk and overflowing garage can. "There was no place to throw out the pieces that were jammed inside the copier, so I put them in my toolbox."
"Can you tape them together?" he asked eagerly.
"It's going to take a couple of days. Some of the pieces are the size of cupcake sprinkles. Plus, I still don't know if anything is readable on there. Most of it's probably full of smeared ink."
"Will you give it a try anyway?" Nathan persisted.
"Yes, of course!" Cooper promised with feeling, wishing that she hadn't been so pessimistic. After all, she might actually be in possession of a clue about Brooke's death.
"Listen, since you met Brooke, you'll probably want to go to her funeral," Nathan said "We're all going to mourn Brooke but also to show our support for Wesley. Savannah says that he'll be there, under guard, of course." He paused again. "I'm
"No offense," Cooper said tentatively, "but what can you guys do?"
"I believe there's power in numbers. We're going to do a little snooping and a whole lot of praying. Savannah was able to visit him today and he told her where he has a spare house key hidden, along with his blessing to search everything once the police are out of there. We're meeting at Trish's house after church next Sunday to come up with a plan."
"Why wait so long? Shouldn't we ... you guys get in the house right now?"
"We can't. Cops don't want anyone in there this week. They were pretty firm about that and we don't want to do anything to antagonize them or worsen Wesley's situation. Believe me, we're all frustrated by having to sit on our hands."
"At least you've got a plan," Cooper said soothingly.
Nathan hesitated and then said, "I hope you'll join us. You're coming to Bible study, right?"
Cooper had a strong feeling that she had something to offer in the group's efforts to assist Wesley, so she quickly said, "Yeah, I'm in."
"Good." Nathan sounded pleased. "We could use all the assistance we can get. And speaking of help, did you need some guidance getting started on your workbook?"
"I haven't bought it yet, but it's on the top of my list of things to do." She took a cookie off the plate and inhaled its sweet aroma.
"Listen, I know it must be awkward for us to be recruiting you in the midst of our concern for the Hughes family, and even though I've only met them a few times, they were so warm and generous of spirit." He paused. "It's hard to explain. If only you could have talked to one of them, you'd understand."
Now Cooper knew she couldn't remain silent about her encounter with Brooke for another second. "I actually called to tell you that I met Brooke Hughes two Fridays ago."
"What!" Nathan's gentle voice turned urgent. "How? Why?"
She hesitated again. "Well, I install and repair office equipment and she had a problem with one of her machines."
"Whoa, cool job. Go on."
Relieved that Nathan hadn't passed judgment on her unusual career choice, Cooper told him every detail of her encounter with Brooke.
"There's got to be something incriminating about that document she needed to copy." Nathan sounded excited. "But you didn't look at it? Not at all?" His hopeful tone deflated somewhat.
"No. I make it a point not to look at the content of any documents," Cooper replied firmly.
"Right. Of course." Nathan grew quiet as if he was thinking hard. Cooper could hear his breath on the other end but found his silence rather disconcerting. She noticed that she had unconsciously ripped her napkin into little shreds during the latter part of their conversation. Suddenly, as she gazed at the mess she had made, she remembered the scraps of paper wadded up at the bottom of her toolbox. "Nathan?" She sat up excitedly. "I don't want to make any promises, but I might have part of that document at work."
"How?" He sounded confused.
Cooper described the chaotic state of Cindi's desk and overflowing garage can. "There was no place to throw out the pieces that were jammed inside the copier, so I put them in my toolbox."
"Can you tape them together?" he asked eagerly.
"It's going to take a couple of days. Some of the pieces are the size of cupcake sprinkles. Plus, I still don't know if anything is readable on there. Most of it's probably full of smeared ink."
"Will you give it a try anyway?" Nathan persisted.
"Yes, of course!" Cooper promised with feeling, wishing that she hadn't been so pessimistic. After all, she might actually be in possession of a clue about Brooke's death.
"Listen, since you met Brooke, you'll probably want to go to her funeral," Nathan said "We're all going to mourn Brooke but also to show our support for Wesley. Savannah says that he'll be there, under guard, of course." He paused again. "I'm
Similar Books
