Free Silent Vows by Catherine Bybee

as she will fill in all the blanks.
    First, know that I am safe. I can only guess at what you and Simon have been through since I left.
    And for that I am so very sorry. But I am safe, and oh, so happy, Lizzy. I have found my Knight in Shining Armor. The one you always told me to wait for. He is the most wonderful man and I cannot imagine my life without him. His name is Duncan MacCoinnich. He is the same man who I’m sure by now the police are looking for in regards to my disappearance.
    I could go on and on about him and the life we are living. I can’t go into details in this letter in case it gets into the wrong hands. Besides, if I wrote everything that has happened, you would toss this letter in a fire and claim it was forged. Again, I ask that you listen to Myra. She is my sister-in-law now, and more than that, a blood sister by choice.
    Remember?
    Myra needs your help, Lizzy. It wasn’t safe for 64

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    her to stay here, so her family sent her there. I know you won’t turn your back on her and in turn, on me.
    The Gypsy woman from the Renaissance Faire, the one Cassy and I attended, is very dangerous. I’m sure you can find her picture, look at it, study it, and I beg you to stay away from her. If she ever comes near you or Simon, run.
    She is, in part, the reason I cannot return to you, at least not at this time.
    Paper is sparse here, and I can’t write any more than I have. Know I love you with all my heart. Let Simon know Auntie Tara is happy, and if I can, I will visit someday.
    Love, Tara
    Todd watched her silent tears fall. Slowly, she read the letter. An occasional gasp or sigh was all she uttered. She read it twice before shutting her eyes and giving into emotion.
    “Are you okay?” What a stupid question, of course she wasn’t okay.
    “She’s alive. Thank God, she’s alive.”
    “Can I see the letter?” Todd put out his hand.
    Liz shook her head and put the letter in her purse.
    “That could be evidence.”
    She was getting up to leave, and Todd was desperate for answers.
    “If you thought that, you wouldn’t have brought it to me without reading it,” she concluded. “Where is Myra? I have to talk to her.”
    He looked around the park, spotted her staring at them from the far side. When Liz’s eyes found her, her lips lifted in a smile.
    “How do you know you can trust her?” he asked.
    “Tara told me to.” ****
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    Myra saw him sitting on a bench talking to a very attractive woman. In the time it took for her heart to lunge in her chest, she realized it was Lizzy sitting next to Todd.
    He had given her the letter, just as she asked.
    Maybe he trusted her after all.
    The two exchanged words, and even from a distance Myra could see Lizzy wiping tears from her eyes. When they both looked up and saw her, she took it as her cue and walked toward them with a calmness she didn’t feel.
    Myra spoke first. “You are just as Tara described. More beautiful in fact.”
    “Is she okay? I know the letter said she was, but is she really?”
    “Oh, Lizzy. She is better than okay, she and my brother make a lovely couple. She misses you so much.”
    “Call me Liz, no one calls me Lizzy, except Tara.”
    “Then I must call you Lizzy. We are sisters, all of us.”
    Liz glanced over her shoulder where Todd stood silent, watching them. “I have so many questions.”
    “You will have more before this day is done.”
    “Ladies?” he interrupted them. “Would either of you mind telling me what is going on here?”
    Myra watched his eyes shift between them both, waiting for one of them to speak. “Thank you, for trusting me.”
    His jaw started to twitch. “Don’t thank me yet, Myra. I’m not sure I’ve done the right thing. Miss McAllister here seems to think everything is fine after reading that letter. Would either of you mind telling me what it says?”
    They both stood silent.
    “Great. That’s just perfect.” His police radio 66

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    squawked