Page 14

Chapter

Nine

“ S ire, our men have contacted us from the site of the crash. No body was found and it looks like there were two sets of footprints where shards of the Princess’s heliocraft lay,” the Lieutenant reported.

“As we speak, they’re trying to get a trace of the vehicle that left the marks not too far away from it. ”

“Thank you, Leeo. That will be all for now,” Blaze nodded curtly dismissing him. Relief nearly made him weak. His daughter was still alive. He knew he could count on Zahn to bring London back to them safely.

Calliope walked into the great hall at that moment, anxiety shining in her eyes. “Has there been any news?”

“Yes, there was no body found out at the site of the crash and no trace indication that anything bad happened to her.”

The Queen released a deep breath. “Thank goodness. Let’s hope that wherever she is, she’s safe. Are you sure Zahn will be able to find her before something does happen?”

“I’m sure he will. I’m trusting him with our most precious commodity. If he fails, he’ll pay dearly,” Blaze promised.

The nurse had informed them that they’d only have a few minutes to visit with the patient.

London hoped Mrs. Hines was still awake.

She walked into the hospital room and saw an older woman in a bed, watching the box on the wall.

She turned her head with a smile, then it fell.

“Oh, I thought you were Carol. You must have the wrong room, because I’m the only occupant here,” the woman said.

“Are you Mrs. Addie Hines?” London asked.

The woman frowned looking the two of them over suspiciously. “Who wants to know?”

“My name is London Blaz—Randall.”

The woman gasped, abruptly sitting up in her bed. “No, you can’t be! London Randall and her mother have been missing for years. What kind of game are you trying to play, child? This isn’t very funny.”

“I can assure you that I am her. My mother and I were… well, we have lived in another place for a long time, and now I’m looking for my sister. It’s my understanding on the night my mother and I went missing that Paris was left to you.”

“If you’re London, then where’s your mother?”

“She’s safe and doing well. I would really appreciate it if you could tell me anything you know.”

“London had a birthmark on the inside of her wrist the shape of a heart,” Mrs. Hine pursed her lips waiting for her to produce the evidence.

London walked closer, holding out her wrist. “You mean like this?”

The woman’s jaw dropped. “Well, praise Jesus. Hallelujah! Come and hug my neck, baby. Miracles do happen,” the woman shouted.

Leaning over, London allowed the woman’s massive arms to engulf her. For a moment she didn’t think she’d let go. The woman finally did, a big toothy grin on her face. “Is this your young man?”

London smiled. “Yes, this is Matt Taylor.”

Matt stepped forward and he and Mrs. Hines shook hands. “Nice to meet you,” he said politely.

“Well, have a seat, you two. Oh, my London, you’re just as pretty as you want to be, child.

I’ve prayed for you and your mother. Every year I light a candle for the two of you at Christmas.

Praise Jesus.” Mrs. Hines wiped a tear from her eyes.

“And how sweet of you to come visit an old lady. Caroline and the girls haven’t come by once.

Shayla and Alana are big girls now, so they don’t pay their old grandma any mind. ”

London didn’t want to be rude by interrupting, but she was anxious to ask questions about her sister. “Mrs. Hines, I need to know what happened to Paris. My mother did try to find her, but she had reason to believe that she’d been killed in a fire.”

The older woman frowned. “I tried to keep Paris as long as I could, but I’m an old lady living on a pension. I had to turn her over to the state. She did live in a group home, which I did hear burned down.”

London’s heart thumped wildly. No. It couldn’t be. Her sister couldn’t be gone. She hadn’t come all this way just to be told that Paris was indeed dead. “Please tell me that she’s not…”

“Dead? No, thank the Lord. Most of the children were rescued. There were a few casualties, God bless their little souls, but I know your sister was not one of them. She was in foster care for a little while, and I kept tabs on her while I was still about but I haven’t seen her since she was a child.

She may or may not be in the State. She was a tough little thing.

I don’t think poor Paris had an easy time in those foster homes she was tossed around in. I still pray for her though.”

London looked over at Matt, a sense of joy and despair rushing through her. Paris was alive, but now what? They had the ominous task of trying to track her down. As though sensing her uncertain emotions, Matt took her hand and brought it to his lips. “No matter what it takes, we’ll find her.”

London certainly hoped so.

“Paris! I thought you said you were heading back to your place. What are you doing back here and how did you change outfits so quickly?”

London turned around to see a tall dark-haired woman approach. She gave her boyfriend Matt a questioning look. “She thinks I’m Paris. Could this mean…

Hazel eyes twinkled from behind wire-rimmed glasses. “I think so.”

London turned back to the woman with a smile. “I’m not Paris, but I’m looking for her.”

The woman frowned. “What are you talking about? Of course you’re Paris. You were just here not even an hour ago. Wait a minute, why are you talking like that and what did you do to your hair?”

London touched her long braid self-consciously. “What’s wrong with it?”

The woman scratched her head, her confusion apparent. “Uh, nothing, but…you’re not Paris?”

“No. I thought I just said that.”

“You look remarkably like her. Are you…”

“Her sister? Yes, I am.”

The brunette’s mouth gaped open. “Funny, Paris never mentioned a sister, let alone a twin. Actually, I was under the impression she was an orphan.”

“Perhaps I can explain,” Matt interjected. “My name is Matt Taylor.” He held out his hand which the woman hesitantly took.

“Uh, nice to meet you. Carol Dunlop.”

“This is London, Paris’s sister as you’ve already noticed.

You’re not far off in thinking Paris didn’t have family.

It’s a delicate situation. There were some extenuating circumstances and the two of them, London and Paris, were separated.

For the past few weeks we’ve been looking for her and recently learned she’s here in New York.

We’ve been here for a couple days and this has to be fate to have run into you like this.

It’s such a huge city. Could we have a minute of your time? ” Matt asked.

The woman’s eyes had widened with each word. “Well, sure. This is amazing.

It’s like one of those stories you see on television. I just left the bar behind us, but it’s

kind of noisy in there. We can go to the coffee shop down the block.”

London perked up at the mention of one of her favorite Earth beverages.

“Coffee? I love that stuff. Let’s go!” She took Matt’s hand and followed the woman toward their destination, heart pounding in her chest. They were so close to finding her sister, she could feel it.

Only days ago, they’d learned Paris had attended college in New York City.

Matt had suggested they check the directories to see if she still lived in the city.

They’d found three Paris Randalls. The first two people on the list were definitely not her sister, but the last one they’d come across had moved, leaving no forwarding address.

London knew that was the Paris they’d been looking for, because the landlord had made the same mistake Carol had.

It was hard to believe all the events that had led her to this moment.

When the three of them were seated in the coffee shop, London told Carol a made up story of how she, her mother and Paris had become separated. Matt had warned her most people wouldn’t believe the truth.

Carol listened intently, nodding at all the appropriate moments until London finished. “How amazing. So your poor mother… whatever happened to her?”

London’s eyes darted to Matt’s for help. “Well, she’s in…”

“Another country,” he supplied.

Carol frowned. “Why didn’t she try to look for Paris herself? And why did you wait until now to try and find her?”

“Like I said, my mother was led to believe Paris died in a fire, but I’d recently learned of this myself. My mother didn’t want to upset me by mentioning it.”

“I see,” Carol said, though her tone suggested otherwise. “So your twin intuition told you she’s alive?”

London nodded. “Something like that. So how do you know my sister?”

“We work together -- not in the same department, but we interact enough where we’ve become friendly.

I like Paris a lot. She’s a nice lady — a little reserved maybe, but she’s a sweetheart.

I’ve been trying to get her to come out of her shell, but something holds her back.

I don’t know what it is. Seeing you will probably do her a lot of good.

I can’t get over how much alike the two of you look.

” Carol shook her head in apparent amazement.

London giggled. “Well, we are twins.”

“Touché. You must be the bubbly twin.”

“Maybe. I’ve been told I talk a lot. I know this may seem weird, but the closer I get to finding Paris, the more I remember. When we were younger, I was the one who spoke for the two of us, but she was the one with the ideas. It’s funny the things you retain from childhood.”

Carol nodded. “Yes, that’s so true.”

“Could you tell us where Paris lives?” Matt asked.

“I’ve never been to her place. I know she lives in Manhattan, but I don’t know her exact location. I can write down our business address. I know she’ll be there tomorrow. Better yet, here’s one of my cards.” Carol dug into her purse, and produced a small rectangular card.

London took it. “Thank you so much.” She could barely contain the excitement pounding in her chest. In less than a day’s time, she’d be meeting her sister for the first time in twenty years!