And none of his leads regarding Neil Kirby bore fruit, as if the man did not exist. While Emily’s mother had definitely visited London, no one had seen her for some time now. Marcus called in other favours on both scores. Though Marcus remained in London, he re-read Jade’s letter often: My dear Marcus, I know you must think badly of me, and with good reason, we both know, but do not ever imagine that I take lightly your personal regard. Please understand that, were I free to express myself, you would know all, but I do not walk alone. Emily asks for you daily. Please come home. Yours, J. Home; the very notion kept Marcus focused on completing his goal. He supposed he’d known the first time he saw Jade that she would be his home forever after. He simply had given up hope that he would be free of his responsibility to Garr or that Jade would feel the same way. It all seemed so impossible. The road for the two of them might be paved with good intentions, however rutted with secrets and deeds gone bad.
