Marta Perry - Final Justice

She didn’t deserve that after all she’d been through. But Mason was probably the last person in the world who should be trusted with responsibility for her.

A cold hand seemed to squeeze his heart. What did he know about being a father? His own father hadn’t set much of an example.

He glanced at his watch. He was about to meet the daughter he’d never known existed—for the first time. And his life would change irrevocably. But it already had, hadn’t it? It had started to change months ago, at the class reunion. He just hadn’t recognized it at the time.

REUNION REVELATIONS: Secrets surface when old friends—and foes—get together.

Hidden in the Wall—Valerie Hansen (LIS#84) January 2008

Missing Persons—Shirlee McCoy (LIS#88) February 2008

Don’t Look Back—Margaret Daley (LIS#92) March 2008

In His Sights—Carol Steward (LIS#96) April 2008

A Face in the Shadows—Lenora Worth (LIS#100) May 2008

Final Justice—Marta Perry (LIS#104) June 2008

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has written everything from Sunday school curriculum to travel articles to magazine stories in twenty years of writing, but she feels she’s found her home in the stories she writes for the Love Inspired line. Marta lives in rural Pennsylvania, but she and her husband spend part of each year at their second home in South Carolina. When she’s not writing, she’s probably visiting her children and her five beautiful grandchildren, traveling or relaxing with a good book. Marta loves hearing from readers, and she’ll write back with a signed bookplate or bookmark. Write to her c/o Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279, e-mail her at marta@martaperry.com or visit her on the Web at www.martaperry.com.

Published by Steeple Hill Books™

If you search for good, you will find favor, but if you search for evil, it will find you.

—Proverbs 11:27

This story is dedicated to my own dear college

friends, including Cynthia, Liz, Ginny, Phyllis,

Babs, Barbara and any others whose names I’ve

missed. And, as always, to Brian, with much love.

Special thanks and acknowledgment to Marta Perry for her contribution to the REUNION REVELATIONS miniseries.

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

EPILOGUE

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

He was about to meet the daughter he’d never known existed. He sat alone on a park bench, watching the spring sunshine filter through veils of Spanish moss and trying to make sense of the changes that had turned his life upside down.

Across the park, a father pushed his child on the rustic swing set. The little girl—four or five, maybe—laughed, her light voice floating toward him on the sultry air.

“Higher, Daddy. Higher.”

A cold hand seemed to squeeze his heart. What did he know about being a father? His own father certainly hadn’t set much of an example. In fact, if his father were alive today, he’d be quick to point out that this was just another opportunity for him to fail someone.

He couldn’t fail this child. She didn’t deserve that after all she’d been through. But he was probably the last person in the world who should be trusted with the responsibility for her.

He glanced at his watch. They’d come soon, and his life would change irrevocably.

But it already had, hadn’t it? It had started to change months ago. He just hadn’t recognized it at the time.

Magnolia College’s ten-year reunion was in full swing on a warm southern evening. Jennifer Pappas stood alone near the French doors that opened to the terrace, wondering what on earth had made her agree to come.

The Mossy Oak Inn on the edge of the college campus prided itself on elegant service, and the staff had outdone itself tonight. Discreet waiters circulated with trays of hors d’oeuvres, while a string combo played a delicate counterpoint to the reliving of college memories. The scent of roses mingled with that of expensive perfume, almost dizzying in its impact.

She took an automatic step back from the exuberant greetings going on between two women who’d just, apparently, found each other after ten years and were determined to catch up on everything that had happened since.

That was what she feared the most tonight—that seemingly innocuous question: What have you been doing since graduation?

How do I answer that, Father? She sought refuge in prayer, as she always did, focusing inward and shutting out the clamor of insistent voices rising above the chamber music. How could I talk about the day-care center I ran in Syracuse without mentioning how it ended?

A shudder touched her heart, and she steeled herself against the memories, locking them away. She wouldn’t dwell on the past. She’d started a new life. That was what this was all about, wasn’t it?

But she’d been back in Magnolia Falls for over a month now, and she still hadn’t found her balance. She was beginning to wonder if she ever would.

Her gaze fell upon Steff Kessler, a fellow class member who was now the alumni director for Magnolia College. Steff had seemed eager to renew their college friendship, but even with Steff, she’d held back. How did you explain to anyone, let alone a friend, what it was like being arrested, charged, fingerprinted?

No one here knew the truth except for Pastor Rogers and her father. Dad kept insisting her life would be easier once she’d confided in a few friends, but she couldn’t do that. She couldn’t bear the possibility that they’d look at her with contempt.

The French door moved behind her, and someone stepped through. She turned, startled, and found herself face-to-face with Mason Grant.

“Mason.” Her heart twisted. Once she’d considered Mason one of her closest friends. Then, quite suddenly in the middle of their senior year, he’d shut her out, along with everyone else he’d been close to.

According to Steff, that was still the case. Steff hadn’t expected him to show up tonight, even though he still lived in Magnolia Falls.

“Jennifer Pappas.” He looked as startled as she felt. “I haven’t seen you since—well, since graduation.”

“Ten years.” She managed a smile. “How many times do you suppose those words have been said tonight?”

That brought an answering smile to his face. “Too many, I suppose. And they’re still at it.” He glanced at the noisy crowd, seeming to search for familiar faces, giving her a moment to take a quick look at him.

Her first thought was that he hadn’t changed. Tall, lean, he still had the sinewy build of a basketball player, evident even in the perfectly tailored tux he wore. He had regular features, dark blond hair that was always a little tousled despite his best efforts, hazel eyes—