Meg Reynolds is a good neighbor, a congenial co-worker, a loving wife and mother. But the accident on the morning of September ninth tests the very fiber of her moral character.
Unable to face what she has done, Meg hides the truth behind a protective curtain of lies and deceit, frustrating the efforts of Sheriff Tom Braxton and Captain Carl Winchester.
Torn between the urge to protect his wife and his desire to do the âright thing,â Renn Reynolds seeks the comfort of alcohol after eight years of sobriety.
Author Brenda Poulos is best known for developing flawed characters in need of forgiveness and creating plots that keep readers guessing until the very last word. In Justice for Jessie, she delivers her most suspenseful Christian Suspense novel, yet.
Along with Jessieâs parents, Jack and Rachel Carter, youâll face two impossible-to-answer questions:
Can the unforgivable really be forgiven?
Will there ever be Justice for Jessie?
Meg Reynolds is a good neighbor, a congenial co-worker, a loving wife and mother. But the accident on the morning of September ninth tests the very fiber of her moral character.
Unable to face what she has done, Meg hides the truth behind a protective curtain of lies and deceit, frustrating the efforts of Sheriff Tom Braxton and Captain Carl Winchester.
Torn between the urge to protect his wife and his desire to do the âright thing,â Renn Reynolds seeks the comfort of alcohol after eight years of sobriety.
Author Brenda Poulos is best known for developing flawed characters in need of forgiveness and creating plots that keep readers guessing until the very last word. In Justice for Jessie, she delivers her most suspenseful Christian Suspense novel, yet.
Along with Jessieâs parents, Jack and Rachel Carter, youâll face two impossible-to-answer questions:
Can the unforgivable really be forgiven?
Will there ever be Justice for Jessie?
Megâs trembling hands fumbled for the latch and swung the driverâs door open, sending her tumbling onto the asphalt outside. Tears blurred her sight, mascara running in unchecked rivulets down her face and onto the collar of her crisp white blouse.
âHelp! Someone help!â
She pushed to her feet, berating herself for not giving in to Rennâs entreaties to get a cell phone. If sheâd carried one with her today, sheâd be able to call 911. Get help for the motionless child in the crosswalk just a few feet away.
She looked heavenward, mouthing a silent prayer to the powers that be to send someone to help. Someone who would notice the flashers and stop. Someone not nearly as stubborn as herself.
Someone with a phone.
Stumbling forward, she kept her eyes trained on the tiny body in front of her blue sedan. As she got nearer, she realized it was a girl in a pink jumper. The streetlight at the intersection revealed a light-colored backpack with Jessie Carter written above the zipper in bold black marker. She lay perfectly still. Legs askew. Still clutching a wet paper towel wrapped around two yellow sunflowers. No doubt a gift for her teacher on this, the first day of school.
Small grains of gravel embedded themselves into Megâs knees as she knelt beside Jessie, hesitating just a moment before rolling her over and studying her vacant sky-blue eyes.
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Is she dead? Have I killed a child? Oh, God, no! Nauseous and overwhelmed with sudden guilt, her shoulders shook uncontrollably.
All at once, she sobered and swiped at her eyes with the back of her hands. She looked around in every direction. Hers was the only car on the road.
She glanced at her watch. 6:10. Much too early for Jessie to be outâeven on a school day. The crossing guard wouldnât even be on duty for more than an hour.
Meg looked back at the child. She should check for a pulse. If she was still alive, there might be time to get her to a hospital.
She bent closer. Felt her neck, her wrist. It was weak, but a pulse was there. Or was she simply imagining it?
Oh, what to do? The right thing, Meg. Do the right thing.
If help wasnât going to come to her, sheâd have to go to it.
First things first. Get her in the car.
Sheâd rush her to the nearest emergency room. Give what few details she could. She must live nearby. Theyâd find her family.
Maybe everything would be okay.
She opened the rear door on the passenger side, picked up the childâs limp body, and placed her gently on the back seat. She hesitated, taking in the perfect features of her face. No sign of pain on her delicate rosebud lips.
Would that somehow comfort her parents when they saw their daughter in the morgue? What a morbid thought. No negative thinking allowed. Only thoughts of life.
Precious life.
She couldnât waste time.
Her heart raced as she drove away, her mindâs eye
reviewing the scene one last time. No blood. Nothing disturbed. It was almost as if this horrible twist of fate had never happened.
She looked over her shoulder at the colorless form against the black leather seat behind her. Dare she entertain the thoughts taking shape in her mind?
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Rachel poured Jack a second cup of coffee and settled onto the cane-backed chair beside him. She reached for his hand and bowed her head.
âFather, we thank you for this day and ask a special blessing on our daughter as she experiences her first day of school. We ask for an extra measure of patience for her teacher, because we know Jessieâs impulsivity can be trying. Help us as parents to relinquish our control and not be so quick to rush in and fix each situation for her. She needs to learn for herself how to get along with others. Thank you for the blessing of having such an endearingâalthough rambunctiousâlittle girl in our family. Amen.â
Jack gave her hand a squeeze before releasing it to grab his fork. He smiled his famous Jack Carter smile and dug into the pancakes and sausage on the plate in front of him. âIâm surprised sheâs not up yet, Rach. She was so excited about her first day of school, she had a hard time going to sleep last night,â he mumbled between bites of his favorite breakfast.
âSheâs usually grouchy when I first wake her up. But getting up earlier is something sheâs going to have to get used to. Anyway, sheâll want to give you a hug and a kiss before you take off. Just leave the dishes. Iâll have plenty of time to wash them this morning.â She kissed his cheek as she left the room. âIâll be right back with our sleepyhead.â
A moment later, Jack heard a blood-curdling scream. He bolted down the hallway and into the master bedroom, where a frantic Rachel was slipping a sweatshirt over her head.
âSheâs gone, Jack. Her backpack isnât hanging on the hook by her door. Her new shoes and outfit are missing from the
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closet. Weâve got to find her. Itâs barely light out. No telling what could happen.â
Jack grabbed his jacket from the coat closet and helped Rachel with hers. âLetâs take the route to school. Iâll bet she headed there, not realizing it was much too early.â
âI donât like this, hon. Her leaving the house without us knowing,â Rachel said as she followed him to the driveway. âShe must have left when it was still dark.â
Jack fumbled with the keys, unlocked the door to the truck, and helped his very pregnant wife inside. He rubbed his hands together to warm them as he rounded the vehicle and slipped inside. Fall was coming early this year.
Rachel let out a nervous laugh. âIâm glad itâs only a few blocks. Weâll probably find her curled up by her classroom door.â
âSure,â Jack agreed. But something inside gave him pause. Had Jessie found her own way, or had she somehow gotten turned around? What if she hadnât headed in the direction of the school after all but instead walked toward the interstate?God, please let us find our daughter safe and sound.
He pulled into the empty parking lot. Room 1 was clearly visible from the truck. His heart fell when he didnât see Jessie waiting outside. He scrambled from his seat, leaving the door open and calling to Rachel over his shoulder. âStay put. Iâll run around the perimeter. If I donât see her, weâll drive in the opposite direction. Iâll be right back.â
As he jogged around the building and onto the playground, Jack thought about how far Jessie had come. Born prematurely. Reaching milestones months later than other children her age. It had taken its toll on Rachelâs healthâand their relationship. But theyâd kept their faith in God, and heâd brought them through. Back to a place of happiness. So much so that theyâd felt ready to add another child to their family.
Now this.
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EMERGENCY ENTRANCE flickered in neon letters, looming in front of Megâs car. Her hands shook as she reached for the door handle. Be honest. You knew the minute you picked her up she was dead. So why even bring her here?
Over the past three miles, sheâd wrestled with that question. Rehearsed her story about how sheâd found the girl on the side on the road. Barely breathing, sheâd died only moments ago.
Getting involved in this would only complicate their livesâhers and Rennâs. Her heartbeat quickened. Sheâd never been in a situation like this before. Never even so much as received a parking ticket.
She pulled a tissue from her purse to catch the bile that had risen in her throat. If she didnât control her emotions, sheâd need medical help herself. She wasnât cut out for lying and deception.
But why lie? Sheâd done nothing wrong. Not really. She hadnât meant to hit her.
The childâs parents must be frantic.
She dabbed an already soggy tissue at the tears slipping down her cheeks and took in a deep breath as she opened the door. Keep it together. Stay calm.
âNot today of all days, Jack,â Rachel managed to eke out between contractions. âWe should be helping the police search for our daughter.â
âWe knew this was coming, Rach. Youâve had false labor for the last few days. Weâll take it moment by moment. Iâll either stay with you or keep looking for Jessie, depending on what the doctors tell us. In the meantime, weâll keep praying.â
Rachel nodded. âHaving our second baby should be such a happy time for us.â
âIt still can be. Weâll find Jessie and all celebrate together. You know how much she wants a little sister. Itâs all she talks about.â
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Rachel smiled through her tears. âYouâre right. Everything will work out.â
A dark blue sedan seemed to come out of nowhere, pulling in front of their truck and causing Jack to swerve and come to an abrupt stop. âHey, watch it, lady. Youâre going to kill someone driving like that,â he yelled.
The woman rolled down her window. âIâm so, so sorry. Itâs just thatââ
Rachel reached out to touch Jackâs arm. The womanâs eyes were red and swollen. She was having a rough start to her day too. âIâm okay, hon.â
Jack let out a deep breath and nodded. âI didnât mean to jump on you. I can see youâre upset. I hope the rest of your day goes well. Just be careful, okay?â
âYes. Thank you. I will.â
Jack parked the truck in front of the double doors of the emergency room and hurried around to the passenger side to help Rachel out. Taking her hand, he bowed his head. âLord, please watch over both of our daughters. Let Jessie be found safe and the birth of our little one be easy on Rachel. Give our doctors skill and wisdom. Help us to trust in your timing.â
Maybe I should give up driving. First Jessie. Then I almost hit that young man and his wife at the hospital. Mom and Dad were still driving in their mid-eighties, but I seem to be falling apart at sixty-one. Meg slowed the car on a gentle curve of road not far from the elementary school. Gravel crunched underneath the tires as she pulled off the pavement and stopped a hundred yards or so from a small grouping of oak trees.
The grass there was green and lush. A picturesque setting where a little girl could rest.
The wind was picking up a bit, blowing Megâs hair in front of her face and teasing the edges of her skirt as she made her way to the side of the car. Even though the brisk winds here in Highland Ridge were annoying, she still liked looking feminine in dresses and skirts. Some called her old-fashioned. She didnât
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care. Renn liked the way she dressed, and his opinion was the only one that mattered.
She looked both ways down the long stretch of road, and finding no other cars coming or going, grabbed the door handle. She startled at the appearance of the child sprawled across the seat. Her skin was pale. Lips blue.
She had just slipped her arms underneath the girlâs shoulders when a car approached, then slowed. She turned her back to the road, shielding Jessie from the onlooker and allowing Meg to keep from making eye contact. Still, she flinched when the female spoke.
âCar trouble? Need help?â
âOh no, thanks. Just taking a break. Seemed like a nice shady place to stop,â she answered.
âThat it is. Well then, Iâll be going. Have a nice day.â
âThanks for your concern.â Meg waited until the car was out of sight before carrying Jessieâs body down the gentle slope and laying her carefully under the trees. She paused to catch her breath. âYouâll be in plain view. Theyâll find you soon, call your parents, and that will be that.â
She stood in silence for a few minutes, considering an appropriate goodbye. She decided that âNice meeting youâ orâHave a nice lifeâ sounded awkward, so she turned away without saying anything.
As she reached the road, the toe of her shoe hit against the uneven pavement, causing her to fall and scrape both elbows. Once she regained her footing, she walked the remaining few steps to the car, droplets of blood falling onto the roadway. She looked up at the darkening sky. She neednât worry about leaving her DNA behind. The rain would take care of that.
An ache formed in her heart.
She swallowed the lump in her throat. She was in the clear. Sheâd go home to a nice, warm breakfast, a cup of hot tea, and the novel sheâd purchased yesterday on her outing with Marge.
But thinking about what sheâd done made her heart hurt.
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Could she live with the choices sheâd made today? The lies she might tell tomorrow?
The rain slackened as Jack stood at the hospital window, staring blankly into the parking lot. People without umbrellas dashed toward the doors, jackets pulled over their heads. In the distance, a double rainbow appeared over the mountaintops.
Blackness closed around him as an exhausted and grief- stricken Rachel lay sleeping. Theyâd given her a sedative right before he broke the news to her, his voice choked with tears.
One life taken. Another beginning.
Little Sara Violet snuggled in his arms. She had come into the world on the same day her sister Jessie Rose winged her way heavenward.
Meg swallowed, took a deep breath, and slipped her key into the lock. The familiar sound of News at Five blaring from the family room television caused her pulse to race. The reality that perhaps theyâd found Jessieâs body already hit her like a ton of bricks. The investigation would begin and perhaps go on for daysâeven months. Until eventually the killer would be found.
âThat was a long walk. Even for you. The news is almost over,â Renn said as he patted the seat beside him on the leather sofa. âCome on. Watch the last segment with me.â
âLooks like itâs on commercial. Iâll be there after I get a drink,â she replied, disappearing down the hallway.
He followed her into the kitchen, where she stood staring out the window. âHon?â
Meg turned around, her eyes glistening with moisture. âWhat, Renn?â
He opened the corner cabinet, removed a large plastic tumbler, and handed it to her. âWant ice?â
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She shook her head, reaching for the faucet. âThey say room temperature is best.â
âWho?â
âOh, magazine articles. Health shows.â
âSince when do you watch medical shows?â
âI donât. I justââ
âHey, the news is back on.â Renn shuffled back into the
family room and turned up the volume. âItâs starting, Meg. Are you coming?â
Their favorite newscaster, Brett Nichols, was standing in front of the elementary school just down the road from their home. Meg recognized the schoolâs stylized Jaguar mascot on the sign adjacent to the visitorsâ parking lot.
Renn turned to her. âLooks like something happened at the school.â
A banner ran across the television screen indicating that the next story was an update from an earlier broadcast. Megâs chest constricted as she settled herself on the sofa next to Renn. When Jessieâs image filled the screen, her breath caught in her throat. âJessie,â she whispered. She glanced in Rennâs direction, calming when she felt certain he hadnât heard the slip of her tongue.
Heâd leaned forward, not wanting to miss a word, his eyes green pools of compassion. He had a thing for kids. Always had. The fact that theyâd never been able to have any of their own had only intensified his adoration of anyone with a missing tooth, freckles, or pigtails. Theyâd adopted a twelve- year-old girl later in life, but Meg knew heâd always wished for a newborn or an exuberant toddler.
âThe childâs body was found a half-mile down the road from the school, lying under the oak trees at the eastern end of Wes Tuckerâs ranch. We will update you as more information becomes available,â the reporter said. âIf anyone has any information, no matter how insignificant it might seem, please contact the number on your screen.â
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Megâs cheeks heated as sudden tears blurred her vision. She stole a second look at Renn only to find him staring at her.âWhat?â she asked.
âDid you know the little girl, Meg?â
She shook her head. âOf course not. Why would you ask?â
âYou said her name before the reporter did.â
âYouâre mistaken.â
âI distinctly heardââ
âPlease, Renn. Iâve had a hard day so far.â
âYou call going to a medical appointment, coming home
to breakfast made by yours truly, and taking a leisurely walk a âhard dayâ?â
Memories of the accident flooded Meg, shame and sorrow melding into one cohesive and formidable emotion. She jerked away when his arms pulled her close. âYou have no idea.â
âHon, Iâm sorry. Did something go wrong at your doctorâs appointment? I thought it was just a yearly check-up, or I would have gone with you. Tell me. Whatever it is, weâre in this together.â
She buried her face in her hands. How had she thought she could keep something this big from Rennâthe man who knew her better than she knew herself? She raised her head, letting her eyes meet his.
She swallowed hard when he reached out to place his hands on either side of her face.
âIs it cancer?â
âSheâs just waking up now, Mom. Iâve got to go. Iâll call you tomorrow.â
Jack slipped his cell phone into his back pocket as Rachel yawned then pressed the button to bring the hospital bed upright. He walked toward the bassinette, pointed his index finger at the sleeping baby, and raised his eyebrows.
Rachel nodded. âYes. Please.â
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Jack picked up their baby daughter and gently placed her in her motherâs arms. Tears gathered in his eyes as the scene played out exactly as it had six years ago when Jessie was born. He planted a tender kiss on Rachelâs lips before dropping into the bedside chair, content to watch mother and child spending a few moments together before Sara was whisked away for bathing or whatever they did to newborns.
Sara deserved her own special time with her mother before the reality of life without Jessieâand the grief associated with itâoverwhelmed every hour of Rachelâs days. She needs to know she is wanted and cherished. That her mommy and daddy will love and protect her. But how can we do that, God, when we failed to keep her sister safe?
Tears blurred his vision. He dabbed at his eyes with his thumb, allowing the sorrow to burrow deep into his heart. He had to be strong for Rachel.
He flipped open his wallet to stare at the newborn picture of Jessie taken in this very hospital. Red-faced and crying, she could not be consoled. Unlike the peaceful baby that now nursed at Rachelâs breast. The child who opened her fist and fanned her long slender fingers just as her big sister had. The one who sighed audibly as Rachel raised her to her shoulder and patted her back, eliciting a loud burp.
Rachel laughed and Jack joined in, enjoying together the first of many little things that would mesmerize them over the years. Things that would remind them of Jessie. Her smile. Her boundless energy. The way she liked to be tucked in bed with Mr. Bear and needed one last hug and kiss before they turned out the light.
And then the day would come when they would recognize things uniquely Sara. It might be the way she would wrinkle her nose, skip when happy, or turn her head at the mere mention of eating her broccoliâJessieâs favorite.
Those things would transcend the heartbreak of today.
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The following day, after a lunch of soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, Meg had decided they should do the weekly grocery shopping. As she put the food away, Renn listened to the morningâs phone messages. The one from Womenâs Health confused him. They said Meg had missed her appointment Monday morning and needed to reschedule.
But sheâd told him she had gone. That was why sheâd been late coming home after work.
Why had she told him that if it wasnât true? Was she keeping something from him? Reality began to surface, the pain of her lie stinging his heart as he walked toward the kitchen.
A driver strikes and kills a young girl in a deserted area just before dawn. What should she do? Thatâs the dilemma facing Meg Reynolds, a mature wife, mother, and employee in her small town. Justice for Jessie: Forgiving the Unforgivable by Brenda C. Poulos offers readers a compelling âwhat ifâ story. This exciting yet realistic contemporary Christian fiction tale explores how Megâs choices affect her, her family, Jack and Rachel Carter, Jessieâs bereaved parents, and the community.
While driving to an early-morning medical appointment after working all night, Meg feels a thump. She investigates and finds Jessie Carterâs body. Excited about attending her first day at school, the six-year-old girl had left home without her parentsâ knowledge and had been walking alone in the dark. Meg didnât have her cell phone, and no one was around to help, so she decided to conceal her inadvertent act from everyone, including her loving husband, Renn. What happens in the hours, days, and weeks afterward tests the relationships and faith of the various characters.
Poulos presents relatable and believable characters in this story, each with a distinctive voice and arc. One aspect of her storytelling that contributes to the novel's depth and sensitivity is the different points of view the reader receives. Meg, Renn, Jack, and Rachelâs feelings, struggles, and reactions are defined well as the story progresses. Passages such as this one express Rachelâs deep anger, sadness, and regret days after her daughter Jessieâs funeral: âShe whirled pots, china, and silverware across the kitchen as she unleashed a flurry of emotions, ending only when she saw blood spurting from a gash on her arm.â
Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries, suspense novels, and faith-themed stories will appreciate this moving storyâs honest approach and engaging style. The novel offers a smooth and easy read due to its effective balance of narration with vivid word-pictures and crisp dialogue with unobtrusive dialogue tags. I loved the unexpected twists, straightforward but not heavy-handed messages, and satisfying conclusion. Justice for Jessie: Forgiving the Unforgivable by Brenda C. Poulos gives fans of her previous six novels and first-time readers like me a 60,000-word Christian fiction novel that's a memorable and thought-provoking page-turner.