The Body Thief

by Chris Taylor

  Alistair’s trial had yet to begin and with it, more hardship for them would follow. Rohan could only imagine the media circus the trial would cause. Not to mention the devastation if a guilty verdict were handed down. The Wolfe family would need all the support they could get over the coming months.

  “You’ve had a hard time of it lately,” Enid said softly, as if reading his mind. “Almost as hard as me. I know you’re feeling bad about the arrest, but I don’t want you to feel that way. Alistair made his own choices; you did what you had to do.”

  Rohan sucked in a breath and then eased it out on a sigh. He nodded, acknowledging her generosity of spirit. She patted his hand in comfort and he was grateful for it. Silence fell between them. After a while, she broke it.

  “I haven’t had a chance to thank you,” Enid said softly, her gaze intent on his.

  Once again, Rohan tensed and then a moment later, let it go. What did it matter if Enid suspected she carried his father’s kidney? Rohan knew the truth.

  Samantha had come and told him about her mother receiving the call long before his dad’s organs had been recovered. He couldn’t possibly be the donor. He’d heard from police sources that there had also been two motor vehicle fatalities the night Enid had received her transplant. One was a twenty-three-year-old triathlete; the other, a thirty-six-year-old father of two. It wasn’t possible to find out the truth about the donor and he didn’t want to and if it made Enid feel better that there was a possibility she might have received the gift of life from his dad, who was he to argue?

  As if able to read his thoughts, Enid squeezed his hand again. “I’m so sorry for the loss of your father. Nothing can replace our loved ones who have gone on ahead of us, but I promise you this. As long as you continue to love my daughter, with all your heart and soul, you’ll be a son to me.”

  Tears appeared in Enid’s eyes and Rohan felt them, too. He swallowed a lump and tried to speak around the emotion that clogged his throat. It had been a month since his dad had passed, but he still missed him every day. He thought briefly of the other two people who had died that day and said a silent prayer for their families.

  “You’re a remarkable woman, Enid Wolfe. I’m so very proud to know you.”

  “You’re a special man, Rohan Coleridge, from a very special family. Take care of my daughter. Love her with all your heart. Protect her and keep her safe from harm, even in times of doubt. She loves you with everything that she is and she deserves to have you in her life. Make her happy, make her sad. Show her how to live.”

  Rohan nodded and for a moment he was beyond words. “I will.”

  The rest of the party sped by in a blur. Rohan was introduced to Samantha’s sisters. Though the girls were polite, he couldn’t fail to note their reserve and he understood it. He could only hope over time, they’d come to forgive him for his part in their brother’s downfall. The girls’ boyfriends were also dutifully introduced, but Rohan paid them little heed. As the night wore on, his hand returned to his pocket over and over again.

  He’d bought the ring a fortnight earlier and had been trying to find the right time. But was there any such thing as the right time to ask the love of your life to marry you? He was beginning to wonder. He wandered out onto the balcony to clear his head. A few moments later, he heard the sound of the sliding door opening behind him.

  “There you are!” Samantha laughed, appearing by his side. She linked her arm with his. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere!”

  Rohan smiled and pulled her close. “I thought I’d step outside and catch a breath of air. It’s a beautiful night.”

  Samantha nodded. She leaned over the balcony and breathed in deeply of the fresh spring air. “You’re right. It is beautiful. I love this time of year.”

  Lights from the surrounding houses and apartment buildings twinkled gently in the night. A soft breeze brought with it the smell of frangipani or something equally sweet and pungent. Once again, Rohan felt in his pocket and his heart picked up its pace. Feeling his way, he opened the box and took hold of the ring. Now was as good a time as any. In fact, now was perfect.

  Taking her hands in his, he took a deep breath and then dropped to one knee. Samantha stared at him in surprise, her eyes going wide.

  “I love you more each day and I yearn to make you mine. Samantha Wolfe, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  The words fell out in a rush, not at all in the way he’d planned. For half a second, she looked almost stunned and then her face broke into a wide smile. She laughed and hollered and cried out with joy.

  “Is that a yes?” he asked, waiting for her to say the word.

  “Yes! Yes! Yes!” she cried and tears ran down her cheeks.

  Rohan came to his feet and took her left hand and slipped the one-carat diamond ring onto her finger. She gasped and cried and stared at it, turning it every which way in the light. At last, she threw her arms around him and kissed him like forever was in her sights.

  Together, they looked up at the starry sky. Rohan’s heart filled with love and hope for their future.

  NOTE TO READERS

  I do hope you have enjoyed reading Samantha and Rohan’s story. If you’ve enjoyed this story, please feel free to leave a review for The Body Thief at Goodreads and your favorite digital retailer. Every review is very much appreciated.

  Click here to sign up for my newsletter if you would like to receive news on upcoming stories, release dates, book launches and other snippets. I love to receive feedback from my readers. Please feel free to contact me at chris@ christaylorauthor.com.au

  The Baby Snatchers is the next book in the Sydney Harbour Hospital Series. Here’s a sneak peek:

  Between heaven and hell…

  Georgina Whitely loves her job as a midwife at the prestigious Sydney Harbour Hospital. The joy and excitement of helping to deliver babies never fails to bring a smile to her face. But the job is not without its challenges…

  Ward Seven is where pregnant, drug and alcohol addicted women go to have their babies. It’s Georgie’s job to not only manage the births, but also to manage the addictions. It breaks her heart to watch tiny newborns suffer from the harsh effects of drug withdrawal. And then there’s the stress of dealing with their mothers.

  But, despite the emotional and physical upheavals a day on Ward Seven can bring, Georgie relishes the challenges. The new mothers look up to her and respect her; they want to keep her close. But babies are dying on Ward Seven and nobody can figure out why.

  Detective Sergeant Cameron Dawson has spent a decade putting his troubled childhood behind him. Just when he thinks his life is back on track, his sixteen-year-old sister, Cynthia, arrives on the scene. Not only has she run away from home, she’s also just given birth at the Sydney Harbour Hospital. When Cameron arrives at Ward Seven, the midwife who introduces herself as Georgie Whitely, informs him Cynthia’s baby has died.

  Shocked and saddened, Cameron does his best to help his sister through her grief. Within a fortnight, he hears of another infant death on the same ward. The hospital staff say the deaths are sudden and unexplainable, but Cameron isn’t so sure. And what in the world do they have to do with Georgie Whitely…?

  The Baby Snatchers will be released on 28 February, 2016 and is AVAILABLE NOW for pre-order.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  As usual, no book comes into being without a lot of help and support by my friends and family. A world of thanks must go to my wonderful editor, Pat Thomas. Thank you for everything that you do to make my stories even more amazing than I could ever dare to dream. To Detective Superintendent Michael Kilfoyle (ret) of the Australian Federal Police and to Scott Pearce of the New South Wales Department of Forensic Medicine, thank you for lending my story credibility. Any mistakes are wholly my own.

  To Grady and all of the staff at damonza.com, thank you for yet another fantastic cover. To my sister, Nicole Guihot and to my friend, Ally Thomson, thank you for your excellent editorial comments, pro
of reading skills and suggestions. I hope you like the final result.

  To Amy Atwell and her dedicated staff at Author EMS who are so much more than book formatters. Amy, once again, thank you for your magic.

  To the fantastic writer organizations such as Romance Writers of Australia, Romance Writers of America and Romance Writers of New Zealand for all the help, support and encouragement they offer new and aspiring writers, including me.

  To my readers, thank you for your support and love for my stories. Your encouragement and enjoyment make this journey all worthwhile.

  And lastly, to my friends and family, especially my husband and children. Thank you for putting up with late dinners and even later conversations as I’ve emerged day after day from the sometimes scary but always enthralling world I’ve created on my computer.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Chris Taylor grew up on a farm in north-west New South Wales, Australia. She always had a thirst for stories and recalls writing her first book at the ripe old age of eight. Always a lover of romance and happily-ever-afters, a career in criminal law sparked her interest in intrigue and suspense. For Chris to be able to combine romance with suspense in her books is a dream come true.

  Chris is married to Linden and is the mother of five children. If not behind her computer, you can find her doing the school run, taxiing children to swimming lessons, football, ballet and cricket. In her spare time, Chris loves to read her favorite authors who include Richard North Patterson, Sandra Brown, Kathleen E Woodiwiss and Jude Devereaux.

  You can find out more about Chris and sign up for her newsletter at her website:

  http://www.christaylorauthor.com.au

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